As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, the nation, like many others, faces pressing issues of combating fake news, fostering media accountability, and adapting to the digital age, among others. Against this backdrop, our correspondent, Tolu Adesina, met with Dr. Ruth Oji, a Senior Lecturer at Pan-Atlantic University and an expert on media language, for a no-holds-barred interview on the role of language in shaping press freedom and democratic engagement. Drawing from her research and work with the Solutions and Data Journalism Academy, Dr. Oji shared valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of media discourse and its implications for journalism in Nigeria.
Interviewer: Considering your experience with the Solutions and Data Journalism Academy, how would you describe the most significant change in Nigerian media discourse over the past five years?
Dr. Ruth Oji: Thank you for raising this important topic, especially today. Over the last five years, there has been a remarkable shift from monologic to dialogic journalism. Rather than passively consuming news, audiences now actively engage with it. My research shows that 78% of Nigerian news organizations purposefully incorporate reader feedback in real-time. Social media has birthed what we now call conversational journalism, where readers and audiences “talk their way through issues.” Additionally, hybrid newsrooms have emerged, with 65% of Nigerian journalists simultaneously producing content for traditional and digital platforms to reach diverse audiences.
Interviewer: Social media is a major driver of news consumption. How has this shaped traditional journalistic language?
Dr. Ruth Oji: Social media’s impact has been transformative. Headlines, for instance, are now crafted to be shareable on platforms like Twitter, making them more conversational and engaging. Studies show that this approach increases audience interaction by up to 92%. Similarly, traditional journalism has adapted by adopting shorter paragraphs—sometimes just one or two sentences—and integrating multimedia elements such as videos and graphics to retain reader attention. These changes make the language more dynamic and accessible, ensuring that traditional journalism remains relevant in a digital-first era.
Interviewer: Your research on television talk shows highlights interesting power dynamics. How have these evolved in the digital age?
Dr. Ruth Oji: The digital age has democratized media discourse. Citizen journalism now accounts for 30% of breaking news, demonstrating a shift in power from institutions to individuals. We no longer rely solely on traditional media to deliver breaking news. In fact, 82% of viral news originates from individual users, and 40% of traditional media stories are sourced from social media. This decentralization of power has enabled citizens to shape narratives, but it also requires vigilance to maintain credibility and trust. This is where some theories of communication and language become so, so important to anyone who is going into mainstream journalism. Some of these so-called theories have become full fledged disciplines or fields of endeavor.
Interviewer: Can you let us in to some of those?
Dr. Ruth Oji: There are many of such, but as a trained linguist, I will say pragmatics. That is the study of how context influences the interpretation of meaning in communication. The focus in pragmatics goes beyond the literal meanings of words and sentences to explore how people use language in real-life situations. For example, how tone, body language, and cultural norms affect the way messages are understood; understanding the speaker’s intention, relationship between the speaker and listener, and the situational factors that influence communication, are all concerns being addressed in that field.
Interviewer: With misinformation on the rise, how can pragmatic analysis help combat fake news?
Dr. Ruth Oji: Pragmatic analysis is invaluable. AI-powered tools now detect fake news with an accuracy rate of 87%, using linguistic markers such as urgency cues, emotional language, and verification prompts. For example, phrases like “Please RT for visibility” or “Can anyone else confirm?” are pragmatic indicators that help identify misinformation. By analyzing context and linguistic patterns, we can significantly reduce the spread of fake news.
Interviewer: As a media trainer, what do you see as the biggest challenge for journalists in today’s environment?
Dr. Ruth Oji: Journalists today face immense pressure to publish quickly, often at the expense of accuracy. Verifying sources takes time, and in a competitive environment, this creates a tension between speed and reliability. Additionally, adapting to digital platforms and maintaining cultural sensitivity in global reporting remain critical challenges. These require journalists to continuously evolve their skills and approaches.
Interviewer: Finally, looking ahead, what changes do you predict in Nigerian media language over the next decade?
Dr. Ruth Oji: We are likely to see a hybrid evolution of Nigerian Pidgin and English in mainstream media, catering to younger audiences who favor blended languages. Micro-content formats and infographics will also dominate, replacing text-heavy formats to improve engagement. Moreover, there will be a push for preserving indigenous languages alongside global connectivity—a balance I describe as “glocal” storytelling. Journalists will integrate AI tools to craft content more efficiently, and multi-modal storytelling will become the norm.
Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Oji, for sharing these important perspectives with us.
Dr. Ruth Oji: It’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me. But let me quickly add that a day like this reminds us all to commit to fostering a free, accountable, and innovative media space, as it is vital for our democracy and collective progress.