THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JOURNALISTS AND GENUINE NEWS REPORT

THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JOURNALISTS AND GENUINE NEWS REPORT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Information diffusion is achieved in large part because of journalism. To produce and enhance public understanding about a subject or case was the driving force behind the advent of journalism. The public’s desire to learn about the events taking place in their environment and the advancements in education were the driving forces behind this growth. As a result, independence has long been seen as a crucial journalistic value and is one of the four guiding principles of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

Although many journalists and media organizations work in circumstances that defy this traditional sense of independence today, such as scenarios where sports fans write about their favorite teams and parents bloggers whose coverage centers around Activists discuss the issues in relation to their families’ and children’s life. Journalists who are financed by businesses or nonprofits are participating. Several persons who engage in journalism-related activities are unsure of how to refer to their work: journalism, blogging, citizen journalism, or brand journalism. This piece is not meant to revive or settle previous debates about whether bloggers are considered journalists or to start fresh conversations about the boundaries of the increasingly hazy space between traditional journalism and traditional public relations.

The idea is to provoke thought on how independence functions within your news company and how to uphold integrity in the event that independence is not a viable value for your business.

The foundation of the SPJ Code of Ethics is independence, particularly with regard to financial issues like the influence of marketers and the acceptance of complimentary gifts. And those are noteworthy issues that your company needs to deal with. But, the importance of independence also shows up in various ways in people’s life and even in the lives of their families. Several media businesses forbid their employees from running for public office, putting up yard signs for candidates, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles (this might be problematic when family members who are not journalists wish to express their political opinions).

In order to avoid being forced to adopt a stance they strive to avoid in their job, some journalists who cover politics choose not to vote. Some journalists questioned whether the zealous defense of independence had led to an aloof attitude from the community that was as harmful in its way as entangled journalists wanted to avoid. This was even before much of the economic turbulence that has reshaped the media landscape.

In general, it is impossible to overstate the significance of the independence of journalists and the reports’ (opinions’) opinions. To the public and other users of the report, the practical values of journalistic independence and the reports’ (opinions’) objectivity matter most. As a result, this is the fundamental component that would be examined.

1.2 statement OF THE PROBLEM

Without effective journalism, information about important events in business, government, entertainment, and other fields cannot adequately reach the general public. This necessitates the independence and accountability of individuals chosen to oversee and manage media operations.
Some people, it has been noted, believe that the objective evaluation of news by outside journalists can enhance the effectiveness of journalism.
In the Nigerian context, it has been noted that some individuals believe that independent news analysis by outside journalists can raise the caliber of the information offered.

Others contend that there is no proof that the reporting done by outside journalists has increased the accuracy of the material. In fact, some people even draw attention to the fact that Nigeria lacks a framework for examining, investigating, verifying, and monitoring information.

The following issues are those that this study aims to investigate:

(1) A lot of people in the public think that journalists are frequently misled by their employers.

(2) A common misconception is that journalists work for their clients’ interests while also pursuing personal goals.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

(I). Check to see if the quality, content, and reliability of the news have improved since Nigerian journalists gained their independence.

(ii) Determine if external journalists’ discharge of their professional obligations to their clients is free from any outside influence.

(iii). Verify that the likely causes impede the objectivity and expertise of outside journalists’ reports (opinions).

(Ii) (To the extent practicable) Ideas for enhancing Nigerian journalists’ independence and news coverage.

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study focuses on public service journalism that is guided by the law. In order to provide real information, the study examines journalists, media organizations, and their external journalists. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the news and journalistic independence in Nigeria. The issue of the interested parties, the idea of journalistic independence, and information in Nigeria are also taken into consideration. As a result, the study will only include Nigerians and interested outside journalists, media organizations, and citizens. The research spans the time from.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following fundamental research questions will be used to guide this investigation:

(I) In the Nigerian context, are foreign journalists truly independent in how they carry out their duties?
(Ii) How do the general people view external journalists’ reports and their independence?
(III) Are the current legal and ethical guidelines on the objectivity and knowledge of journalists sufficient?
(Iv). Are consumers of the public’s (users’) reports of journalists completely aware of their expectations?
(V) Is it necessary to broaden the subjects that the journalists’ reports will cover?

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The relevance of the study is highlighted by the following aspects in the event that it is a success:

I. The field of mass communication in general and external journalists in particular will benefit from this study. This is due to the fact that some of the conclusions drawn from this study contribute to bolstering journalists’ independence. The study’s suggestions can also increase the advantages of journalists’ reports. As a result, the mass communication industry in Nigeria is becoming more well-known.

ii. Investors and other readers of news reports found this study to be helpful. This is because any effort to increase the impartiality of outside journalists and the value of their stories will be crucial to the interests of the financial statements’ users.

iii. Academics, journalism students, and those enrolled in similar courses in Nigerian tertiary institutions will all benefit from this study because this research enables them to acknowledge (at least in part) the gap between theory and practice in terms of the objectivity of journalists and the value of their reporting.

iv. The study will be helpful to the researcher as well. This is due to the study’s potential to expose the researcher to a wide range of relevant fields. This would enhance investigators’ experience, expertise, and comprehension of journalists’ independence and the reporting of problems in Nigeria.

v. Lastly, research advances knowledge and acts as

document used as a secondary source by all other scholars in the same field.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

JOURNALIST

A journalist is a qualified accountant who reviews the financial records of an individual or a company and signs them a statement.

JOURNALISM

Journalism is a systematic process of compiling and objectively evaluating claims about economic activity and events, to determine the degree of coherence between these claims and the established criteria, and to communicate the results to interested users.

INDEPENDENCE

Freedom of control or influence of others or another.

MASS MEDIUM

Emissions that are distributed to the public.

1.8 PLAN OF STUDY

There are five chapters in this work. The problem, the study’s goals, its scope, and its significance are all described in Chapter 1 of the introduction. This chapter also includes a list of the study questions and a glossary of relevant terms. The literature on evaluating the independence of journalists and audit reports in Nigeria is examined in Chapter 2. Three chapters later, the research approach is described. The research techniques used and their justifications are described in this chapter.