Application Of Media Ethics In Nigerian Media

The term media, which is the plural of medium, alludes to the correspondence stations through which we share news, music, instruction, limited time messages, and other information. It incorporates physical and online papers and magazines, TV, radio, announcements, phone, the Internet, fax and boards.

It depicts the different routes through which we convey in the public eye. Since it alludes to all methods for correspondence, everything running from a phone call to the nightly news on TV can be called media.

Ethics can be characterized as a moral way of thinking or code by an individual or gathering of individuals. It is likewise the standard an individual or a gathering of individuals, (for example, an association or a general public) uses to administer exercises they perform and choices they make.

In this paper, I will be discussing the application of media ethics in Nigerian Media practices with examples, and pass on a judgment on the level of ethical practices in one Nigerian media type of my choice. Media ethics are those wide sets of standards and qualities that guide the activities and leadership of media experts in a wide array of circumstances that have to do with media practice. it is the analysis of actions and decisions taken by or to be taken by media professionals weighing the wrongness and rightness of those actions.

The media unmistakably have a solid and complex impact on how we comprehend and shape our reality. From news revealing and insightful news-casting to the advertising of gadgets, dramatizations, and movies, provision of information, stimulation and look to improve our comprehension of the world. Subsequently, in infrequently indirect ways, the media connect with and influence our convictions, qualities, and central duties. Normally, at that point, given the media’s expanding nearness and impact inside our reality, there emerges a large group of ethical and social inquiries that should be tended to.

There have been increases in an open discussion about such issues, typically roused by shock against some apparent wrong dedicated by an area of the media. Allegations of predisposition, press skepticism, media control, judgments of journalists invasions of privacy, wor­ries about the harming or distortive impact of the televisual medium and fervently challenged professions about the suitable types of media guideline or oversight have all hit the features with ever more noteworthy recurrence.

Media Ethics: Application in Nigeria Media

In a country as corrupt as Nigeria and the fact that journalists are very similar to politicians, it is only fair to assume that media ethics isn’t something taking seriously by the Nigerian media professionals.

It is notable that journalism has quite a poor picture with the general public. They don’t respect it profoundly. They are suspicious of writers and the manner in which they practice their profession. Journalists are seen similarly as government officials, as disrepu­table, conniving and exploitative, pushing an individual or sectional inter­est as opposed to the realities of the case. On the off chance that individuals are informed that the foundation of reporting is truth-telling, they will respond with some suspicion. On the off chance that they are informed that the act of news-casting is established on moral standards, they will either snicker or, on the off chance that they are set up to pay attention to the issue, bring up that the run of the mill newspaper story is inconsequential, profane or created.

Ethics of journalism alludes to the set of principles and standards that are adopted and protected by journalists in accordance with the work they do. In Nigeria, there is a new code of ethics for journalism which was brought about by journalists themselves and the Nigerian press council in 1996. It consists of about fifteen codes, ranging from press freedom and responsibility to editorial independence. It was brought about when there was an agreement by the council that the old ethical codes were deficient in many vital areas. Some of the topics for these codes include press freedom and responsibility, fairness, decency, copyright, public interest, violence, Discrimination and so on. There have been multiple instances where one or more of these codes have been broken by journalists or other media professionals.

A great example is that of letter from previous Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo to the quick past president Jonathan Goodluck. The letter involved front pages of Nigerian newspapers in December 2013. The title peruses: ‘Obasanjo to Jonathan: Read My Lips Before It Is Too Late’. This letter likewise abused the code of ‘Public interest‟ the code says: ‘A journalist ought to endeavor to improve national solidarity and public good’ the letter created pressure among Nigerian citizens in light of the fact that the previous president brought up that; Goodluck Jonathan is intending to prepare the posse that can assist him with winning 2015 general political election and battle against northern elites. Likewise in the answer to the letter distributed in Leadership of December 11, 2013, foul language was utilized. The code of ‘Decent‟ says: ‘A columnist should shun utilizing hostile, oppressive, or foul language’. The title of answer from presidency peruses: ‘You‟re A Malicious, Indecent Two-timer, Presidency Tells Obasanjo’. The inquiry here is; why Leadership decided to accept this point as their feature? Editorial Independence a large portion of the time is exposed to negative possession. Most media associations in Nigeria are not being free of their distributions because of the way that these media houses are exclusive by significant characters in the general public with or without ties to the government or by the Government itself.

Print media is one of the most ancient and fundamental types of mass communication. It incorporates papers, weeklies, magazines, monthlies and different types of printed diaries. A fundamental comprehension of the print media is basic in the investigation of mass communication. The commitment of print media in giving data, what’s more, the move of information is noteworthy. Considerably after the coming of electronic media, the print media has not lost its appeal or pertinence. In Nigeria, although there have been instances of print media houses breaking ethical codes by what they report or print for the public to read, they are still the most trustworthy and informative form of media for the public. Especially when it comes to news regarding public interest.

At the point when a writer, media house, or journalist is stood up to with moral issues the person ought to think about the accompanying standards.

When there are two outrageous situations in a circumstance, the individual in question should look for the center ground known by Aristotles the ‘Golden mean’. Act just as you would wish others would act. Consider the utilitarianism of our activities, that is, our activity should create the best equalization of good finished underhanded. Apply the cover of ignorance, that is, settle on moral choices as though you are equivalent with all individuals from the general public what’s more, in conclusion, treat individuals similarly you would hope to be dealt with

References and Sources:

1. Japp, P., Meister, M., & Japp, D. (2007). Communication ethics, media & popular culture. New York: Peter Lang.
2. Journalism and Mass Communication, February 2018, Vol. 8, No. 2, 56-67 doi: 10.17265/2160-6579/2018.02.002
3. The Five Principles Of Ethical Journalism https://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/who-we-are/5-principles-of-journalism
4. Nasidi, Q. (2019). Media and Ethics: Journalism Ethics in Nigerian News Media. Retrieved 10 December 2019, from http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol.%2021%20Issue12/Version-3/A2112030106.pdf