Meaa initiated australian media selfregulation in 1944 when it created the meaa journalist code of ethics see the faqs tab below under meaas rules, registered with the fair work commission, meaas journalist code of ethics only applies to meaa medias journalist members. New media and mass communication issn 22243267 paper issn 22243275 online vol. Bersak submitted to the department of comparative media studies, school of humanities, arts, and social sciences on august 11, 2006, in partial ful. Digital news media includes online journalism, blogging, digital photojournalism, citizen journalism and social media. Code of ethics for journalists centre for media freedom. To earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards.
Rufus giwa polytechnic, owo, ondo state, nigeria abstract for a very long time, nigeria scholars in various fields of endeavours have argued on the trade journalism. The article is devoted to the history of print media origin in nigeria, which are represented from the first newspaper founded by the english missionaries to newspapers created by. Nigerian journalism must come up with a new journalistic philosophy that should or inform journalistic practice and ensure greater effectiveness. This paper argues that ethics in the business of journalism leads to profits and to be successful in the long run, a news organization needs to be driven by strong ethical values, not profit. Act independently improving and protecting journalism. Of the apo six killings in abuja, nigeria tsebee, k. This is the concluding part of the paper presented by dan agbese, editorinchief, newswatch magazine at a workshop organised by the rivers council of nigeria union of journalists, port harcourt, march, 4, 2010. A more meaningful approach to journalism ethics must begin with a consideration of the role of the news media in a democratic society and proceed to look for practical ways in which journalism can. Ethics and law is the fourth in a series on media development. Profit, ethics, journalism, business, shareholder theory, stakeholder theory, conflict of interest.
Despite their vibrant contribution to the achievement of democratic governance in nigeria, the mass media, if unchecked, could destabilize facets of society. Ethics is categorized according to three types of inquiry or study. Department of mass communication benson idahosa university, benin city, nigeria email. This cluster is designed for students interested in exploring, learning about, and getting involved in the fascinating world of freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of expression on which democracy is based. It is not a set of rules, rather a guide that encourages all who engage in journalism to take responsibility for the information they provide, regardless of medium.
Founded in 1998 at the annenberg school of journalism, the online journalism. The article is devoted to the history of print media origin in nigeria, which are represented from the first newspaper founded by the english missionaries to newspapers created by the nigerian journalists. New forms of communication are reshaping the practice of a once parochial craft serving a local, regional or national public. Media ethics in the development of journalism in nigeria nkechi m. Historically, thi s theory was borne out of the belief that the press had abused the extreme. Department of mass communication, delta state university, p. Spj code of ethics society of professional journalists. The field covers many varied and highly controversial topics, ranging from war journalism to benetton ad campaigns media ethics promotes and defends values such as a universal respect for. The challenge is to do a good job of informing and educating the nigeria public. In establishing the organization, we considered and were convinced of such issues as.
The ethical journalism network aims to strengthen the craft of journalism and to promote for the public benefit high ethical standards in journalism, based on principles of truth and accuracy, independence, fairness and impartiality, humanity and accountability by the provision of education and training of journalists and the publication of useful research. Benin city fortyfive 45 nigerian journalists joined forces to draft the first code of conduct for ethical journalism about migrants, returnees and displaced populations in nigeria. Ethics of journalism the webster new collegiate dictionary defines ethics as follows. Nigeria who was in the dark as to how things were turning out. While the law establishes what you can and cannot do in given situations, ethics tells you what you should do based on personal, professional, social and moral values. Some media laws in nigeria institute for media and society. Press council public right to truthful and fair journalism.
Journalism is the gathering, organizing, and distribution of news to include feature stories and commentary through the wide variety of print and nonprint media outlets. See attached documents to know about journalists code of ethics in nepal. Ethics of journalism defined and the code of ethics for journalists ward 2009 in his chapter on journalism ethics in the handbook of journalism. The challenges of development journalism in nigeria dr. Today, news media use communication technology to gather text, video. A free and responsible press is the battle cry of the journalist today, as ethics and standards are an important consideration of all who enter the profession.
In the exercise of these duties, a journalist should. In other words, it set out to assess how media laws and ethics affect the standard of journalism practice in the country. Influence of mass media law and ethics on journalism. The core principles of ethical journalism set out below provide an excellent base for everyone who aspires to launch themselves into the public information sphere to show responsibility in how they use information. Problems of ethics and journalism in nigeria the tide. Enjoin the nigeria union of journalists, the nigerian guild of editors and the newspaper proprietors association of nigeria to ensure the implementation of the eligibility criteria for entry into and practice of journalism in nigeria, as contained in the nigerian press council decree no 85 of 1992. Doc journalism ethics in nigeria jimi kayode academia. It starts by making a case for an ethically based practice of journalism more so because of the responsibilities of the media as agents of social realities. The battle for professionalism in journalism in nigeria. This subset of media ethics is known as journalism s professional code of ethics and the canons of journalism. Pdf sensationalism epitomized by yellow journalism has been an issue of concern since the 20th century.
