Research Journal of Mass Communication and Information Technology Vol. 4 No.

2 2018 ISSN: 2545-529X

www.iiardpub.org

Perception of Media Ethics among Newspaper Journalists and Its

Implication for Journalism Practice

Akinrosoye, A. Idowu & Isamuko B. J.

Mass Communication Department,
Osun State Polytechnic, Iree

Abstract
This study examined the perception of media ethics among newspaper journalists and its
implication for journalism practice. The purpose was to find out the level of journalist’s
understanding of media code of conduct, factors responsible for the breach of ethical code,
its implication on the practice and likely solutions to the problem. The methodology employed
was a statistical survey. A total of 170 journalists out of 295 were purposively selected from
various print media outfits as a sample for the study. Six research questions were raised
while a 38- item semi-structured questionnaire was used as the research instrument. Findings
showed that the respondents understand the ethical codes and apply it in their professional
duties, while some do not apply the codes faithfully. The result showed that the problem with
the journalism practice in Nigeria is not strictly ethical but a combination of other problems
which ethical compliances has the potential to solve. It was also revealed the ethical crisis in
the media is a reflection of the society which is crawling with all manner of ethical maladies
in all facets. Based on the findings, it was recommended that press organizations should
ensure they play their roles actively and ensure compliance to the ethical codes. It was also
recommended that individual journalists must recognize the enormous task placed on him/her
by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and be responsible and responsive in
all activities.

Keywords: Perception, Media Ethics, Newspaper Journalists, Implication & Journalism

Practice

Introduction
The media are a social institution that must make a moral contribution to the society.
This assertion forms the basis for the call for an ethically-based practice of journalism.
According to Johnson (1997), the media are a potentially “great secular church” and
“a system of evangelism for dispelling the darkness of ignorance, expelling error and
establishing truth.” One major way by which truth in its entire ramification can be passed
along in any modern society is essentially through the media, and people would be virtuous
and take the right courses of actions as long as they are fully informed.
Someone once said that “after ten years of observing government and other social
institutions at work, if the world is to be saved from self destruction, it would be the
journalists, in all their objectionable practices, who would do it.” Black Steele and Barney,
(1999).
This and other such positions portray the media as social agents of dissemination of
information by which people shape and mould their realities of life. Such is believed to be the
influence of the media that they have been referred to as “agent of power” and every society
ascribes certain duties, rights and responsibilities to the media. In addition, the media are also
expected to operate within the context of a high sense of responsibility and morality.
Journalistic practice and ethics have become one of the dominating features of
contemporary society. Journalists are our main source of information, education and

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entertainment. They influence the climate of opinion a great deal, hence constitute an
important institution in the society. Indeed, journalists are believed to have the potential to
change the status of a society. Murphy (1997) sums it up by saying that:
For most of the people of the world, for most of the event of the
world, what the media do transmit did not happen. To that
extent the world and its inhabitants are what the news media
say they are.
People have varied opinions and views about journalistic practices, its power and
influence in the society. Early ideas about journalism profession suggested that they were
extremely powerful in molding and shaping popular opinion. Journalists were seen as rather
like “social syringes” that are capable of injecting new ideas and pattern of behavior into an
unresisting and unyielding society. Castly (1993) observes “journalism, with its special
information and communication resources is embedded in virtually every corner of social
life, whether it be conflict, change, control or societal integration”.

Statement of the Problem

Many ethical considerations within journalistic practice have the potential to cause
disagreement, because there is often a conflict between ethics in theory and what journalists
face in the real world. Journalists often have to grapple with the difference between what
philosopher say is right and the requirements of their job, when it comes to question of bias,
conflicts of interest, accountability and truth telling.

Research Questions
1. How do journalists perceive/understand ethical issues/principle?
2. To what extent does journalistic practice comply with ethical codes?
3. To what extent do journalists agree with the level of compliance ethical issues?
4. In what ways has the public benefited from operations journalistic ethics?
5. What difficulties do journalist encounter applying ethical issues?
6. What implications will journalist’s perception on ethical issues have on their
professional practices?

Objectives of the Study

This study will be appreciated in the field of media practice, ownership and control.
Its significance stems from the facts that knowledge of the norms of journalist’s practices and
ethics in Nigeria prepared journalists to handle news items with caution. The study de-
emphasizes issues based on religious sentiments, political partisanship and monetary
gratifications in journalistic practices.

