EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRESS LAWS ON JOURNALIST IN NIGERIA
(A CASE STUDY OF FRCN ENUGU)
ABSTRACT
The topic of this study is Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Press Laws on Journalists, using the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as case study. The methodology of this study is the survey research methodology. Questionnaire was constructed and administered to the representative sample of the study. The analysis of data was done using sample percentages and tables for the demography of respondents and the research questions. The hypothesis were tested using the chi-square formula. The tested hypothesis showed that press laws, when properly applied enhance the regulation of the activity of journalists towards social responsibility and objectivity. However, the government use the laws as tools of suppression of journalistic activities through censorship. Nigerian journalists adhere strictly to press laws due to the fact that the government use repressive measures to implement them. This has reduced journalism to the mouth-piece of the government. Parts of the recommendations for this study are that laws which hinder effective journalism and temper with national interest issues should be removed or modified to enhance journalistic practice in Nigeria. Journalists should also utilize the opportunity of the freedom of the information Act to carry out their functions professionally.
Chapter One: Introduction
- Background of the Study 1
- Statement of the Research Problem 4
- Objective of the Study 5
- Significance of the Study 6
- Research Questions 7
- Research Hypothesis 7
- Theoretical Framework 8
- Scope of the Study 10
- Limitation of the Study 10
- Definition of the Terms
(Conceptual and Operational) 10
References 77
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.1 Sources of Literature 14
2.2 Review of Relevant Literature 14
2.3 Summary of the Literature 37
References 39
Chapter Three: Research Methodology
3.1 Research Design 40
3.2 Area of the Study 40
3.4 Research Population 41
3.4 Research Sample 42
3.5 Sampling Techniques 43
3.6 Instrument of Data Collection 44
3.7 Method of Data Collection 45
3.8 Method of Data Analysis 46
3.9 Expected Result 46
Chapter Four: Presentation and Interpretation of Findings
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis 49
4.2 Analysis of Research Questions/ Hypotheses 53
4.3 Discussion of Results 60
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and
Recommendations
5.1 Summary 62
5.2 Conclusion 63
53 Recommendation 65
Bibliography 66
Appendix 68
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Press laws have been designed to help guide the practicing journalist, as humanitarian advocates in carrying out their noble profession. The press has enormous powers and responsibilities entrusted on its shoulder, which if not checked, may not augur well for the society.
If any government allows the press to act as it pleased, there would be chaos in the society. Many, by acts of commission or omission by the members of the press can collide with the act, which law allows members of the society as their rights, in any democratic system. (Nwogbunyama 2007. p.1).
The press laws are age long processes which came as a result of press inability to properly use the libertarian philosophy of the press; that theory which stipulates absolutely freedom for the press was found to have given the press too much freedom which invariably led to licentiousness. A commission known as Hutchins commission headed by R. Hutchins was set up in 1947 to review that theory. The outcome of the commission’s report gave rise to the social responsibility theory, thus giving the press the freedom but with a caveat: freedom with responsibility. (Nwogbunyama, 2007, p. 369).
Over the years, the Hutchins commission report has gained respect world wide and is now regarded as one of the most important documents in the history of American press and has become a ground norm for media practice in the development countries and even in some developing nations of the Third World like Nigeria.
However, no democracy including the United States of America, has offered the press absolute freedom To allow the press absolute freedom is to run the risk of abridging the freedom of the individual and adversely affecting the society as a whole. But, whatever freedom the press may have, should be accompanied with the collorary responsibility. Responsibility helps the press to know the limits of its powers while going about its duties.
Therefore, it has become imperative that students of mass communication and the practicing journalist should study those aspects of the law that relates to their profession in order to operate successfully without infringing on the law of the society in which they operate.
On the other hand, the press has been faced with restrictions by way of codified set of laws, constitutional encouragement, obnoxious decrees amongst others. That is why the press strives for freedom. But in as much as the pres is clamoring for freedom, it should be aware that its right to freedom stops where another’s own begins.
There are however, certain laws that the practicing Nigerian journalist should adhere to which are his actual professional guideline towards achieving a great result. Suffice it to state that most countries of the world control their press through such laws like, defamation, sedition, contempt of the court, obscenity and indecent publications, invasion of privacy among others.
Therefore, these laws are made to regulate and guide the conduct of journalism in any given society.
If all journalist had the same perception of good and evil and had to avoid doing evil things and did only those things which are good, the need for press law would have been limited.
As a result, the instrument known as “press law” has to be used to regulate the activities of journalists.
In view of these assertions, this study is geared towards funding out the effectiveness of press laws on the practicing Nigerian journalists.
1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Press laws are designed guide to the practice of journalism. They are usually meant to streamline the activities of the journalists in carrying out their duties. Press laws became pertinent to the practice of journalism because the libertarian era which gave room for the free press engendered some kinds of report which are seen as unfit for the journalistic practice.
Press laws bring the journalists into the arm bit of professionalism and help them avoid some issues and events that can otherwise be seen as threats to individual or the nation. In other words, it is used to keep the journalist abreast of the fact that their rights to report issues and events ends where another person’s right begins.
