The use and meaning of “professionalism” in Nigerian journalism discourse

This study examines how professionalism is constructed and negotiated within Nigerian journalism discourse. Drawing on 422 news articles mentioning the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) published between 1995 and 2025, this study employs a qualitative content analysis to identify the key actors who invoke the term, the contexts of its use and how professionalism is defined through media narratives. Grounded in field theory, the findings reveal that journalists and politicians most frequently employ the term during professional gatherings, discussions of issues affecting journalists collectively or tributes to deceased journalists. In most instances, the term remains undefined; when defined, it is often equated with enduring journalistic norms and values such as ethics and objectivity. The findings yield new insights while reaffirming enduring journalism principles, despite Nigeria’s evolving media landscape. The study contributes to the broader discourse on the professionalization of journalism by offering fresh evidence and perspectives from a less-studied African context.