Significance of the Study

This research investigation is aimed at checking all cases of unethical practices in
journalistic practice.
Conflict areas between journalists and their employers such as financial and job
insecurity, the question of allegiance, censorship will be highlighted and the outcome of this
study hopefully will enhance journalistic practice.
This study will serve as a veritable instrument to fill the pulse of the people as well as
a feedback mechanism through a well structured questionnaire.
This study is an original contribution in the field of journalistic practice and ethics in
Nigeria and will add to the body of knowledge on the subject matter.
It will serve as a point of reference for research work in the field.

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Operational Definition of Terms

 Journalists: Media practitioners in both print and electronic media, who gather,
process, package and disseminate news to the public through established mass
media.
 Perception: The way journalist’s see issues at distinct from reality.
 Ethics: This is a concept concerned with the question of right and wrong in human
behavior.

Literature Review
Journalism is an unwritten and unspoken covenant between its practitioners and the public. It
is a public trust which should not be betrayed or abused. Journalism is a sacred responsibility
which the practitioners discharge to the society to protect and promote socio-economic,
cultural and political values which are not inimical to public good, morality and orderly
development on sustainable basis. Christian (2001). Meyer (1987) notes:
Anything that is inconsistent to public interest, public good and public morality as define as
perceived by right thinking members of society cannot be the object of journalistic practice to
the extent of its antithesis to the good health of the public
Journalism as a product of its society simply reflects that society can be compromised
by the same society. Merill and Barney (1982) state that “modern journalists are increasingly
pulled between what they consider their right as journalists and their responsibility to society
or to various groups”
Noble and patriotic as the role of Nigeria press in the nation building is, the profession
seems to be suffering from a credibility deficit. Adediji (2003). At the peak of the military era
in Nigeria, Kukah (1996) lamented the credibility crisis prevalent in the Nigerian press. He
notes:

There was a time when next to God, it is the press that legitimize what Nigerians considered
to be truth in any given situation. Once people back up their claims with “I read it in the
newspaper, if you doubt my claim, I still have a copy of the newspaper”. And at the time,
backing up one’s claim with a publication in the newspaper settled any argument on the
veracity of any claim. The same cannot be said of the Nigeria press today. The press is now
having credibility problem. KUkah (1996).
In Nigeria, there are many ethical problems arising from the natural inclination to
over-simplification and falsification in journalism and those which result from submitting to
various public pressures that journalists must address themselves to on daily basis.
By merely reflecting social situations, journalist practice limit itself and risking the
danger of falling into lethargy, which is capable of showing societal process as opposed to the
objective of accelerating the process of growth and orderly development. Journalistic practice
is more than a pedestrian acceptance of situations and reportage of such situations.
MacQuail (1987) says, “the basic problem of journalist practice have been ethical and
also philosophical”. In the past journalists thought very little about theories of ethics and
knew almost nothing about the history of moral philosophy. The objects of study in ethics
are theories bothering on human nature. This implies that the study of ethics involve the study
of a lot of ethical theories. Some of these theories can help the journalists to determine the
morality of their professional actions.

Theoretical Framework
Ethical theories or principle can be seen as ethical road maps that point at individual
towards the right best way to act in a particular situation.
Okunna (1995) defines ethical theory as “a principle put forward to explain, describe,
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prescribe or predict human ethical behavior”. The theories are explanatory because “they give
reasons why human beings take whatever moral decision and actions they arrived at in their
dealings with fellow human beings.

Theological Theory
This story states that the result or consequences of action determine the rightness or
wrongness. Hence, the end justifies the means is preached, which is a form of hedonistic
philosophy.
Granrose (1974), notes that teleological theory holds that “we ought to do the actions
or adopt the rule that will produce greatest possible balance of good over evil”. A journalist
that subscribes to this theory always weights the outcome of hisactions actions before taking
decisions.

Ethics and Its Philosophical Background

Ethics is the parameter for assessing right and wrong. Most of scholars who have attempted
to define ethics described it as a means of discerning right from wrong. Folaring (1999) says
“Ethics, or moral philosophy, is an acquired habit of the human intellect which enable it’s
possessor to true conclusion about the rightness or wrongness of human actions as a means
for attaining true happiness”. Meyer (1987) defines ethics as “the branch of philosophy that
deals with the issue of right or wrong in human affairs.” It is socially generated signpost
which directs our actions from wrong to right.

