ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF UNDERCOVER REPORTING IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA

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Abstract: This study explores the legal and ethical challenges of undercover reporting in investigative journalism, focusing on journalists in Abuja, Nigeria. The main objectives include assessing the extent to which Nigerian journalists use undercover methods, their perceptions of its ethical dimensions, barriers to its application, the influence of editorial policies, and its implications for media organizations and public information rights. Anchored in Social Responsibility Media Theory and Consequentialism Theory, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both in-depth qualitative interviews and quantitative cross-sectional surveys. Data were collected using interview guides and structured questionnaires, with thematic analysis via NVivo 12 and descriptive statistics using SPSS 20 employed for data analysis. Key findings reveal that while 55% of journalists occasionally use undercover techniques, 45% rarely do so, citing safety and legal risks as primary obstacles. Ethical concerns, particularly regarding identity misrepresentation (70%), emerge as a major issue. Editorial policies play a mixed role, influencing both the adoption and restriction of undercover practices. The study recommends developing comprehensive ethical guidelines, enhancing safety and legal protections, providing targeted journalist training, revising editorial policies to support investigative efforts, and fostering public awareness of investigative journalism’s role.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vi

Abstract                                                                                                                      vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study________________________________________1

1.2       Statement of the Problem ________________________________________3

1.3       Objectives of the Study__________________________________________4

1.4       Research Questions_____________________________________________4

1.5       Significance of the Study________________________________________5

1.6       Scope of the Study_____________________________________________6

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms __________________________________6

References

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Introduction__________________________________________________8

2.1       Conceptual Review____________________________________________20

2.2       Empirical Studies______________________________________________25

2.3       Theoretical Framework_________________________________________25

References

 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0       Introduction_________________________________________________33

3.1       Research Design______________________________________________33

3.2       Research Method_____________________________________________33

3.3       Study Population_____________________________________________34

3.4       Sample Size _________________________________________________34

3.5       Sampling Technique __________________________________________34

3.6       Instrument for Data Collection___________________________________35

3.7       Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­______________________35

3.8       Data Collection Process_________________________________________36

3.9       Method of Data Analysis________________________________________36

References

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Introduction _________________________________________________39

4.1       Data Analysis ________________________________________________39

4.2       Discussion of Findings_________________________________________48

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Introduction_________________________________________________50

5.1       Summary____________________________________________________50

5.2.      Conclusions _________________________________________________51

5.3       Recommendations ____________________________________________52

5.4       Limitations to the Study________________________________________54

References

Appendix

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PROJECT DETAILS:

Format = MS Word, Price = ₦5000, Chapter = 1-5, Pages = 62, References = Yes, Questionnaire =Yes, Table of Contents = Yes and Abstract = Yes

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