Implication of Work Hazards Faced by Journalists in Federal Capital Territory Abuja

The study examines the work hazards faced by journalists in Abuja, focusing on
physical, legal, psychological, and cyber hazards. A descriptive research
methodology was employed and the techniques for data analysis are the simple
percentage and mean score. Four research question were raised for the study and
the population comprised of the residents in FCT- Abuja, which was stratified into
journalists, media organizations, journalists' unions and associations, government
and security agencies and legal experts and human rights advocates, and others. The
sample size of this study was 400 selected randomly from the population. It reveals
that journalists face a range of risks, including arbitrary arrests, security legislation,
lack of mental health assistance, and digital monitoring and hacking. These risks
limit their ability to investigate and report on governmental misconduct, limiting the
scope of journalism in Abuja. The study recommends legal reforms to decriminalise
defamation, scheduled safety and digital security drills, rapid response legal and
medical support, therapist assistance, and improved collaboration with journalist
unions and government entities. These measures could improve press freedom,
journalism quality, and the safety of journalists in Abuja. Based on the findings, the
study recommends that: Media organizations should implement safety policies to
respond to both physical and digital threats, providing protection gear and
technology to journalists. Lobbying for better press freedom and campaigns to
protect journalists' lives is crucial. Calling for changes to defamation laws and strict
rules on the Cybercrime Act can help minimize situations where legal provisions are
used to police or threaten journalists. Providing protection measures for physical,
digital, and cyberspace bullying is also essential.