SECTOR 4 Working conditions have improved over the years, with the creation of more comfortable and better-equipped newsrooms. However, journalists work in increasingly hostile environments, particularly those covering the country’s armed conflicts and ethnic tensions. Despite these evident workplace risks, few journalists have any form of insurance coverage. Where some protection exists, journalists who survive work-related attacks or accidents are usually only reimbursed after bearing the costs of treating themselves. A notable exception is the Guardian, which in addition to paying good salaries and allowances, provides healthcare coverage for its workers. The news organisation and a few others have in-house medical teams and standing contracts with medical facilities for emergencies and routine consultations. In addition, female journalists are victims of sexual harassment perpetrated both by their colleagues and news sources. ‘Producers will tell you that to go on air you must sleep with them,’ said a panellist. ‘This is the experience of a lot of women, who prefer to be quiet about it.’ 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: 4.4 ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ 1.9 2008: n/a; 2011: 1.3; 2015: 2.3 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is structured both as a professional association and as a trade union. It is considered the most prominent media trade union organisation, along with the Guild of Editors and the Newspaper Publishers’ Association. Others include more thematically and sub-group focused associations such as the National Association of Campus Editors, Online Publishers Association of Nigeria, Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria and the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts and Allied Workers Union. Media associations and unions have not been very effective in defending the interests of its members and the industry, panellists observed. The Nigerian Union of Journalists, they said, was plagued by internal power struggles and embezzlement allegations and has been silent on many issues affecting journalists, 48 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2019