Ethical challenges in Nigerian mass media practice: A systematic review from 2020 to 2025

Abstract Journalism, as a public trust, is guided by codes of conduct established by the International Federation of Journalists and domesticated by the Nigerian Press Council. Yet, despite these frameworks emphasizing editorial independence, accuracy, fairness, privacy, and social responsibility, the practice remains fraught with lapses. This study examines the ethical challenges that confronted the Nigerian mass media between 2020 and 2025, a period marked by the COVID‑19 pandemic and rapid technological disruptions especially the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. Through a systematic review of 63 scholarly articles and key informant interviews with practitioners in print and broadcast media (SuperFM Benin, The Guardian Newspapers and Lagos Broadcasting Services), this research identifies recurring dilemmas such as misinformation, sensationalism, news commercialization, political interference, and the persistence of “brown envelope” practices. Findings reveal that socio‑political constraints, economic pressures, and digital competition have eroded professional standards, weakened public trust, and intensified tensions between journalists and government. At the same time, online journalism and citizen reporting have blurred accountability lines, amplifying ethical risks. Some strategies adopted to mitigate these challenges include stricter editorial gatekeeping, continuous training in fact‑checking and digital verification, and regulatory oversight by bodies such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the National Broadcasting Commission. However, the study underscores that external regulation alone is insufficient; internal supervision and deliberate newsroom protocols remain central to safeguarding credibility. Ultimately, the research highlights the tension between normative ethical codes and lived realities in Nigerian journalism, calling for sustained interventions that strengthen integrity, accountability, and public trust while adapting to the evolving digital media landscape. Key Words: Ethics, Mass Media, Public Trust, Social Responsibility and Journalism About the Authors * Alero Marther Richards is a lecturer at the Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria and a doctoral candidate at the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. Her research interests include Development Communication, New Media and Health Communication especially related to women's health. **Charles Chinedu Onwunali, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. His research interests include: Advertising and Consumer Rights protection, Communication and Gender Empowerment, Health Communication, Philosophy of Communication. and Mass Media History. ***Abraham Oloruntola Sunday, Ph.D., is a Professor of Mass Communication at the at the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. His research is situated at the intersection of media, digital communication, governance, development and society, with a particular emphasis on Nigeria and the African communication environment. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 2, October 2026, pp. 149-158. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).