Researcher seeks merit-based newsroom recruitment

A Nigerian researcher, Kemi Busari, has called for merit-based hiring practices in newsrooms. The doctoral student at the University of Maryland urged media owners to focus on factors like experience, rather than degrees or salaries, when recruiting reporters. Busari noted that while studies on journalism hiring criteria exist, they are largely limited to Western newsrooms and lack research on African newsrooms, particularly in Nigeria.

He explained that newsroom recruitment functions as a gatekeeping mechanism, shaping professional boundaries and defining legitimate journalistic practice. Through a case-study, mixed-methods approach, Busari examined hiring practices in four Nigerian newsrooms, finding that reporters are typically hired through internships, poaching, referrals, and less frequently, advertised positions.

The study highlights the strong emphasis on practical skills and experience in Nigerian journalism, with editors placing limited trust in journalism education provided at universities.