THE EFFECT OF PRESS LAWS ON THE NIGERIAN PRACTISING JOURNALIST
ABSTRACT
Laws have been seen to be virtually indispensable for an unruly society laden with licentiousness as an orientation. Because too much freedom according to John Lucke, one of the finding fathers of libertarianism, stipulates that it could lead to one man being brute to man inconveniencing another.
The focus remains that the press laws in connection with the contemporary journalistic activity, range from sedition to obscenity to libel, to slander even, to defamation of character, to copy right and so on.
But suffice it to say that ever person who calls himself a professional journalist, has gone through the of a sound training, and theoretically, has imputed a sound knowledge as regard a cautions adherence of the codified booklet which contains the journalism code of ethics.
The ethical laws inspire all the ethical comportment which a journalist needs to show his professional epitome which obnoxiously is mandated by a sector of a few influential citizens.
A vehement be vociferous journalism mogul babatude Jose once said that all the already prevailing laws, added clauses, which is aimed at acquainting the reader (s) of the effects of such press laws on the practicing journalist.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It is imperative to understand from the onset that the press has been subjected to a nexus of restriction which have restricted the journalists to a corner as regard their expected reportage and performance.
The press has been faced with restriction by way of as set of codified
vlaws
vConstitutional encroachments
vObnoxious decrees
vOfficial
vExtra official limitation among a host of other restriction
However, there are certain laws that the practicing Nigerian journalist should adhere to which are his actual professional guidelines toward a better reportage orientate.
Moreover, such press laws can also be seen as legal limitation of the press because of the N.U.J, N.G.E and even the N.P.A.N backing of these press laws herein.
Before going deeper one cannot out rightly state that the level of suggestion, and, or adherence to pres laws depend on the level of advancement of country in question. Suffice it state at this juncture that most countries of the world control their press through such laws like
Libel
Slander
Sedition
Contempt of court
Obscenity
Invasion of privacy
And among a host of other press laws. But for the purpose of this study as regard the hazard involved, it will be wise to narrow down only in those aforementioned areas.
There are other laws as the copyright laws appropriate laws and among other laws.
But the relevant importance to this project is to focus on the effects of the above mentioned laws among a plethora of other laws on the practicing Nigerian journalists.
Question thus arises, what psychological orientation of these laws have on the practicing Nigerian journalist. Again, how will the journalist react as regards the press law in Nigeria, the sector within which the journalist is operating?
The law of libel and slang for instance are quite explicit in their moral orientation while libel deals with written words, slander deals with spoken words.
In this light, since every human is entitled to a good reputation anything that is written and or spoken in bad light tend to if not true, injure and, or defame such a person image by malicing such a person in the mind of the right thinking people there by denying such a person of friendly intercourse in the society.
Sedition is yet another press law. According to section 50 of the criminal code in Nigeria, it simply defined a sedition publication as a publication containing intention, that is to bearing into hatred or contempt or to excile disaffection against the governmental functionaries or to incite the masses to get what they want through alternative means other than other lawful avenues that have been tactfully designed by the government to enhance normally.
Contempt of court on its own simply means that any accused person should be given his right to fair trail vial the non prejudicial influence of the press man, so as not for the press to prejudice the court or the judges against an accused person through in guarded comments by the press
The law of obscenity deals with the journalistic avoidance of any publication that tends to deprive, and or corrupt those whose minds are vulnerable to such immoral influences.
Lastly, the copyright law simply refers to the playlarist negativity orientation. A situation in which another journalist who is not inventive enough, now capitalizes on another original work and expand it in its original manner devoid any prior permission.
In fact, this hold journalist from interfering in another original work. The above mentioned laws are the area that questions will be asked.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The actual research modalities as tied to this study is an attempt to evaluate the effects of press laws on the Nigerian praising journalist and moreover to actually analyze the overall output to the generality of the masses, as regard whether these press laws are favorable or unfavourable to the third world nation called Nigeria.
