Impact Of Freedom Of Information Act On Journalism Practice: A Study Of Journalism Practice In Uyo Community

Impact Of Freedom Of Information Act On Journalism Practice: A Study Of Journalism Practice In Uyo Community

Introduction to Chapter One:

1.1 Background to the Study

The right to information is a concern in modern medicine as well as a concept in journalism. This contentious idea states that media professionals, particularly journalists, reserve the freedom to comb, dig, and pry in order to gather information, news, and opinion and report the same without impediment. It suggests that there should be no restrictions or limitations on how news and opinion should be gathered and reported. In other words, journalists in Nigeria enjoy the same rights as everyone else to express their opinions, gather information, and influence ideas without hindrance. This is a fundamental human right that the constitution guarantees to every person, including journalists.

Once more, everyone has the fundamental right to information freedom, which enables both individuals and organisations to defend their rights. It serves as a crucial safeguard against fraud, waste, and corruption. Government gains from it in terms of decision-making process openness and transparency, and citizen trust in government action increases.

According to a poll, approximately 70 [70] countries worldwide, including Nigeria, do not yet have full freedom of information laws in place to make it easier for the public to access the records kept by governmental entities, and another 50 are making preparations to do so. A few nations have enacted laws or employed constitutional clauses. Many nations have established similar practices that provide for restricted access to their own records stored by public and commercial institutions.

organizations, particular laws that grant access rights in specific fields including health, the environment, public procurement, and consumer protection.

The emergence of democracy in America and the period of enlightenment are both related to freedom of knowledge.It is a libertarian product that, without a doubt, came from the libertarian theory of the libertarian approach to the component of the libertarian approach of media.

The authoritarian press doctrine, which held the monarch in ultimate control of the media’s ownership, content, and uses, is something that Freedom of Information vehemently rejects.

The authoritarian system presupposes that; truth was conceived to be not the product of the great mass of people but a few men who were in a position to guide and direct their fellows thus, truth was thought to be centered near the center of power, as pointed out in chapter five of GOKE R. [2003].mass media and the society. issues and perspectives.The press was utilized by the ruling class to inform the populace of issues they believed the people should be aware of and policies they believed the populace should support.

In a culture where criticizing the political system and those in power through the media was prohibited, the press’s primary function at that time was to support and advance the policies and ideas of the government.

This runs counter to libertarian notions that people are rational beings capable of making decisions about the truth and the good when presented with different options, as well as between bad and good. Because humans are rational beings, the press must be free to enlighten the public and let them make decisions. The libertarian, according to Siebert pater so et ela

It is reasonable to suppose that there would be a variety of voices available to, if not really reaching the public, in a democratic society. Whether what he has to say is truthful or untrue, and whether the public eventually decides, let every man who has anything to say on public affairs express himself.

Declaratory Statement of the Issue

Before President Obama signed the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), best of luck Jonathan on May 28, 2011, the media faced harsh criticism from the public and government, particularly the military regime, which led to the arrest, killing, and assault of numerous journalists and media professionals. However, the purpose of this research is to learn;

v How government censorship affects journalists.

v Lack of access to publicly available information held by the government, public institutions, and commercial organizations.

v Criticism and repression by the government.

1.3 Study’s Purpose

It is common knowledge that the Freedom of Information Act’s (FOIA) purpose was to strengthen the right to access and influence information and ideas guaranteed by the Constitution. Investigative journalism, balanced reporting, objectivity, story verification, and openness, transparency, fairness, and accuracy in media presentation are all encouraged by the law. The researchers believe the following goal to be pertinent as a result.

1. To determine how the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) has affected journalistic practices in the Uyo Community.

2. To understand how widely the Freedom of Information Act is used in the Uyo Community.

3. To ascertain the extent to which the Uyo L G A promotes the Freedom of Information Act.

1.4 Questions for Further Research

The following questions will be the primary focus of the researcher’s attention during the research process:

1. How has the Freedom of Information Act affected journalists in the Uyo community?

2. How widely is the Freedom of Information Act used by working journalists in the Uyo community?

3. How does the Uyo community government support the Freedom of Information Act?

1.5 Study’s Purpose and Range

The four clans of the Uyo local government in Akwa Ibom state are included in this study’s primary focus on the residents of the Uyo community.

1.8 Importance of the Research

The goal of this study is to encourage and promote the new “Freedom of Information Act” in the Uyo community and throughout Nigeria. The study will be very valuable.

Adopting the law will help the researcher, the journalist, and the nation of Nigeria as a whole. This will promote journalism’s professionalism and ethnic diversity.

1.7 Operational Term Definition

Freedom is the authority or right to do as one pleases, unhindered by anyone. It is the right to act, speak, and use things freely in the Uyo community.

Information is a fact that has been revealed, heard, or learned about something or someone. In the Uyo community, it is also understood as knowledge that is given, provided, passed on, received, obtained, or collected about something or someone.

Act: The Uyo community’s parliament or a comparable entity passed this law.

Journalism is the process or end result of producing written, visual, or audio content on current, factual events that are of interest to the public for distribution through the public media. Its goals include educating society about itself and bringing to light private matters in the Uyo community.