SECTOR 4 4.2 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by independent/ non-statutory bodies that deal with complaints from the public Journalists in Nigeria follow a range of code of ethics dispersed throughout the industry, from those serving specific media houses to more collective, yet fragmented ones. Media organisations, including the NTA and FRCN, have internal guidelines and other gatekeeping instruments. The Nigerian Press Organisation Code, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Newspapers’ Editors Forum all have codes of conduct and ethics that apply to their members and throughout the industry. Media groups and other CSOs have also developed specialised instruments, such as election reporting codes. Despite this variety, panellists said existing codes are weakly enforced. Sometimes, for political and economic reasons, media offenses are played down. ‘You will find that when there is any form of reprimand against a journalist, then there is a powerful person behind the complaint,’ said a panellist. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ 2.5 2008: 2.6; 2011: 3.1; 2015: 3.3 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions, including safety, for journalists and other media practitioners, are adequate Monthly salaries vary throughout the media, ranging from N10,000 (US$27) (for interns and volunteers) to a few millions per month (for senior executives and editors). These differences are determined by the economic strength of the news organisation, as well as the seniority of the media employees. In the governmentfunded media, journalists and other media workers are paid using the civil service salary scale, which has an entry salary of about N81,000 (US$224) for a bachelor’s degree holder. Panellists said in worst cases, some media organisations do not pay their staff and require them to use their influence on news sources to earn a living. On average, ‘take-home salaries can’t take journalists home,’ said one panellist. 47 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2019