ABSTRACT

This study examines the ethical issues and journalism practice in inspiration FM, Uyo. The study survey research design and question naira was used as the instrument for data collection. The sample size for the study was thirty (3). The findings of this study revealed that both internal and external factors greatly influence journalism practice in inspiration FM, The study further revealed that inspiration FM did not have and as such were not influence by the issue of managerial incompetence and the ways in which ethical issues and non-professionalism has influence inspiration Fm are in the area of protecting sources of news, conflict of interest and audience serving as customers. The study therefore recommends that regulatory bodies should endeavor to see that the fundamental objective and philosophies of the profession are clearly adhered to.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER           TITLE                                                           PAGES

                              Title page    –         –         –         –         –         i

Certification –         –         –         –         –         ii

Dedication   –         –         –         –         –         iii

Acknowledgement           –         –         –         iv

Table of contents   –         –         –         –         v-viii

List of Tables         –         –         –         –         ix

Abstract       –         –         –         –         –         x

CHAPTER ONE

                              INTRODUCTION

1.1                         Background of the studies          –         –         –         1-5

1.2                         Statement of the Problem          –         –         –         5-6

1.3                         Objectives of the Study   –         –         –         –         6-7

1.4                         Research Questions         –         –         –         –         7

1.5                         Significance of the study –         –         –         –         7

1.6                         Scope of the Study           –         –         –         –         8-9

1.7                         Limitation of the Study              –         –         –         9

1.8                         Definition of Terms         –         –         –         –         9-10

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1                         Journalism Practice: The Nigerian

Experience- –         –         –         –         –         –         11-16

2.2                         Professionalism and Media Ethics-      –         –         16

2.3                         Ethics of Journalism Practice in Nigeria-       –         16-21

2.4                         Understanding Ethical Issues in Journalism   –         21-23

2.5                         Theoretical Framework-  –         –         –         –         23-27

2.6                         Review of the Studies-     –         –         –         –         27-30

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLODY

3.1                         Research Design    –         –         –         –         –         31

3.2                         Population of the Study   –         –         –         –         31

3.3                         Sample and Sampling technique          –         –         31

3.4                         Instrument of Data Collection    –         –         –         32

3.5                         Validity and Reliability of Instrument           –         33

3.6                         Method of Data Analysis and Presentation    –        33

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

4.1                         Data Presentation and Analysis           –         –         34-41

4.2                         Discussion of Findings    –         –         –         –         42-44

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1                         Summary     –         –         –         –         –         –         45-46

5.2                         Conclusion  –         –         –         –         –         –         46-47

5.3                         Recommendation   –         –         –         –         –         59-60

References

Appendix

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1:      Gender  Distribution of Respondents-  –         –         –         34

Table 2:      Age Distribution of Respondents-       –         –         –         35

Table 3:       Educational Qualification of Respondents-    –         –         36

Table 4:      Working Experience of Respondents- –         –         –         37

Table 5:      Responses on the extent of familiarity of broadcast journalist with the concept of news commercialization-           –         38

Table 6:      Responses on the gain of broadcast media establishments from news commercialization-   –         –         –         –         –          39

Table 7:      Responses on the relationship between news commercialization and journalism standard-           –         –          –         –         40

Table 8:      Responses on the influence of news commercialization on journalism practice-         –         –         –         –         –         41

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Studies

Various professional in the world have identify carved for themselves in which they depend on pride. Some are known for routine, some are famous for their unity of purpose, salutation while some are known for the spirit de corps. The Nigerian media has taken a new turn in this 21^st century though a large percentage of print media ownership is still in the private hands while government cling to monopoly of the broadcast media is gradually giving way. Notwithstanding, concern from scholars perspective is more on the issues of non-professionalism which is more rampant in journalism. It is not uncommon for politicians who have no knowledge of journalism to establish one or more media houses purposely to prosecute their political ambition and sometimes establishing such financial gains.

The constitution of Nigeria does not guarantee freedom of expression including the freedom to hold opinion, to receive and impart ideas and information .several professionals bodies such as Law, Engineering, Accounting etc. Today enjoy a high sense of respect because they are clearly identify and defined by the Nigerian constitution, adhered to ethical values and governing rules. Ironically journalism, which is yet to be certified as profession, judging by the yardstick on what a profession percepts. Journalism is an esteemed profession that has a lot to offer in the reformation of the society; unfortunately in Nigeria it has become an all comers affairs.

The former Abuja Bureau Chief of the Tide Newspaper, Alloys Nweke, during the January 2008 Nigeria Union of Journalism   (NUJ) summit in Port Harcourt, frowned at the numerous untrained people bestriding the streets with pen and paper claiming to be journalist. Nweke’s speech revealed that the number of fake Journalist in Nigeria Society is higher than the real practitioners, this is really painful and embarrassing because it depicts journalist as beggars and irresponsible whereas genuine Nigerian Journalist have  remained in the forefront of democratic change and social reordering through doggedness and abrasive posture.

Akinfeleye (1990). Quoted an American critic, Dean Rosco Pound who onece wrote that every profession is governed by certain rules and the absence of such rules makes it a vocation (Akinfeleye, 1990). For  every long time Nigerian scholars, professionals and practitioners of journalism in Nigeria says journalism is a trade, others say it is a craft or an occupation, while the rest simply say it is a vocation. According to Akinfeleye (1990), the confusing state of affiars as to whether journalism is a profession or not in Nigeria has been partially bought about by the colonial rulers, particularly Britain where until recently journalism was regarded as “an unqualified profession” (Akinfeleye, 199).

