Beyond classroom-newsroom gap: why do Nigerian students study journalism in the age of convergence?

ABSTRACT

This study examines one of the most critical questions about journalism education by looking beyond the quandary between the classroom and the newsroom while dwelling on the career expectations and choices of journalism students in the era of convergence when newsroom jobs are shrinking globally and when amateurs are contending with professional journalists in terms of contents production and distribution. The study triangulated both quantitative data generated from a sample of 292 final year students and qualitative data generated from in-depth interviews of six students drawn from six universities across Nigeria. This study found that although students noticed some gaps between the classroom and newsroom, Nigerian journalism students still found classroom experience valuable as the knowledge and skills acquired therein, assisted them in the discharge of their professional responsibilities during internship. However, while findings from studies reveal palpable evidences of media convergence of varying degrees within the media ecology in the country, journalism students in the country still hold firmly to the traditional conceptualisation of journalism, which constricts journalism jobs to radio, television, newspaper and magazine, suggesting a manifest conflict between the idealistic perception of journalism students and what journalism in Nigeria currently portends.

KEYWORDS:

• Journalism
• journalism education
• newsroom
• classroom
• career
• Social Cognitive Career theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nathan Oguche Emmanuel

Nathan Oguche Emmanuel, PhD holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Mass Communication (Journalism) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. He had both his Bachelor and Masters of Science Degrees in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria. Currently, he teaches and researches at the Department of Mass Communication, Kogi State University, Anyigba. Previously, he was a Senior Communications Officer at the University’s Directorate of Advancement and Support Centre. As a media and communication professional, he has had a stint in the media industry in Lagos, the commercial headquarters of Nigeria and Abuja, the nation’s capital. His research interests are in media and disruptive technologies, journalism and media studies, and has published in peer reviewed local and international journals, including African Journalism Studies among others.

Nnanyelugo Okoro

Professor Nnanyelugo Okoro, PhD, fiia, Professor Nnanyelugo Okoro, PhD, fiia, is a Professor of Mass Communication who brings to bare a robust practical media and communication experience in his teaching and research pursuit. As a scholar of repute lecturing in the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he is widely published, has supervised numerous students at both Masters and Doctorate levels, and has held different administrative positions in the University, including Head of Department of Mass Communication and Dean of Faculty of Arts. Currently, he is the Director, University of Nigeria Centre for Business Development.

Michael Onyekachi Ukonu

Michael Onyekachi Ukonu, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the department of mass communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Since joining the department in 2003, he has published widely in local and international journals. His career has been adorned with several academic positions and responsibilities including postgraduate coordinator, examinations officer and co-editorship of local and international journals. Dr. Ukonu has research interest in journalism, health communication, development communication and media sociology and analysis. He is a member of African Council for Communication Education and Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria.