Abstract
Journalism, like other professions, has direct impact on the citizenry and the society at large. Practitioners are expected to be guided by a code of conduct which members are expected to comply with strictly, and to be enforced by a body acceptable to all the stakeholders. However, journalism practice in Nigeria has raised a lot of questions as to the proprietary of referring to it as a profession. The loose definition of the criteria for membership has made the profession an all-comers-affair. Also, the absence of a prescribed qualifying test has made it difficult to moderate the standard of journalism practice in Nigeria. To restore credibility to the profession, the gap between school curricula and journalism practice must be bridged. A revisit to the existing code of conduct to explicitly state those who can practice journalism in Nigeria is necessary. Also, an acceptable remuneration package comparable with other professions must be worked out.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table of content
CHAPETR ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of problem
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Research Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
1.7 Definition of terms
1.8 Organization of the study
CHAPETR TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPETR THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 sources of data collection
3.3 Population of the study
3.4 Sampling and sampling distribution
3.5 Validation of research instrument
3.6 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introductions
4.2 Data analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Truth is either nailed to a bleeding cross, or it dons a variegated cloak. That is the nexus between the ‘brown envelope’ syndrome and the cancer of corruption. Siyan Oyeweso (2009).
Journalism practice wields such enormous powers and calls for the highest standards of ethics and commitment to truth. Ethics and truth in journalism have assumed global concern as scholars recognize that their basic constituents of objectivity, accuracy, fairness and balance have merely assumed mythical qualities as journalists battle to assign credibility to their news stories.
Tuchman (1978: 2) describes objectivity as `facility’ (a mechanism which allows the journalists to hide even from themselves the `constructed’ and `partial’ nature of their stories). This view seems to have garnered force as increasingly, scholars suggest that news even when professionally `selected’ is guided more by organizational needs than by professionalism. The journalist thus becomes `a walking paradox’ (Nordenstreng 1995) as one cannot fail to see that journalism is so full of contradictions that “we have to question even the most fundamental dogma of the profession – truth seeking – because the way it has been conceived and practiced in journalism serves as a deceptive filtering device preventing as much as helping the truth being discovered” (Nordenstreng 1995:117). News commercialization practise in Nigeria media industries adds to this contradiction and deception, creating a continuous dilemma for ethics and objectivity in journalism practice in Nigeria.
In the same manner, in our noble profession of journalism, when a journalist gets hooked on the ‘brown envelope’ malaise, or a media house engages in ‘cheque book journalism,’ professionalism and ethics get crucified.
While the definitions are wide, within the media, they have precise applications as defined by the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ Code of Ethics Clause 4 of the Code says: “A journalist shall not accept bribes nor shall he/she allow other inducements to influence the performance of his/her professional duties.”
The Nigerian Guild of Editors concurs in Clause 7 of its Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists where it says emphatically that, “A journalist should neither solicit nor accept bribe, gratification or patronage to suppress or publish information.” It further states that “To determine payment for publication of news is inimical to the notion of news as fair, accurate, unbiased and factual report of an event.
TerjeS. Skjerdal of the Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication, Norway. In a research article titled, Research On Brown Envelope Journalism In The African Media, (African Communication Research Vol. 3, 2010) states: “The term ‘brown envelope journalism’ is applied to denote journalistic activity which involves transfer of various types of rewards from sources to the reporter” (p. 369).
He further identifies the “three characteristics” that are commonly involved in the disturbing phenomenon. One, it usually occurs at a very personal level; two, it involves a reasonable degree of confidentiality to succeed. Media are social institutions that expect to make a moral contribution to the society; therefore, there is need for the rules that will guide the journalism practice. Oso and Pate, (2011: 145) quoted Johnson saying media are potentially “great secular church” and a system of Evangelism for dispensing the darkness of ignorance, expelling error and establishing truth.” On the process of their duty journalists were criticized of been subjective and their role has been a topic of discussion. According to Briggs and Burke 2005 they said “journalists are not to be trusted” and they are “slanderous”. (Briggs and Burke, 2005). The reason behind this is that; the nature of ownership, the news media weather it is government owned media or private media, the employers are working under editorial control. Politicians who can afford to run a media house can dictate what goes into the pages of the newspaper (Dare, 2010: 2). Government owned media tries to protect the government interest where as private media protect the interest of owners, these leads to the violation of stipulated code of ethics. Like the saying goes „He who pays the piper dictates the tone‟. This research will examine the practice of the profession of journalism in Nigerian news media. Journalism is the trade technique or profession of reporting news for the public by various means. James Glen Stovall says “journalists meet many challenges in gathering, processing and distributing the news…” (Stovall, 2005: 18). Journalists are facing serious challenges in the process of their duty.Journalists are watchdog or gatekeepers of the society because they decide what news is and they make much important decision about what society says to itself. Been the gatekeepers of the society the profession is guided by journalism code of ethics to ensure journalists are doing their job within the context. Ethics in journalism, is the code of morals that journalist are supposed to uphold. These include a commitment to revealing the truth