A renowned professor of journalism and media studies at Edo State University Uzairue (EDSU), Andrew Asan Ate, has addressed the alarming decline of investigative journalism in Nigeria, a vital force meant to expose corruption and social vices.
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In his address during the university’s 12th Inaugural Lecture titled “From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: Who and What Killed Investigative Journalism in Nigeria?” Ate delved into the root causes of the country’s decline in investigative journalism, shedding light on the critical role the media should play in exposing corruption and holding those in power accountable.

Ate,who is the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Communication, lamented that investigative journalism, which should serve as a powerful watchdog, has been in a state of slumber, allowing unknown gunmen, terrorists, and kidnappers to act with impunity. Corruption, he argued, has become a pervasive force responsible for many societal ills, and investigative journalism’s role in exposing it has dwindled over the years.

“Put it differently, the press, which through its watchdog function is supposed to expose and checkmate corruption and other social vices, has slumbered and slept off over the years in Nigeria, leaving unknown gunmen in the East to have their ways, terrorists and bandits across the country to rule with impunity and kidnappers to have a field day unchallenged,” Ate said.
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The professor traced the evolution of media from the gatekeeping era to the current gatewatching era, noting the transformative role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in enabling journalists to work more effectively. This shift, often referred to as metamorphosis, has disrupted traditional journalism and introduced media convergence and integration, challenging the status quo.

Investigative journalism, according to him, is a type of reporting that seeks to expose wrongdoing and spark change. He highlighted its importance in holding those in power accountable, citing the famous Watergate scandal in the United States as an exemplary case of investigative journalism’s impact.

Moving on to the gatewatching era, Ate explained that this phase is marked by high interactivity on online platforms, where audience members become gatekeepers themselves. He noted the transformative role of social media, allowing “netizens” to actively contribute to the marketplace of ideas. Despite these opportunities, the professor noted that investigative journalism in Nigeria appears to be gradually losing its vigour.
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Several factors, referred to as the “killers” of investigative journalism, were identified by Ate, including environmental challenges, press censorship, and parochial interests. The challenging operating environment for journalists encompasses political, social, economic, legal, cultural, and religious aspects. Press censorship manifests in various forms, including media-unfriendly laws, intimidation, violence, and corruption in the media industry. Additionally, parochial interests, such as regional, ethnic, and religious divides, pose significant challenges to the practice of investigative journalism.

In his concluding remarks, Professor Ate noted that investigative journalism remains a powerful tool for addressing corruption and promoting accountability in Nigeria and urged stakeholders in the media industry to invest in technologies that can enhance the practice of investigative journalism, recommending several measures to restore its dignity and sanctity.

“It is expedient for all the stakeholders in the Nigerian media ecosystem to invest in soft and hardware technologies that would make it easier for investigative journalists to do their jobs. Advancement in new technologies is a plus, not a minus, in repositioning investigative journalism for greater impact in Nigeria and indeed Africa,”
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Ate, however, also offered a series of recommendations to restore the dignity and sanctity of investigative journalism in Nigeria, including reforming journalism curricula, adopting a social responsibility model, promoting public service journalism over political and economic interests, and fostering a more conducive environment for investigative journalism.

Furthermore, he also called for the elimination of censorship, the selection of clean, responsible leaders, the embracement of technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics and the establishment of investigative journalism associations and alternative funding models to safeguard and rejuvenate investigative journalism in Nigeria.

“Investigative journalism will summersault and die if nothing is done to improve its funding models in Nigeria,” he warned.

“It is recommended, therefore, that media owners should think outside the box in order to attract funding from corporate organisations, multinationals, and international donor agencies with a view to rescuing investigative journalism from the grip of death. It is equally recommended that special investigative journalism associations be established in Nigeria to share information and resources to enable journalists to handle special investigative journalism projects.”
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