This study examined the influence of mass media laws and ethics on journalism practice in nigeria. Rufus giwa polytechnic, owo, ondo state, nigeria abstract this paper looks at the implication of new technology on the practice of journalism especially the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information. The institute for media and society is an independent, nongovernmental organization based in nigeria. The news has been changing with the introduction of new technologies. In an effort to attract as many readers, editors of daily. The population consisted of the 351 registered journalists in akwa ibom state of nigeria. The spj code of ethics is a statement of abiding principles supported by explanations and position papers that address changing journalistic practices. However, unethical practices in journalism do not exist in isolation, but as part of the overall ethical issues and societal problems in the world. Christopher university of ibadan, nigeria okereke onwuka abia state university, nigeria abstract. The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organizations. In the exercise of these duties, a journalist should always have a healthy regard for the public interest. Ethical journalism network promoting ethics in media ejn.
Since journalism is a socially responsible profession, it also has its distinct code of ethics for journalists. Welcome to nij africas premier institution in journalism, media and communication studies the nigerian institute of journalism, nij, is one of the foremost training institutions for journalism, media and communication studies in nigeria and africa, established in 1963 by the international press institute, ipi, with headquarters in zurich, switzerland. A journalist is a professional who put pieces of information together for public consumption, taking note of the differences in the audience. Mar 26, 2010 the responsibility for serving the public rests squarely on individual reporters and their editors. Any member of the public group or organisation is entitled to lodge a complaint to the nigerian press council about a print media or journalist and journalists about the public on publication that are factually incorrect or conduct that violates the code of ethicsmore. The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by professional journalism associations and individual print. Urge the nigerian press council to collaborate with the nigerian press organisation to publicise the code of ethics for the benefit of the press and the public, and ensure compliance with its provisions hereafter. Act independently improving and protecting journalism since. However, unethical practices in journalism do not exist in isolation, but as part of the overall. Code of ethics for nigerian journalists preamble journalism entails a high degree of public trust. Media ethics is the best division of applied ethics dealing with the specific ethical principles and standards of media, including broadcast media, film, theatre, the arts, print media and the internet. Influence of mass media law and ethics on journalism practice. The unethical practices in the mass media a journalist practice simply means he or she does not practice either according to the media ethics, press laws or nbc codes.
The ethical dimension of citizen journalism practice. Riginal rticle media ethics in the development of journalism. Nigerian journalists agree on first code of conduct for. Literature regarding the ways in which specifically the internet impacts media ethics in journalism online is scarce, thereby complicating the idea for a universal code of media ethics. Global media ethics aims at developing a comprehensive set of principles and standards for the practice of journalism in an age of global news media. Nigerias history of broadcasting dates from the 18 th century when iwe iroyin fun awon egba ati yoruba was introduced in the former southern protectorate of the country. Meaa can undertake no action or investigation that involves individuals who are not meaa members. Ethics is a system of principles that guides action.
It was a very basic, static web site, with a picture of the redbricked wall of the journalism department. There are hundreds of codes of conduct, charters and statements made by media and professional groups outlining the principles. Code of ethics for nigerian journalists accountable journalism. Consequently, it was recommended among others that journalists should continue to maintain high level of professional standards in the discharge of their duties. Influence of mass media law and ethics on journalism practice in nigeria 1. As i see it, the challenge facing us has less to do with our failure to abide by the ethics of the profession. Learning objectives by the time you have read this chapter and worked through the exercises and reading, you will know how to. Five principles of ethical journalism ethical journalism.
Journalistic ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and good practice applicable to journalists. The spj code of ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of journalists, regardless of place or platform, and is widely used in newsrooms and classrooms as a guide for ethical behavior. Felix olajide talabi3 1department of mass communication, cross river university of technology, calabar, calabar campus, cross river state nigeria 2department of mass communication, cross river university of technology, calabar. News commercialization, ethics and objectivity in journalism 15 broadcast stations in nigeria, tom adaba, a one time director general ofthenationalbroadcasting commissionnbc, one ofthe regulatory bodies in nigeria, makes a distinction between the legitimate sales of airtime for paid messages adjacent to or within breaks in the news. Effects of corruption and bad leadership on journalism in. Effects of nonprofessionalism in nigeria journalism.
Ethical dimension of the print media is the subject of this study. Digital media ethics deals with the distinct ethical problems, practices and norms of digital news media. Effects of corruption and bad leadership on journalism in nigeria corruption and bad leadership, the bane of unethical and subjective journalism odey simon robert eric ndoma besong scientific essay communications journalism, journalism professions publish your bachelors or masters thesis, dissertation, term paper or essay. Basically, broadcasting is a formal means of sending out information to a massive audience and for this objective to be achieved, media platforms such as newspapers, radio and tv stations are always required. Dec 19, 2017 the institute for media and society is an independent, nongovernmental organization based in nigeria. This subset of media ethics is known as journalisms professional code of ethics and the canons of journalism. Pdf the battle for professionalism in journalism in nigeria. The conflict between profit and ethics in the business of. There are hundreds of codes of conduct, charters and statements made by media. Online journalism and the challenge of ethics in nigeria 586 historical origin of online journalism in 1993, the university of floridas journalism department launched what is generally considered to be the first online journalism web site. News commercialization, ethics and objectivity in journalism. It includes questions about how professional journalism should use this new media to research and publish stories. Introduction the time we live in is marked by the widespread lack of ethics which has unfortunately infected the media, and the press.
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