Underpaid and exploited: The silent struggles of young media practitioners in Nigeria

By Olalekan Mandela

In 2018, Ibrahim Hassan* walked into a radio station with only one intention: to seek a placement for his mandatory six-month Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) training as a physicist. At this time, he was in his third year at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

He was accepted and soon started getting hands-on experience in radio broadcasts and managing transmitters. During conversations, one of the lead programme presenters at the station would casually commend Mr. Hassan’s command of the English Language suggests he could be an excellent radio presenter. The student himself had had a fondness for the media, which he never pursued.

Three months into his SIWES training, the station experienced a shortage of staff, and the presenters were overwhelmed. It turned into an opportunity for Mr. Hassan as the lead programme presenter invited him to present a segment on a radio show, marking the beginning of his foray into the media space.

“I was very happy,” he said. “I love talking, and I have always dreamed of a career that would let me make money doing so.” 

Alleged exploitation, revolt

The university student then started merging his role as an engineer trainee and an internship as a presenter at the station. It was daunting, he admitted, but he loved the opportunity and went for it even though it was an unpaid role. Even when his six-month SIWES training ended, he continued volunteering with the organisation.

But what started as a valuable hands-on learning experience gradually became a full-time role as he added more responsibilities.

With time, Mr. Hassan found himself handling the same tasks as full-time employees of the organisation. But without a formal employment agreement with the organisation, he wasn’t earning anything—except for occasional stipends that never exceeded N3,000 a month. This continued for over two years even though Nigeria’s minimum wage at the time was N30,000.

He, alongside five other colleagues who are not on the organisation’s payroll, felt exploited and decided to write to the management of the organisation to express their dissatisfaction.

“We did most of the work in the company, bringing in most of the revenues,” Mr. Hassan said, explaining that he worked in almost all of the station’s departments, including the engineering department.

However, the organisation found their petition as a threat by young practitioners and responded crudely. The young practitioners were accused of misusing the opportunity given to them and asked them to leave if they were not willing to work with a N3,000 monthly stipend. 

Mr. Hassan left the organisation briefly but left again after another ‘exploitative action’.

Journalists battle low pay as industry struggles

Meanwhile, the situation with these interns is not unique. A publication by Nigeria-based Premium Times also revealed how employed media practitioners struggle to pay their monthly entitlements. 

Media entrepreneurs and publishers have blamed these challenges on the shrinking advertisement revenue and reduced sales from publishing newspapers. Courtesy of the digital disruption, most people now get and read news on their mobile devices. Many publications have closed down as a result of this dwindling fortune. Poor pay for practitioners and massive layoffs have also become the norm in the industry.

But it is worse for young people. Across the world, young people trying to break into the media industry found themselves working for free before landing a paid gig. 

The Reuters Institute reported, for instance, that in 2023, NPR cancelled its internship programme citing economic woes. The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which typically provides internship opportunities to young reporters of colour in the US, was also forced to cancel its summer internship programme due to funding concerns. 

Toxic, exploitative bosses

While there are challenges facing the industry, there are also media entrepreneurs who deliberately exploit young people by luring them with good welfare and then fail to fulfil the promises. When they protested, they got threatened with lawsuits.

While working at a radio station in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jessica Johnson* said she worked under uncertain pay conditions and failed remuneration promises. At the same time, Ms Johnson was juggling numerous responsibilities at the radio station. 

Guide for young journalists

Speaking with a veteran media and advertising executive and former general manager of Royal Roots 92.9 FM Ibadan, Charles Alade (ARPA) highlights how the quest for fame and attention from ambitious and potential graduates who wished to work in media houses without doing proper background checks or researching the history of the media house is one of the reasons why they are exploited or undervalued by media houses that take advantage of their naivety.

“I don’t think there is a solution coming soon, because people who go through it don’t scream it loud enough, and media practitioners, especially graduates who want to go through it, are not ready to do their background check because of their quest for fame and attention,” he said. 

He also highlights how the watch dog (NBC—Nigeria Broadcasting Commission) is not doing enough to bring the perpetrators to book. He continued and shared how many media houses hire more than they can pay, only to use these employees and not pay them.

“NBC should close down any station that didn’t pay their employees salary in 3 months, and people should also be able to report to a regulatory body to fine or sanction any media house if salary is not being paid after 2 months or in case an employee is exploited or undervalued. When we have such a body that is firm and strict to their regulations, this nonsense will stop,” he added. 

The stories of different ambitious graduates treated unfairly serve as a potent reminder of the injustices faced by countless others in similar positions. It is a call to action for media houses to reconsider their treatment of employees, to recognise and reward their hard work, and to foster an environment that values talent and nurtures growth.

In the fierce world of media, where creativity and innovation reign supreme, it is high time for companies to prioritise the well-being and fair treatment of their employees. Only by uplifting and empowering those who form the foundation of their success can media houses truly thrive and make a positive impact on society.

Editor’s note: Pseudonyms were used after interviewees requested anonymity for fear of being victimised.

The story was produced as part of the Liberalist Centre’s Journalism for Liberty Fellowship with funding support from Atlas Network.