An Examination of Journalists' Challenges in Assessing Sources of Information in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Assessing and verifying sources of information is central to credible journalism, yet conflict environments make the task difficult. This study examined the challenges journalists face in assessing sources of information in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, a major centre of the Boko Haram insurgency. It sought to identify the main sources journalists use, examine the challenges they encounter in verifying sources, determine how insecurity affects access to credible sources, and identify the strategies they adopt to ensure source credibility. Anchored on Source Credibility Theory, the study used a quantitative survey design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 103 registered journalists in Maiduguri, and all 103 copies were returned and analysed using frequencies and percentages. Military and security agencies were the most frequently used source (83%), yet eyewitness accounts were rated the most reliable (52%), showing a gap between how often a source is used and how far it is trusted. Unreliable or conflicting sources were the most frequently identified verification challenge (26%), followed by government/military restrictions and a lack of verification tools (23% each), and the rapid spread of unverified social media content was the most frequently selected single factor affecting accuracy (30%). Insecurity affected access unevenly: 31% reported completely or partially restricted access, while 28% reported greater reliance on remote sources. When information was unverified or conflicting, journalists most often delayed publication until confirmation (34%) or withheld the story until clarity was obtained (44%), and editorial review was most often rated the most effective way of improving credibility (36%). The study recommends stronger newsroom verification practices, training and digital verification tools, robust editorial review, and safer arrangements for gathering information in conflict-affected areas.