Ethical Journalistic Practice

Journalistic ethics is a relatively modern philosophy. The earliest the sign appear at the turn
of the 20th century as a reaction against the excesses of the free press theory of the press
should be completely free to publish what it likes. The abuse of this freedom has often given
rise to negative journalistic practices.
Godwin and Smith (1999) observe that “the aim of ethics or moral philosophy in
journalism is to maintain quality in the media; ethics is fundamental to journalist because the
practice is based on a set of essentially ethical concepts; truth, objectivity, honesty, privacy,
freedom. The role of journalism is to provide information for the enlightenment, education
and entertainment of the people. This raises ethical questions on the quality of intelligence
disseminated, manner of its acquisition and the object for which is used in the society.
Merill and Lowestein (1989) opine that journalistic ethics is primarily personal to
individual journalists and must be internalized within the journalists for it to be meaningful.
To Daramola, (1999), ethical behavior or lack of it by a journalist, is a reflection of his
personal value system.
Kunczik (1988) as cited by Folarin (1999) states that immediate relevant part of the
earliest international declarations is proclaimed as a standard of a professional conduct for
journalists engaged in gathering, transmitting, disseminating and commenting on news
information and in describing events:
 Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth is the first duty of the
journalist.
 In pursuance of this duty, the journalist shall at times defend the principles of
freedom in the honest collection and publication of news and the right of fair
comment and criticism.
 The journalist shall report only in accordance with facts of which he/she knows the
origin.
 The journalist shall not suppress essential information or falsify documents.

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 The journalist shall use only fair method to obtain news, photographs and
documents.
 The journalist shall do the utmost to rectify any published information which is
found to be harmfully inaccurate.
 The journalist shall observe professional secrecy regarding the source of
information obtained in confidence.
 The journalist shall be aware of the danger of discrimination based on, among other
things, race, sex language, religion, political or other opinions.
 The journalist shall regard as grave professional offence the following plagiarism,
malicious representations; the acceptance of bribe in any form in consideration of
either public publication or suppression.

Conflicting Interests That Influence Ethical Decision in Journalistic Practice in Nigeria

Journalists in Nigeria are confronted with a hydra-faced ethical dilemma. The most
often mentioned and perhaps the most intractable face of this dilemma concerns the conflict
between society’s and the journalistic practice’s ethical demand on one hand and official
government requirements on the other, especially in a country in which the preponderance of
the mass media are owned and controlled by government (Folarin, 1999). The Nigeria
journalist is therefore objective in his presentation of news only to extent to which he is free
of censorship from the state, media owner control, his profession or art, his conscience and
society in general.

Methodology
The research design used in this study is the descriptive survey.
Wimmer and Dominick (2000) opines that “ A descriptive survey attempts to picture
or document current condition or attitude i.e. it gives a true picture and describes what exist at
the moment”. Osuala (2001) says “Descriptive survey research is the most frequently used to
identify variables that exist in a given situation and to describe that relationship which exist
between variables”.
In a survey study the researcher selects samples from the population for the
exploratory study to enable him discover relative incidence, distribution and interrelation of
educational, sociological, psychological, political as well as economic variables.

Study Population
The population was made up of all registered newspaper journalists including
correspondents in Oyo and Osun states. Informal contacts at the Nigerian Union of
Journalists (NUJ) Ibadan gives the total number of registered Newspaper journalists as (200)
while that of Osun is given as (95) making a total of two hundred and ninety five (295)
journalists.

Sampling Technique and Sampling Size

A purposive sampling technique was used for this study. This technique was used
because it deals with selection of respondents based on certain pre-determined qualities as in
this study. The selection of the respondents for the study was based on the professional
qualification and specialization of the respondents along broadcast or Newspaper journalism
line.
The study sample is one hundred and seventy (170) Newspaper journalists in Oyo and
Osun states most of whom are correspondents who represent newspaper organizations located
across the country.

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The sample was drawn from a total population of Two hundred and ninety five (295)
registered newspaper journalists from the two states using Yard, (1960) formula.

Research Instrument
The questionnaire was design to elicit responses from the respondents. It consists of
series of statements to which respondent’s responses were sought to gets facts and opinion
from them in other to know the aggregate views on the subject matter.

Data Analysis/Presentation of Findings

Data gathered from the exercise of administering the questionnaire are recorded and
analyzed using tables. This research method was chosen because of its suitability to the
nature of this study as observed by many social scientists. The method of analysis is
frequently distribution (Simple percentage).

