Responsible Journalism and Sustainable Development: Ethical Challenges in Reporting Sensitive Social Issues

This study investigates the ethical challenges faced by journalists in reporting sensitive social issues and examines their implications for sustainable development, using Globe FM Bauchi as a case study. Anchored on social responsibility theory, the study adopted a quantitative survey design. A total of 86 respondents were selected from a population of 109 journalists and staff using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha reliability tests, and ANOVA. Findings revealed that ownership pressure, limited ethics training, and fear of community backlash significantly affect journalists’ ability to report sensitive issues objectively. Results further show inconsistent adherence to professional ethical codes, which weakens the media’s contribution to inclusive governance and community development. These findings underline that strengthening ethical journalism practices is critical to advancing sustainable development by promoting accurate public information, social cohesion, and accountable governance.