Researcher seeks merit-based newsroom recruitment

Nigerian researcher Kemi Busari has called for media organizations to adopt merit-based hiring practices for journalists. Busari, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, highlighted the lack of research on African newsrooms, particularly in Nigeria, despite the large and dynamic media sector. He argued that hiring practices in Nigerian newsrooms operate as a gatekeeping mechanism, determining professional inclusion and exclusion.

Busari's study, based on a case-study, mixed-methods approach, found that reporters are typically hired through internships, poaching, referrals, and less often, advertised positions. The emphasis on practical skills in hiring reflects a predominantly job-focused orientation within Nigerian journalism, with editors prioritizing experience, adaptability, and teachability over journalism education.