Practice of Investigative Journalism in Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and Raypower, Abuja

Abstract

This paper examined the practice of investigative journalism in FRCN and Raypower with a view to finding out the one that gives staff more freedom to undertake investigative journalism. The researcher conducted in-depth interview with twenty journalists working with FRCN and Raypower to answer research questions raised for the study. Findings showed that owners influenced stations directly by choosing which stories the editors and journalists can pursue and ultimately publish or air; the power to recruit loyalists, firing journalists who offend owners’ interest and modification of stories by editors. All the interviewees agreed that owners interfere with the operations of their media in one way or the other and at various levels, 17 of the interviewees said the privately-owned media give journalists more freedom to conduct investigative journalism. It was, therefore, recommended among others that the National assembly should enact a law to provide insurance cover for journalists.