Despite the importance of press laws to the practicing Nigerian journalists, they are still faced with such problems like limitation on their press freedom. It has also caused a lot of controversies and thus hamper the practice of journalism.
It is on this note that the researcher wants to find out the effectiveness of press laws on journalism practice in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The objective of this study includes:
- To find out if press law is an effective means of regulating the activities of the journalist in Nigeria
- To find out whether Nigerian journalist adhere to media laws and ethics
- To understand whether government use press law to censor journalists
- To recommend ways in which press laws and journalism practice in Nigeria will be used to ensure professionalism in journalism field
- To discover if press law has a positive effect on the practicing Nigerian journalist
- To ascertain how press laws can enhance the activities of Nigerian journalism.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
It is all well hoped that this research work will definitely benefit the staff of Radio Nigeria in Enugu metropolis.
This study will serve as a means to tackle most of the inherent problems effectively.
It will also help the society at large by bringing to their knowledge those laws expected to guide the practicing Nigerian journalist.
Finally, though the researchers restricted the study to Enugu environment, the result of the findings will be of immense benefit to all students of mass communication (the upcoming journalists).
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- Is press law an effective means of regulating activities of the journalist in Nigeria?
- Do Nigerian journalists adhere to media laws and ethics?
- Does government use press law to censore journalists?
- Can press law be said to have a positive effect on the practicing Nigerian journalists?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H1: Press law is an effective means of regulating the activities of journalists in Nigeria
Ho: Press law is not an effective means of regulating the activities of journalists in Nigeria.
H2: Nigerian journalist adhere to media laws and ethics
Ho: Nigerian journalists do not adhere to media laws and ethics.
H3: Government use press laws to censor journalists
Ho: Government do not use press laws to censor journalists.
H4: press law is said to have a positive effect on the practicing Nigerian journalist.
Ho: Press law is said not to have a positive effect on the practicing Nigerian journalists.
1.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In this study, the theoretical framework the researchers intends to anchor which will provide the needed explanations and adequately address the given problem, is the social responsibility theory of the press.
This theory grew out of libertarian theory and prescribes that the press must be free to perform its traditional social functions but has to do this within the framework of the law. The theory therefore, presupposes that freedom is concomitant to obligations. (Ukonnu, 2006, pp.186).
The development of this theory owes its origin to the American commission on the freedom of the press set up in 1947 called “Hutchins Commission”. It was set up to ascertain the extent to which the libertarian theory was working. This followed the allegation that he concept of free press was a farce because there was not equal access to the media, which had become the preserve of the rich. (Ukonnu, 2006. Pp.187).
The social responsibility theory requires the individual to write with all caution and sincerity. It stresses responsibility to the society instead of freedom. Freedom without responsibility is licentiousness, near madness.
In view of the above assertions, it can be seen that from time being the press has been operating with some established laws. This according to the proponents of the social responsibility is to streamline the activities of the press and helps it operate reasonably as to offer its responsibility to the society.
However, it seem as if there are disparities in the application of these laws to the journalism practice. The westerns seem to be more operational as regards the law than the third world countries.
Nevertheless, there are laws designed to ensure social responsibility on the part of the press, so as to enable is perform its traditional function to the society.
1.8 SCOPE OF STUDY
This study is delimited to Radio Nigeria Enugu. This is as a result of time constraints and as well as the place and location of the researchers.
1.9 LIMITATION OF STUDY
There are many other problems that stemmed up during the research work in which some of them are as follows.
– Financial Constraints – As a student, there was not enough capital to spend in transport and fact finding and borrowing of necessary literature that would have helped in the writing of this research work
– Management constraints – The respondents especially the branch manager, did not co-operate as was expected. Also the workers in the different departments visited were reluctant in answering some of the questions asked.
All this problems not withstanding, did not prevent the continuation of the research work.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
(Conceptual and Operational Definitions)
In this chapter, certain words that have duplicated meaning outside this work have been carefully defined in order to guide the reader against confusing words. They are:
- Evaluation – Conceptually, evaluation can be defined as judging or calculating the quality, important, amount or value of something.
Operationally, Evaluation means to judge the quality and important of press laws towards effective journalistic practice.
- Effectiveness – Conceptually, effectiveness means producing results that was wanted or intended
Operationally, it means the capability of press laws to produce the intended result from the practice of journalism.
- Press Law – These are those laws guiding the practicing Nigerian journalist.
Press – These are the journalists and photographers who work in newspapers and magazines, Radio or Television.
Law – These are the whole system of rules that everyone in a country or society must obey.
- Nigerian Journalists – These are those that embarked on journalism profession especially those practicing in Nigerian.
Journalists – This is a person whose job is to collect and write news stories for newspaper, magazine, radio or television.
REFERENCES
Ezeja, O. (2006) Project Writing Research Best Practice, Enugu: ANDELs publishers.
Nwogbunyama, E. (2007) Law and Ethics of Mass Communication, Enugu: Academic Publishers.
Okoro N. & Agbo, B. (2003) Writing for the Media Society, Enugu: Prize Publishers.
Ukonu, M.O. (2006) Dynamics of Mass Media Development in Nigeria, Enugu: Ryce Kerex Publishers.
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