ABSTRACT
The
core theoretical framework on which this study anchors is to assess the legal
problems/dangers vis a vis others that exist with the practicing of journalism
in Nigeria, under the military with particular reference to General Sani
Abacha’s regime.
The
study revealed that journalists were arrested and detained in their thousands
thereby providing little or no room for the pursuit of the TRUTH which is the
hallmark of journalism profession. Sometimes they lose their lives while doing
their job.
It
further went down to review the related literature so as to give essence to the
work.
In
order to achieve the objectives of the study, content analysis was used as a
research method to show clearly the manifest content of the media. It is an
information technique that focuses on historical analysis of available
information obtained from, newspaper, magazines, tapes or any other material
that can guarantee permanence to information. With this research method, I was
able to analyze things and come up with reasonable conclusion.
It
was found that there couldn’t be meaningful interaction between the government
and the citizenry, if the journalists were not allowed to operate freely. When
the journalists were intimidated, they will be inhibited from faithfully
reflecting the society to those in government and from letting the public know
what those in power think or do.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page I
Title page II
Approval page III
Dedication IV
Acknowledgement V
Abstract VII
Table of content IX
CHAPTER
ONE - INTRODUCTION
Background of the study 1
Statement of research problem 4
Objectives of the study 5
Significance of the study 6
Research questions 6
Research hypothesis 6
Conceptual and operational
definition 9
Assumption 11
Limitation of study 12
Reference 13
CHAPTER
TWO - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Sources of literature 15
The review 16
Summary of review 30
Reference 31
CHAPTER
THREE - METHODOLOGY
Research method 33
Method of data collection 34
Method of data analysis 35
Reference 36
CHAPTER
FOUR - DATA ANALYSIS
Results/findings of the study 37
Reference 44
CHAPTER
FIVE - SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER STUDIES
Summary 45
Recommendation 46
Bibliography 49
Questionnaire 53
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Journalism profession in Nigeria encounters a catalogue of
problems especially under the military regime. There has been no smooth romance
between the journalists and the government in power, rather what was seen then
was harassment, detention without trial, of the journalist involved. These
hazards/dangers that face the profession were caused by the incessant enactment
of repressive press laws by the government.
The masses depend
on the journalists for information on what is happening in their immediate
environment, therefore, the journalists is the link between the rulers and
ruled. So any negative treatment on the journalists affects not only the people
in the profession, but also the attitude and behaviour of the Nigerian populace
in general.
Therefore, the
hazardous nature of journalism profession under the military era should be
looked into so as to discourage the populace not to admit anything like
military rule again in the Nigerian society. It was said that the worst
administration in a democratic dispensation is far much better than the best
administration under military regime.
Nat withstanding
the fact that certain legal/professional techniques were employed to check and
curtail the excesses of journalists, the military, when in power, were known
for chaining the journalists with draconian laws, obnoxious decrees, sack
threats, elimination and constant proscription of media houses. Journalists may
see and hear evil and such will be sealed to make sure that they don’t loose
their lives or jobs.
News watch
magazines which was the toast of Nigerians because of fearlessness, independent
views and radical approaches to issues was put to stop when its editor-in-chief
was exterminated through a letter bomb blast, followed up six months later by a
proscription.
When the provision
for freedom of expression is guaranteed, some stings are being attached to it,
which made the journalist not to be free. In some government media houses, the
noble profession is forced to dance to the tune of their ‘lords’. While trying
to tell unto the ethics of their profession, they are meant to endanger their
lives.
A time, it became a
sort of worry on how the journalists are being intimidated and the clever
manner, which the government officials take in denying their own statement in
the face of naked truth. At first, the government in power tries to embrace the
profession just to get it established and thereafter turns against it. Because
the journalists are ready to face their unravel their injustices, they (the
military) turns to scrutinize and cripple the press unnecessarily with
accumulation of obnoxious laws.
STATEMENT
OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Usually
under military regime, more government owned media were meant to be than
private owned. As at the time of Abacha, about six schools of journalism as
well as many mass communication departments were in existence. Also, over sixty
and fifty radio/television stations respectively and over 157 for newspaper and
magazine were in existence as at the time under review.
With all these,
there supposed to be existence of perfect journalism profession due to the fact
that they are being trained properly with polished languages, balanced and fair
reporting etc. However, it was still noticed that cases of arrest of
journalists by security agents, loss of job under written and unwritten
obnoxious laws, were still the hallmark of any military regime, even when the
constitutions made provisions for such basic human rights and freedom by the
government. The evidence was seen in the pronouncement by the Abacha regime of
establishing special court to try indicted journalists sometimes in 1997. The
journalist, seeing all the hazards, resorts to dance to the whims of the
government or writes himself to jail.