Then again, to even go further to briefly, but elaborately define the press laws to clarity issues from the on set as to what they actually entailed.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are the following viz:
vTo see what the press law entail
vTo relate these press laws to the journalist psychology of writing
vTo see whether the press laws are relevant to the practicing journalistic or not
vTo see whether such press laws can improve the writing output of the Nigerian practicing journalists.
vTo see whether the press laws are obtainable in other parts of the world
vTo see whether press laws should out rightly
vBe scraped or remodified the way it is
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study has become imperative not only to the academic guns, but also to the non –academic sector which perhaps uses its function to the proliferation of contemporary journalism with respect to Nigeria.
However, it will be of pertinent importance to further examine the actual effects of such press laws on the practicing journalists in order to take a more official look on the chain of information flows and to further investigate the qualitative output of the Nigerian journalist in relation his tendency to indulge in unrefined and qualitative output.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
Some research questions are thus formed in the mind of the researcher viz:
vCan the press laws be said to have a positive or negative effect on the Nigerian practicing journalist?
vCan such press laws yield a more qualitative output in contemporary Nigerian journalism?
vAre the press laws thus relevant to the practicing Nigerian journalist?
vAre advance nation involved in this pres laws orientation or are they peculiar to the Africanized nations
vShould the press laws be encouraged?
vShould the press laws be modified?
vShould the press laws be out rightly removed?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
H1: Press laws have a positive effect on practicing Nigerian journalists
H2: Press laws have a negative effect on practicing Nigerian journalists
H2: press laws are relevant on the practicing Nigerian journalists
H0: press laws are not relevant on the practicing Nigerian journalists
H3: press laws yield positive qualitative output in contemporary Nigerian journalism
H0: press laws yield negative qualitative output in contemporary Nigerian journalism
H4: advanced nations are in support of the press laws
H4: advanced nations are not in support of the press laws
H5: press laws should be encouraged as a guide to practicing Nigeria journalist
H5: press laws should not be encouraged as a guide to practicing Nigeria journalist
H6: press laws should be left as they are to suit contemporary Nigerian journalism
H6: press laws should not be left as they are to suit contemporary Nigerian journalism
1.7 CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATION DEFINITION
In this sub chapter certain word that have a duplicated meaning outside this work have been carefully defined as tied to this research in order to guide the reader against derailed interpretation.
Some of this difficult words or phrases are as follows viz
Press laws
Press laws are those laws that guide the activities of the press. It also ensure negate of public abuse.
Effect
It can be regard as result or outcome of an event
Practicing Nigeria journalist
They are those that embarked on the profession especially those in Nigeria
Limitation
It is regarded as boundaries between two events
Generalization
It is the act of drawing general conclusion making a generally statement
NUJ: Nigeria union of journalist
NGE: Nigerian guide of editors
NIJ: Nigerian institute of journalism
NPAN: Newspaper proprietors association of Nigeria
Better reportage orientation
It is the act of good report without unnecessary limits to practicing journalists
Country in question
The country being discussed about
At this juncture
It simply means a particular stage of discussion
Law of sedition
It is a publication that create disaffection against the government functionaries
Law of obscenity
It protect the mind of under aged from immoral influences
Inversion of privacy
It protect individual to live their private life peacefully without being poke nose by the journalists
Contempt of court
It protects an accused of fair trial via the none prejudicial influence of the press man
Libel
Written publication that defames persons
Slander
Spoke that defames person reputation
Paint an effigy of oneself
It is seen as representation of oneself either in stone or wood
Sector
It can be defined as a segment that caves oneself out within a whole
Criminal code
It is seen as laws regulating the activities of criminals
Unguarded comments
It can be regarded as comments that contain most important secret feelings. Person that involves on unguarded comments is said to be careless and indiscreet.
Alternative means
It means something that may be used in a place of something else
Authentic
Something that is know to be true and genuine