objectivity without being influenced by self-interest; maintaining the secrecy of sources and attributing what is said to the appropriate source (Ike, 2005: 74).Media has become as necessary as food and clothing. It has played significant role in strengthening the society. Media is considered as “mirror” of the modern society, in fact, it is the media which shapes our lives. Agenda setting describes a very powerful influence of the media, the ability to tell us what issues are important. McCombs and Shaw pointed out that; Agenda setting is the creation of public awareness and concern of salient issues by the news media. Two basis assumptions underlie most research on agenda-setting: first, the press and the media do not reflect reality; they filter and shape it. Second, media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues. (McCombs & Shaw, 1972: 176).Walter Lippmann in his 1922 classic, Public Opinion, he noted that:“The news media are a primary source of those pictures in our heads about the larger world of public affairs, a world that for most citizens is out of reach, out of sight, out of mind.” The purpose of the media is to inform people about current, new affairs and to tell about the latest gossip and fashion. It tells about the people who are geographically divided. In other words, Media can contribute a lot to a society. It can change opinions because they have access to people and this gives it a lot of strength. This strength can either be used constructively by educating the people or it can be used destructively by misleading the innocent people, the most important use of media is to educate the people about the basic human rights. Media is a bridge between the governing bodies and general public. Considering this vital role of the media in the society, there is need for ethical issues. This research focus on ethical issues on Nigerian news media, before discussing the ethical issues and theories the research will give brief background about Nigeria as a nation and Nigerian media structure, the research also discusses about Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalist. That is, it is not usually done in the open. And three, it is an informal contract. This presupposes that there is a willing source who is ready to give ‘something’ to influence the processing of the information gathered by the reporter; and a reporter, willing or reluctant to take but who collects all the same for his/her personal use and the ‘deal’ is wrapped up in utmost confidentiality (pp. 369-370)
- STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
It is clearly stated in the ethics of journalism that journalists are not to receive any form of bribe whether white, blue, green or brown envelope which has become common phenomenon among Nigeria journalists.
Many journalists derive pleasure in collecting brown envelope which is sending a bad signal and making public loosing confidence in journalism activities.
This research will x-ray the position of the Punch newspaper as against the collection of brown envelope by its staff.
- OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To know how the ethics of journalism are against the brown envelop.
2. To study why journalists receive brown envelope.
3. To highlight the implications of brown envelope on the image and objectivity of media house. - To know how welfare of journalists influence brown envelope.
5. To know that the media houses are doing to curtail brown envelop.
6. To unravel why Punch newspapers opt to publicly declared acceptance of gratification by its staff.
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;
H0: brown envelope does not have any negative image on the objectivity of media house.
H1: brown envelope does have a negative image on the objectivity of media house.
H0: the welfare of journalists does not influence brown envelope
H2: the welfare of journalists does influence brown envelope
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- To what extent can gift be amount to brown envelope?
2. To what extent can brown envelope affect news objectivity?
3. Can poor welfare force journalists to accept brown envelope?
4. To what extent can media owner prevent their journalists from collecting bribe?
5. Is taking brown envelope a punishable offence? - To what extent can collection of brown envelope be eradicated among journalists?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
With the selection of the Punch Newspaper as a case study, this project work has been limited because it will be difficult to contact all mass media houses in Nigeria. However, the demography of the journalists and management of the Punch Newspaper such as : age, sex, working experience, academic qualification will be considered before the distribution of questionnaires.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Work like this will benefit a lot of people; few among the beneficiaries include but not limited to undergraduates and graduates of mass communication, advertisers and public relations.
It will as well benefit the media practitioners on what is expected of them in a company. It will serve as eyes opener to the management and journalists the need to uphold the ethics of the profession in order to sanitize the profession. In addition, this research work tries to provide satisfactory answers to some questions that are disturbing the mind of policy formulators, students and researcher. Moreover, policy formulators will benefit from this research work because they will be able to identify the usefulness of the ethics of journalism in their day to day assignment.
1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Although this study has accomplished the purpose, which is set out to achieve, one of the very limitations is that the validity of the results or findings is depending on the honest of the respondents in providing the needed information. Due to constraints of time and money, it is difficult to carry out the research extensively. This led to the limiting of the scope.
Cognizance was also taken to the fact that the academic calendar was too short and academic workload was enormous, as a result of this, no time to run around for the work.
1.9 Definition of the Terms
Press: This is a collective name for media practitioners
Ethics: It is the principle or code of conduct that governs a particular association or group.
Brown envelope: It is aterms in the media sphere which means bribe given to journalists?
Journalism: This is a profession of or act of writing, editing and dissemination of information to the wider audience.
Professionalism: It is an act or way of standardizing a particular organization profession or organizing
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the subject matter. Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