Table 1: shows a summary of the respondents on their understanding of ethical issues in

journalism.
Respondents comments Frequency Percentage
Agree 90 54.5%
Disagree 62 37.6%
Undecided 13 7.9%
Total 165 100%
Source: Field survey 2014

The result in the table above indicates that ninety (90) 54.5% of the respondents agreed that
they understand ethical in journalism, sixty two (62) 37.6% respondents disagreed while
thirteen (13)7.9% were undecided.
From the findings, a good number of journalists that is sixty two (62) 37.6% do not
understand ethical issues in their profe

Table 2: summary of responses on whether journalistic ethics contain internal contradictions

in actual application
Respondents comments Frequency Percentage of respondents
Agree 109 66.1%
Disagree 50 30.3%
Undecided 6 3.6%
Total 165 100%
Source: field survey 2014.

The table above shows that (109) 66.1% respondents agreed while those who did not
agree were (50) 30.3%, 6 respondents representing 3.6% did not take any position. In any
case, their position could go either way.
The result in this table implies that, there is often a conflict between journalistic ethics
in theory and what journalists face in the real world. Journalist has to grapple with the
difference between what journalistic ethics say and the requirements of their jobs when it
comes to question of bias, conflicts of interest and accountability. This finding agreed with
the assertion of Gordon and Kittors (1999) that journalistic ethics deal with voluntary, rather
than required conduct.

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Table 3: Responses by respondents on whether rules and norms to regulate journalist’s

behavior are adopted by journalist themselves.
Respondents comments Rate of response Percentage of response
Agree 121 73.3%
Disagree 38 23.1%
Undecided 6 3.6%
Total 165 100%
Source: field survey 2014

The table show that 121 journalist agreed which represent 73.3%, 38 disagreed representing
23.1% while 6, 3.6% of them did not indicate their position.
The result particularly from the response of most journalist is consistent with the rules
and norms adopted in 1998 at the Ilorin convention by all stakeholders in journalistic
practice-Nigeria Union of Journalist, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria guild of
would ever be filled. There is a word of difference between looking for the truth and
expecting to find it. Looking for the truth requires impartiality, reporting requires
acknowledging you have failed to find it. The instant a journalist decides that he or she has
enough information to file a story; objectivity is out of the window. However, this does not
mean that impartiality goes out of the window as well for that would mean the journalist
abandoning the search for truth.
The research findings agrees with the assertions of Glasser (1992) in the literature
reviewed that journalists generally rely on their sources for information, many of whom have
agenda of their own. This implies that truth in journalistic practice is subjective.

Table 4: Distribution of respondents on if truth in journalism practice is a result of

decision making process.
Respondents comments Rate of response Percentage of response
Agree 162 98.2%
Disagree 3 1.8%
Undecided - -
Total 165 100%
Source: Field survey 2014

The table above indicate that majority of the respondents 162 representing 98.2% were
positive in their affirmation while insignificant number of 3 (1.8%) had contrary views.
The findings revealed the complexities in news reporting. Reporters have to decide on
what they consider as the truth and editors/owners at times have to select what to publish in
order to meet deadlines and circulation target. Journalists and editors have an obligation to be
faithful with their pubic about the quality of information provided. However, this guarantee
of quality information is not something that can be instantly provided. This confirms the
views of Hartely (1982) and Glasser (1992) that the instant a journalist decides that he or she
has enough information to file a story, truth telling is out of the window, in the editing
process has begun and subjectively.

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Table 5: Shows a summary of responses on whether loyalty to employers conflicts with

journalistic duties
Respondents comments Rate of response Percentage of response
Agree 160 97.0%
Disagree 4 2.4%
Undecided 1 0.6%
Total 165 100%
Source: Field survey 2014

In the table above, one hundred and sixty (160) 97.0% respondents affirmed that loyalty to
employers do conflict with journalists routine assignments. Four (4) 2.4% of the respondents
had contrary views while only one (1) 0.6% did not take any position.
The researcher finds out that journalists feel a loyalty to the media organization that
sign their paychecks. To many, this feeling goes beyond a simple fear of losing one’s job. It
is more a sense of fair play and a feeling of identity with greater organization that they are
part of.

