Introduction

In Nigeria, media houses have not totally embraced digital broadcasting despite the obvious
benefits. Digital broadcasting is still the least developed sector in Nigeria. These and other
problems of broadcasting in Nigeria will be discussed below. For the purpose of this assignment,
we will explain just ten problems, ethical standard, Social responsibility and possible solutions:

Challenges of Broadcast Industry

1. Poor Remuneration
Broadcasters like journalists are also poorly paid. Their salaries are not enough to sustain them
for the month. A lot of them engage in unethical practices to survive. This breeds corrupt
practices like the Brown envelope syndrome, bribery, financial crimes, etc.
2. Digital Broadcasting is Still the Least Developed Broadcasting Channel in Nigeria
Digital broadcasting started in Nigeria with the advent of the internet in 1996.This has led to the
creation of more than forty listened internet broadcasting companies in Nigeria.
Despite these, a lot of broadcasting houses are yet to go digital in their operations. They still use
gadgets and equipment that are analogue. In other climes, they have totally gone digital.
Many people can live stream broadcasters on the internet. Most broadcasting houses in Nigeria
do not have website addresses where people can live stream them and contribute to their
programmes live.
A lot of Nigerian media houses have not utilized fully the benefits of social media like Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, etc to run their broadcasting outfits and reach out to people all over the
world.
This make them technologically  backward and hinders them from competing favourably with
media houses worldwide. This restricts their programmes to the local audience and impacts
negatively on the quality of  radio and television programmes.
3. Broadcasting is Capital Intensive in Nigeria
Broadcasting in Nigeria is Expensive to setup and run. It requires a lot of money to buy gadgets
and equipment. Maintaining these gadgets is also expensive.
A lot of money is also expended in paying staff salaries and as overhead cost. Most equipment
used in Nigerian broadcasting houses are not made in Nigeria. They are imported from other
foreign countries. This increases the cost of setting up a broadcasting outfit in Nigeria.
4. Most Nigerian Broadcasters are not Properly Groomed
It is sad that most broadcasters and presenters that work in media houses are not Properly
Groomed for their job. Most of them cannot speak fluent and impeccable English. Their
expressions are poor.
They commit a lot of grammatical blunders. Most of them are accidental broadcasters. They lack
the conviction, carriage and comportment to become seasoned presenters and broadcasters.
Many of them do not even know how to write, draft, edit and develop programmes that are
qualitative, educative, informative and  appealing to the wider audience. They are practically
bereft of ideas and innovations they can contribute to improve themselves.
5. No Freedom of Speech
Broadcasters like journalists are also frequently harassed by the government. The Nigerian laws
provide for the freedom of speech but the Nigerian governments have consciously tried to
infringe on this right. Broadcasters are also guide by the ethics of journalism which are integrity,
honesty and objectivity.
However, these values are not the forte of all Nigerian governments. They feel offended when
broadcasters present programmes that step on their toes.
They promulgate decrees that place blanket ban on broadcasters, broadcasting house and media
organisations. These laws also gag the freedom of speech which should be enjoyed by the media
houses. In some cases, they arrest perceived offenders who have posted “offending messages and
information” on social media.
6. Erratic Power Supply
Broadcasting is an industry that thrives on constant and uninterrupted electricity supply. It is sad
that power supply in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. Most media houses operate diesel
generators for their radio and television programmes and presentations.
7. Poor Infrastructural Development
Infrastructural development in Nigeria is almost non- existent. Broadcasters  travel round the
country to meet people and interview them. They also travel round The country to cover
programmes on places, people and cultures. This make them prone to accidents and untimely
death on Nigerian roads. The road network is appalling.
Electricity supply is bad and telecommunication is poor in Nigeria. All of these affect the
broadcasting industry. Most broadcasting houses have to provide for their own  infrastructure to
ensure the smooth running of their business daily.
8. Poor Quality of Programmes
Most media houses produce programmes that lack quality in content and depth. Their 
programmes fail to reach out to a large audience and also makes them fail to take more of the
global market.
9. Non-Payment of Salaries
Most times, Broadcasters are not paid their salaries at all. They need to survive. To survive, they
engage in unethical practices to feed themselves.
10. Poor Welfare
A lot of broadcasters are not properly taken care of .They are shabbily treated. Their welfare is
taken for granted. Those who have left active service do not receive their pension and gratuity at
all. Some of them die of hunger and poverty. For those still inactive service, their welfare
package is poor and not given to them on time.

