Comparative Media Analysis, Government and Private Media in Perspective : Exploring the working environment/condition of journalistic professional practice in Nigeria

Abstract: This study considers the exploration of working condition/environment of journalistic professional practice in Nigeria from comparative perspective of private and government owned media. The study adopts a qualitative research approach. Three journalists were interviewed from among government owned media establishments and four from privately owned media. The theoretical lenses used to interrogate the research question include Authoritarian theory and its derivatives, Field Theory and the Social Theory of Journalism. These were used to gather qualitative data through a series of semi-structured interviews conducted on the respondents. The results show how operating environments and unsuitable work conditions media practitioners encounter influence or affect quality outcome of work in the profession from comparative angle. The study not only highlighted on contemporary situational developments in the media industry but also how the profession fared in government and privately owned media when placed side-by-side. Though results seem to be a sorry sight in the entire profession’s industry, however, slight variation observed in both sides of government and private media surely justifies the essence of the study, key finding also shows that although journalists encounter similar challenges in the course of their duties, their response to them varies substantially according to individual principles, terrain of work and the part of the industry (government or private) they work for. Results also shows some contrasting work condition/environment’s details in government and private media and the experiences their media practitioners face.