With these,
questions arise on if the journalism profession still worth its meaning with
all these dangers posed to it, if the journalists were really free and if there
was neglect of ethics and principles of journalism on the part of journalists.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The aim of the research should be to find out:
i.
The dangers, which confront journalism
profession within the period under review.
ii.
If it is unethical to criticize government
policies/actions or public figures.
iii.
The implication of such extra-journalistic laws
in the profession of journalism in Nigeria.
SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE STUDY
i.
To make the journalists, the potential
journalists as well as the entire society, not to admit anything like military
administration in Nigerian society.
ii.
The study will also broaden the views of
mass communication students, especially those whose intentions are to get into
the profession on their rights and responsibilities as journalists.
RESEARCH QUESTION
This study shall provide answers to the following
questions about the dangers posed to journalism profession especially when the
military men are in power.
i.
Does the military government follow the
constitution whenever they are in power?
ii.
Do journalists in Nigeria enjoy free assess to
information source?
iii.
Are Nigerians satisfied with the kind of
treatment the journalists pass through in the course of their duty?
iv.
Do the controversial press laws violate freedom
of the press in Nigeria?
v.
Do the Nigerian journalists abide by the
imagination of such codes and practices?
vi.
Does freedom of expression and freedom of the
press exist during the Abcha regime?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
In evaluating the hazards of
journalism profession in Nigeria
under Abcha’s regime, the following hypothesis shall be tested.
H1: The promulgation of repressive laws is an
impediment to professional growth of the journalists.
Ho: The promulgation of repressive laws is
not an impediment to professional growth of the journalists.
H2: Repressive press laws constitute the
major obstacle to the objectivity of journalism profession.
H0 Repressive press laws do not constitute
the major obstacle to the objectivity journalism profession.
H3: Press laws affect the freedom of
journalists.
H0: Press laws do not affect the freedom of
journalists.
H4: The effects of press laws on the
performance of journalists under Abacha regime depended on the ownership and
type of press.
H0: The effects of press laws on the
performance of journalists under Abacha regime do not depend on the ownership
and type of press.
CONCEPTUAL AND
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
For the purpose of this study, the following terms shall
be defined both conceptually and operationally for clarity.
i.
Journalism profession
ii.
Journalist
iii.
Press
iv.
Press freedom
v.
Extra legal constraints
JOURNALISM
PROFESSION
Conceptual: A
specialized duty that aims at informing, educating, entertain and mobilizing
the people through writing or publishing a newspaper, magazine or periodicals.
Operational: A
profession, which is all about informing the people about the happenings around
them and expectations in various part of their society as well as bringing the
people’s problem to the knowledge to the government.
JOURNALIST
Conceptual: Person
engaged in the work of writing, editing or publishing a newspaper, magazine or
periodicals.
Operational: Person
engaged in the business of reporting, writing and editing of newspaper and
magazine contents only.
PRESS
Conceptual: Printed
periodicals including magazines, newspapers, books, leaflets etc.
Operational:
Newspapers and magazines published excluding books, leaflets etc.
PRESS FREEDOM
Conceptual: To
act (journalists), write, without prior constraints, fearing nothing in a
proposed action or issue. Freedom to pursue the truth and the publics right to
know.
Operational: To
act without any form of restriction by the government of the day through the use
of legal and extra legal methods. It means in this context, the right of the
press government that are not within the limits of law of the land.
EXTRA LEGAL
CONTRIANTS
Conceptual: Going
out of way of established to impede the work of the person or persons targeted.
Operational:
The use of harassments, lobbying, force and brown-envelopes to waken the
performance of the press in Nigeria
within the period under review.
ASSUMPTION
The study hinged on the assumption that:
1.
Certain instruments of the government, which is
known as press laws, are suppressing journalism.
2.
Ownership of the media under the military
affects journalism profession in terms of repressive press laws.
LIMITATION OF
STUDY
The study is such that should have attracted a very wide
scope, but because of time and financial constraints, the study is limited to
the period between 1993-1998.
It has not been easy shuttling between offices for the
gathering of facts, visiting bigger libraries going through text books,
newspapers and magazines articles and related subjects and also studying
project works of other scholars within the given time schedule.
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