Media experts have sounded the alarm over a growing talent drain in Nigerian newsrooms, warning that without structural reform and better conditions, more journalists will continue to leave for foreign media or switch to allied fields.
This warning was issued during the May edition of Journalism & Society Conversations hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), under the theme “Are newsrooms struggling to retain talent?”
The event brought together key voices in the media industry including Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director, Media Career Development Network; Victoria Bamas, Editor, International Centre for Investigative Reporting; Simon Sunday, Assistant Manager, New Media, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Amaka Okoye, West Africa Correspondent DW News. Jemilat Nasiru, Multimedia Journalist, TheCable, moderated the conversation.
The panellists highlighted declining morale, lack of growth opportunities, and the absence of proper human resource practices as some of the core issues pushing journalists out of Nigerian newsrooms.
WSCIJ Executive Director/CEO Motunrayo Alaka emphasised the importance of creating a supportive environment for investigative journalists. “Investigative reporting demands ethical, curious, and detail-oriented journalists,” she said. “But many are overwhelmed by the pressure of multiple roles due to limited resources. Newsroom managers must evolve if they wish to keep these essential talents.”
Mr Otufodunrin noted that stagnant newsroom structures do not offer clear growth paths. “One mistake we make is saying the newsroom is not civil service. People should know what they can become,” he said. Otufodunrin stressed the importance of recognition, fair reward systems, and equity. “Editors should be managers of human resources and not just news.”
He added that newsrooms are not just struggling to retain talent, but also to attract new ones who can meet the demands of the industry.
Okoye highlighted the harsh working conditions endured by Nigerian journalists, noting they are often overworked, underpaid, and micromanaged compared to their counterparts in foreign media.
She recommended adopting the freelancing model in Nigeria to provide flexibility and security for journalists.
Sunday flagged internal politics and biased management as demoralising factors that undermine retaining talents in newsrooms.
He called for an urgent need for independent human resource teams in newsrooms to manage people fairly.
Bamas urged media organisations to invest in people and not just content.
She called on media proprietors to offer competitive pay, clear career paths, and better welfare packages to journalists.
Bamas also highlighted the need for continuous training and protection for journalists engaged in accountability reporting.
Across the board, the panellists stressed that the problems were not limited to salary concerns. They agreed that a lack of professional structure, mentorship, and fair treatment were equally responsible for the growing attrition rates in newsrooms.
They warned that without immediate action, Nigerian media houses risk losing their most talented journalists to international organisations or sectors that provide better working conditions and career advancement opportunities.
The WSCIJ’s Journalism & Society Conversations series continues to provide a platform for urgent discussions around journalism and its impact on society. The WSCIJ May edition further reinforced the pressing need for structural reform to retain talent and ensure that Nigerian newsrooms remain a pillar of accountability and democratic growth.