Media Practitioners Urged To Abide With Their professional Ethics

Participants at the Roundtable in Ilorin

 

By Taiwo Ogunniyi

Media practitioners have been urged to abide by the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties

Principal Correspondent, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mrs Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus made the call at the One-Day Media Personnel’s Advocacy Roundtable on Media Law and Ethics – Concept Principles and Practices. Organised by Albarika FM in collaboration with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and Mc Arthur Foundation in Ilorin Kwara State

Mrs Bushrah Badmus,  who delivered the topic on ‘Media Independence and Good Accountability under the project: Enhancing Media Action for Good Governance and Accountability at Community Level’ in Kwara state, noted that media ethics deals with the principles and standards of media channels.

She explained that these ethics promote and defend values such as a universal respect for life and the rule of law and legality, ethical questions about how media should use texts and pictures noted that Journalism entails a high degree of public trust.

“To earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards, a journalist should always have a healthy regard for the public interest.

Truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event.

Conscious of the responsibilities and duties of journalists as purveyors of information, we, Nigerian journalists, give to ourselves these Code of Ethics, and every journalist must observe its provisions, ” she said

She highlighted the media ethics which include editorial Independence, accuracy and fairness, privacy, Protecting public health, morality and safety, Preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of the individual concerned, Privilege/ Non-disclosure, Decency, Discrimination Reward and gratification, Violence, Children and minors, Access of information, Public Interest, Social responsibility, Plagiarism, Copyright

“A journalist should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. Where such information has been inadvertently published, prompt correction should be made. A journalist must hold the right to reply as a cardinal rule of practice.

In the course of his duties, a journalist should strive to separate facts from conjecture and comment.

A journalist should not breach an agreement with a source of information obtained as off-the-record or as background information.

A journalist should refrain from using offensive, abusive or vulgar language.

A journalist should not present lurid
details, either in words or pictures, of violence, sexual acts, abhorrent or horrid scenes.

A journalist should neither solicit nor accept bribes, gratifications or patronage to suppress or publish information, ” she said

“A journalist should not present or report acts of violence, armed robberies, terrorist activities or vulgar display of wealth in a manner that glorifies such acts in the eyes of the public.

A journalist should not identify, either by name or picture or interview children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants.

A journalist should strive to employ open and honest means in the gathering of information. Exceptional methods may be employed only when the public interest is at stake.

A journalist should strive to enhance national unity and public good.

A journalist should promote universal principles of human rights, democracy, justice, equity, peace and international understanding.

A journalist should not copy, wholesale or in part, other people’s work without attribution and/or consent.

Where a journalist reproduces a work, be it in print, broadcast, artwork or design, proper acknowledgement should be accorded to the author.

A journalist should abide by all rules of copyright, established by national and international laws and conventions” she added.

She also highlighted Media Law / Laws regulating media in Nigeria which includes, the Nigerian Press Council Act, the Law of Contempt, the Law of Sedition,
Law of Defamation, Law of Privacy

“Nigerian Press Council Act: “This is one of the primary laws regulating media activities in Nigeria and it seeks to promote high professional standards in the media industry, encourage the responsible use of the media, and prevent the spread of fake news and hate speech.

The National Broadcasting Commission Act regulates the broadcasting sector in Nigeria, the Act also established NBC, which is responsible for regulating the broadcasting industry.

Sedition is a crime against the state. Though sedition may have the same ultimate effect as treason, it is generally limited to the offence of organizing or encouraging opposition to the government in a manner (such as in speech or writing) that falls short of the more dangerous offences constituting treason.

Sedition does not only cover a person’s actions but also any words or writings in print that may incite, encourage or promote the overthrowing of a government.

This in its entirety is ambiguous and most times used to cage journalists as government or officials involved can interpret words or actions of the journalist as treasonable and inciting the public against the government, which may not be.

Contempt of court is an act of disrespect or disobedience towards a court or interference with its orderly process. Examples include disrupting court proceedings, interfering with attempts to obtain evidence, destroying evidence, disobeying a court order, and intimidating witnesses.

In such situations, the position of the judge prevails and the journalist may find himself in contempt of court if his actions do not align with the position of the judge.”

“Defamation is any written or printed article published of and concerning a person without lawful justification or excuse and tending to expose him to public contempt, scorn, obloquy, ridicule, shame or disgrace, or intending to induce an evil opinion of him in the mind of right thinking persons.

This can be categorized into either libel or slander.

Libel is a type of defamation which is in written form while slander is in spoken words.

Defamation can be made criminal or civil, depending on the person involved.

The right to privacy is one of the fundamental human rights entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution which states that the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected.

Looking at the above explained laws, they can serve as the roadblock to freedom of the Press in Nigeria especially in enhancing good governance and accountability.” She said.

“Good governance is an indispensable requirement for social, economic and political developments and the media are a critical link in the accountability chain between the government and the people.

“For the media to contribute effectively in enthroning good governance, they must as a matter of responsibility apply the basic principles of patriotism, accountability, transparency and objectivity in the discharge of their duties and uphold the sanctity of truth and fairness at all times, ” she said.

“Good governance applies to all sections of the society such as government, legislative, judiciary, media, private and corporate sector, trade unions and NGOs.

All aspects of good governance are facilitated by the existence of a strong, pluralistic and independent media in the society. Hence, the need for a free/independent media.

The constitution though protects freedom of expression and opinion, but there are many laws (like the above) whose provisions make it possible to obstruct the work of journalists.

There is the need to have a free and vibrant media landscape for the success of democracy and enhancement of good governance by the media” she added

Zainab Oyiza Sanni of News Verifiers also presents a lecture on Fact-Checking as a tool for investigative reporting to ensure that information and images are not misrepresented in reporting.

 

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