Journalism Trainers and Newspapers Editors Agree on Internship as a Weak Link in Journalism Training in Nigeria
Dr. Ojomo, Olusegun

Abstract
There have been growing concerns among mass communication scholars and professionals on how to improve media practice and professionalism in Nigeria. These stakeholders think that a good starting point is an examination of the training systems that produce the personnel that man the industry. This study examined internship as a vital component of journalism and mass communication training that needs to be strengthened in order to produce better trained manpower for the Nigeria media industry. The study sampled media training institutions and newspaper organisations in the six states of the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The study employed the reflective practice theory as a theoretical background. It equally used the quantitative and qualitative methods of research, using questionnaires and personal interviews as instruments. Two population groups: journalism trainers; and editors of daily and weekly newspapers, chosen through the total enumeration sampling technique responded to two similar, 28-item questionnaires. Ten editors and ten trainers were equally chosen for interview through the available sampling method to elicit qualitative data. The study covered 22 out of the 28 journalism training institutions, and 16 out of the 19 daily and weekly newspapers in South-West Nigeria. The study found that both editors and trainers see internship as a major area that requires improvement in journalism education. However, whereas trainers do not support advanced internship for themselves, editors think that journalism trainers should do advanced internships.

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