Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Investigative Journalism Practices has emerged as a critical factor shaping audience trust in media across organizations operating in and around Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how investigative journalism practices relates to audience trust in media has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on investigative journalism practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with audience trust in media, particularly within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about investigative journalism practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect audience trust in media. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Investigative Journalism Practices on audience trust in media in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which investigative journalism practices influences audience trust in media within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with investigative journalism practices in relation to audience trust in media.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing investigative journalism practices in order to improve audience trust in media.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of investigative journalism practices on audience trust in media in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does investigative journalism practices influence audience trust in media within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with investigative journalism practices in relation to audience trust in media?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize investigative journalism practices in order to improve audience trust in media?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of mass communication, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria seeking to understand how investigative journalism practices translates into measurable outcomes around audience trust in media. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Investigative Journalism Practices and its relationship with audience trust in media within the context of Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.