In another development, every profession is being governed by its ethics an code of conduct. The early and the nationalist press were not governed by any formal ethics and code of conduct. For example educational policies didn’t  exist from the four page bilingual Iwe Iroyin to paged Daily times. On ethics and code of conducts in early Nigeria journalism practice, Udoakah and Nnadi (2007) position that there was regulation in the profession. This accounts for one of the reasons up till now journalism in Nigeria is still not been seen as a profession, it is an all-comers affairs. Responsible regulation came with the ethical code of the Nigeria Union of Journalist in 1962. This was after the journalist have established of March 15, 1955. It stated with twelve (12) point functions and 12 points code for members.

Following this on May 21, 1961, the Nigerian Guild of Editors was inaugurated. Both NUJ and NCE in 1962 proclaimed 16 point code of ethics for journalism practice in Nigeria with all fusing organization in January 15, 1979 and signed the ethics and code of conduct which as in operation before modification in 1998, the 1998 adopted code of ethics emphasized “The publication of truth, the question of free confidentiality the publication of plagiarism and errors of fact: Colonial rulers in Nigeria and their succeeding “Nigeria. European” regarded journalism education as an unnecessary undertaking.

This view partly account the reason about few decades ago, most Nigeria Universities did not offer any formal journalism training. Until recent times, Nigerian Journalist were been viewed as a bunch of dropouts who had been rejected by other professions,. This uncomplimentary view of journalism and journalist in Nigeria has made the profession, trade, craft or vocation very prestigious (Akpan, 2000).

It has now become a truism that low literacy rate contributes to a low degree of journalism training journalist performance. Journalism profession has suffered serious setbacks in its development processes in Nigeria because Nigeria nation has not given priority to degree programmes in Journalism, instead graduates from other discipline such as political science, economic, sociology, English etc are being given on-the-job training in journalism and these non-professionals do cause serious damage to this noble profession. Just of recent the immediate ex-NUJ president, Akwu in Port Harcourt after a deliberation on the state that journalist submitted that journalism that journalism should ensure strict adherence to the ethics of the profession in order to change the perception of the world about them. Making comment on the issues of non-professionalism in Nigeria journalism, Gboyega (1989), frowned at the inability of the very many press barons in Nigeria to make deliberate efforts to transform journalism in the country, to an enviable profession that can compete favourably in its organizational and virility as in other profession like legal, medical, engineering and banking professions.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Journalism practice in Nigeria is increasingly becoming difficult to situate within the mainstream of what journalism out to be in the real sense of its professional practice as guided by it’s ethics. The concept of citizen journalism as a profession, Arguably, studies have shown that the absence of a prescribed qualifying test has made it difficult to moderate the standard of journalism practice in Nigeria (Adaja, 2010; Oso, 2012).

The self censorship syndrome, inducement through brown envelope, pressure from individuals, groups and organizations, laws and administrative decisions, poor remuneration for journalist, absence of technical known how among others, have all combined to make the journalism profession a mockery of it’s standard of practice.

Certain inadequacies among the regulating bodies and non-professional filtration of yellow journalism practice and other professional have reduced and threatened the code of ethics upon which the journalism profession is expected to thrive.

It is on this premise that this Study sought to investigate the ethical issues and journalism practice in Inspiration F. M

1.3 Objectives of the study

This study aims at evaluating the ethical issues facing journalism practice in inspiration Fm.

1. To find out what extent to which internal factor influence journalism practice in Inspiration Fm.
2. To ascertain the extent to which external factors influence journalism practice in Inspiration Fm.
3. To determine if managerial incompetence influences journalism practice in Inspiration Fm.
4. To find out how ethical issues and non-professionalism affect journalism practice in Inspiration Fm.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions are formulated to guide the study

1. To what extent do the internal factors influence journalism practice inspiration Fm?
2. To what extent do the external factors influence journalism practice in Inspiration Fm?
3. To what extent does managerial incompetence or otherwise influence journalism practice in Inspiration?
4. How have ethical issues and non-professionalism affect journalism practice in Inspiration Fm?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research is timely and it is imperative in the sense that ethical journalism practice must be observed to boost the strength of professionalism.

However, the research is good administrators, government functionaries, legislators, House of Representative members and State Assemblies, State governors, counselors, Local Government Chairman, public servants etc. as it provides a prescribed qualifying test that helps to moderate the relationship between journalist and representative of the body(ies).

It is significant to the news and media house owners, executives, organizations and corporate business, individuals and the general public. This is because it provides the needed impetus to boost professional standards in journalism practice based on its ethical principles.

1.6 Scope of the study

This study investigate the various ethical issues in Inspiration encountered by journalist in the radio station as well as the relationship between these ethical issues and journalist practice. This study is restricted to Inspiration Fm and it comprises of all the broadcast journalist in Inspiration.

1.7     Limitation of the Study

Certain conditions arose which made the findings of this study less generalized to the population of the study, these unintentional action of these study, however, one among the most prominent limitations was the negative of most respondent towards the questionnaire. Some journalist refused to get the questionnaire and some civil servant also refused to fill the questionnaire they said even if they fill questionnaire nothing will be change in the profession.

Another issues encountered was their busy scheduled with made it difficult to get them most time on seat to administer and retrieve the questionnaire.

1.8 Definition of Terms 

The following terms are operationalized as used in the study.

Ethics: Set of concepts and  principles that guide behaviours and conduct of a particular group of people (i.e journalist). They are also seen as motivation based on ideas of right and wrong.

Journalism: The process of gathering, processing, disseminating of information to mass heterogeneous audience through the mass media. It entails reporting or photographing or editing news stories for the media.

Practice: A way of operation that is customary. It is the exercise of a profession (i.e journalism profession).

Challenges: Demanding situations that hinder the operations of journalist based on their principles of behavior and conduct of operation.