About 58% of journalists in selected Nigerian newsrooms did not study journalism or a media-related course, according to ongoing research by Nigerian journalist and academic, Kemi Busari.
Findings from the study were presented at the 2025 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) National Conference in San Francisco, where both of Busari’s papers were adjudged top-referred and won awards.
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The first paper, Beyond the Degree, examined hiring criteria in Nigerian newsrooms, revealing that passion, ethics, and writing ability are key factors for recruitment, while a journalism degree is not always essential. The second, The Paradox of Journalism Degree, explored the motivations and experiences of journalists without formal journalism education, noting that many entered the profession unintentionally.
Busari described the study as the first of its kind in journalism education literature, stressing its potential to guide policy and legislative decisions. He noted that in Nigeria, some lawmakers have proposed criminalising journalism without a degree, but such proposals often lack data on the prevalence and impact of non-degree journalists.
The research, which also found that 13% of non-degree journalists studied pure sciences, will continue, with more findings to be released as it progresses.
Daily Trust