Table 6: Response on what could be done to make newspaper journalist more ethically
complaint.
The respondents were asked ways to make journalist ethically complaint by making
comment.
Respondents comments Frequency Percentage
Agree 150 90.9%
Disagree 10 6.6%
Undecided 5 3.4%
Total 165 100%
Source: Field survey 2014

One hundred and fifty (150) representing 90.9% of the respondents are of the view that
proper education and continuous training is necessary to make journalist ethically complaint.
Ten (10) that is 6.6% and five (5) that is 3.4% however believe that motivation and sanction
for failure to comply with codes respectively will make the journalist ethically complaint.
This confirms the opinion of Jimi (2011) when he opined that the problem of ethics in
media practice in Nigeria amounts to a clear call for committed in house cleaning and self-
examination by journalist so that a growing case of professional responsibility can be
imbibed through proper education constant training.
Apart from ethical issues, what are other major problems of newspaper journalism in
Nigeria. Majority of the respondent’s above 90% responded that poor salary and lack of
motivation are the major challenges facing newspaper journalism in Nigeria.
The respondents also almost unanimously blame the non-compliance to ethical codes
on lack of regulation and monitoring by regulatory bodies.
This confirmed the view of Oparaeke (2008) he reasoned that the problem of
journalistic practice in Nigeria is not only ethical. But a combination of many factors which
ethical itself aims at correcting as standard assessment. He emphasized that Nigerian
journalist do not operate in a social and political vacuum, hence it is not immured to the
societal ills.

Discussion of Findings
The study, which centre on the perception of media ethics among Newspaper

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Journalists and its implication for journalism practice sought to ferret out information on the
way newspapers journalist perceived media ethics and by extension find out the implications
the way they perceived the professional code have on the practice. The study which has a
total of six research questions uncovered that though majority of the sampled journalists have
good understanding of the ethical codes 54.5% but a reasonable percentage 37.6% do not
while 7.9% did not take any position. The implication of this is that the ethical codes has not
been fully inculcated and internalized by the newspaper journalists.
Also the respondents are of the opinion that there is internal contradiction in the actual
application of the code of ethics that is the codes appear more theoretical than been pragmatic
and for the codes to be judiciously applied into the practice, it needs to be sufficiently
practical. As 66.1% of the respondents believe that there are contradictions 3.6% undecided
and 30.9% believe that there is no contradiction.
Though the respondents claim they do apply the codes in the performance of their
responsibilities as they to a very large extent agreed that it is central to the practice, they
however almost unanimously 90% of the respondents opined that the problem with
newspaper journalism is more than ethical. They are of the view that factors such as poor
remuneration (as uncovered in table 4) lack of on-the-job training and failure on the part of
regulatory bodies to sanction erring journalists among others gang up as problems and
limitations of effective newspaper journalisms in Nigeria.

Conclusion
From data collected and analyzed, respondents are of that the ethical code for
journalists is imperative. Respondents are of the opinion that for the Press to perform its
professional and constitutional duties effectively, the practitioners must adhere to the Ethical
code of the profession. As the ‘Watchdog of the Society’ ‘the Conscience of the Nation’, the
need for the Press to discharge its duties with utmost care, responsibility and responsiveness
is crucial.
Majority of respondents lamented the flagrant breaching of some provisions of the
code. They noted that for the Press to perform its fundamental roles of informing, educating
and entertaining people efficiently and effectively, the practitioners should subject
themselves to the dictates of self-drawn, self-imposed regulations as contained in the Code of
Ethics of Nigerian Press.
Also from the responses of the respondents, it is clear that regulatory bodies need to
buckle up and enforce the Code. Unless necessary mechanisms are put in place to motivate
journalists to adhere to the code and sanctions are meted out to the defaulters, many
practitioners would continue to flout the code of Ethics with impunity.

Recommendation
From the conclusion drawn from the study, there is still need to ensure adherence of
the Press to the profession’s ethical code. Though, Nigerian Press is believed to be relatively
credible and performing its roles, there are rooms for improvement.
To therefore ensure an ethically-complaint press and safeguard its credibility, the
followings are recommended:
1. Registration and issuance of professional cards to all practicing journalists in the
country. This will assist in reducing the presence of quacks. Practicing card of any
member found guilty of professional misconducts should be withdrawn. There
should be regular revalidation of practicing card by the professional bodies.
2. Emphasis should be on pre-practicing training in journalism. The present trend
where journalism Is an “all-corners affairs” should be discouraged. Also regular on-
the-job-trainings, refresher courses and other intellectual/professional development
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programmes should be put in place by the media organizations and regulatory

bodies.
3. Adequate welfare provisions should be put in place to motivate journalist to give
their best. Such welfare provisions include regular payment of salary, enhanced
salary package, housing/car loans, leave bonus, retirement benefits, and regular
promotion among others.
4. Sanctioning of erring journalists and black-listing of any journalist that remains
incorrigibles. Also, ethical-complaint journalists should be rewarded and celebrated
by the media houses and regulatory bodies. Names of complaint and non-complaint
journalists should be publicized to serve as motivation or deterrent to others.

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