Journalistic ethics and standards

Journalistic ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and good practice applicable to
journalists. This subset of media ethics is known as journalism's professional "code of ethics"
and the "canons of journalism". The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by
professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news
organizations.
So while various codes may have some differences, most share common elements including the
principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability,
as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to
the public.
Like many broader ethical systems, the ethics of journalism include the principle of "limitation
of harm." This may involve the withholding of certain details from reports, such as the names of
minor children, crime victims' names, or information not materially related to the news report
where the release of such information might, for example, harm someone's reputation.
Some journalistic codes of ethics, notably some European codes, also include a concern with
discriminatory references in news based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and physical or
mental disabilities. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved (in 1993)
Resolution 1003 on the Ethics of Journalism, which recommends that journalists respect the
presumption of innocence, in particular in cases that are still sub judice.
Purpose of Codes of Journalism
Journalism's codes of ethics are intended to ensure reliability of reported information by defining
acceptable practices; and provide guidelines about circumstances to avoid that could interfere
with, or appear to interfere with, the reliability of reported information. Circumstances to avoid
include conflicts of interest. The guidelines assist journalists in identifying and dealing with
ethical dilemmas. When such circumstances cannot be avoided, they should be disclosed so that
recipients of reported information can judge potential bias in the reporting. The codes and canons
provide journalists with a framework for self-monitoring and self-correction.
Journalism is guided by five values:
1. Honesty: journalists must be truthful. It is unacceptable to report information known to be
false, or report facts in a misleading way to give a wrong impression;
2. Independence and objectivity: journalists should avoid topics in which they have a
financial or personal interest that would provide them a particular benefit in the subject
matter, as that interest may introduce bias into their reporting, or give the impression of
such bias. In cases where a journalist may have a specific financial or personal interest,
the interest should be disclosed;
3. Fairness: journalists must present facts with impartiality and neutrality, presenting other
viewpoints and sides to a story where these exist. It is unacceptable to slant facts;
4. Diligence: a journalist should gather and present pertinent facts to provide a good
understanding of the subject reported;
5. Accountability: a journalist must be accountable for their work, prepared to accept
criticism and consequences.

Unethical Conduct
Ethics involves what is right, equitable, fair, just, dutiful and/or responsible. Ethical media
practice is important because of its high level of public impact. In conflict-prone societies in
particular, unethical media reporting can exacerbate conflict and trigger violence. Unethical
media reporting may be the result of political control and abuse of media and/or irresponsible
journalism that pursues sensationalism.[4] Manifestations of unethical media reporting are
particularly dangerous in the context of highly contested electoral processes in conflict-prone
societies.

Corporate Social Responsibility standards in the Media sector

Some of the existing CSR standards offer sectoral adaptations focused on sector-specific
CSR issues.
1. The GRI published a Media Sector Supplement in May 2012 (based on the G3.1
version). In 2012, the French Forum RSE Médias focused its work on integrating the
GRI Media supplement into the French context and provides a French translation on
the ORSE website.
2. In June 2012, the French Forum RSE Médias worked on the adaptation of the ISO
26000 to the Media sector in order to identify all the issues in the sector.
3. The ISAS BC 9001 standard (from the Swiss "Media and Society" foundation) is not,
strictly speaking, a CSR standard but a "quality approach" which addresses
challenges such as the quality and accuracy of information, public satisfaction,
program diversity, etc.
CSR and Regulation: a blurred frontier for the audiovisual sector
In France, broadcasting regulation is entrusted to an independent administrative authority.
The Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (Higher Audiovisual Council - CSA) is responsible for
monitoring compliance with ethical rules (respect for human dignity and public order,
pluralism and integrity of information, protection of childhood and adolescence,
defense...). Thus, for French audiovisual Media, the boundary between regulation and CSR
is blurred, since their CSR issues are already heavily regulated.
Possible Solutions:
1. The government must endeavour to eliminate censorship of media houses. This will give
them the opportunity to express themselves freely.
2. The government must enact laws to protect broadcasters and broadcasting organisations.
 3. The government must ensure that it builds and sustains enduring infrastructures to help
broadcasters and the profession of broadcasting.
4. The National Broadcasting Commission must properly regulate the broadcasting industry
to ensure that broadcasters present content that conform with international best practices.
They must enforce quality assurance on programme content and depth, coverage and
audience viewership.
5. Broadcasting houses must ensure that prospective broadcasters that will work in their
organisations are properly interviewed properly, well-grounded and have the
competencies to handle any aspect of broadcasting.
6. Owners of broadcasting houses must ensure that staff salaries are paid when due.
7. The government must ensure that retirees are paid their dues on time. They must not
allow them to suffer from hunger and poverty. For those still in active service, their
welfare packages must be improved to motivate them to give their best.

Reference
"Statement of Principles". American Society of News Editors (ASNE). Retrieved March 17, 2015.

"Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists". IFJ.

"APME – Statement of Ethical Principles". apme.com. Archived from the original on June 22,
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[2] Rolt, Francis, ‘The Media: Reaching Hearts and Minds’, in Paul van Tongeren, Malin Brenk
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