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INFLUENCE OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ON JOURNALISM PRACTICE: A STUDY OF JOURNALISTS IN ANAMBRA STATE

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Abstract

This study focused on the Influence of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and journalism practice in Anambra State. The FOI Act in terms of its history, features and influence for journalism practice in Anambra state, and how much it has been harnessed by practitioners, challenges encountered in this regard and future prospects. We found that the influences which the FOI Act is envisaged to bring to journalism practice include legal coverage for the journalist as they accesses information; reduction in cost of accessing information; and reduction of risk involved in seeking sensitive information. An assessment of the implementation of the FOI Act shows that there has been an encouraging increase in the number of individuals and organisations demanding for information pursuant to the provisions of the Act. The methodology adopted is the survey method and the use of questionnaire was used to obtain data. The Findings shows that the failure of Nigerian journalists to harness the FOI Act ha

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.0 Background

Journalism is one social institution that requires freedom to effectively function in society. It plays a crucial role to society, serving as the watchdog of the society, and providing constant stream of information, education andsocialization. Soeze (2005, p.19) elucidates that

 

the media as the watchdog of the society have the responsibility

of keeping the public informed, educated and socialized. This

 involves making people know the day-to-dayactivities and

dealings of those in governmentwhether military or civilian.

 In addition, the media also help To ensure that the

government knows the feelings and yearnings of those it

governs. However, for the media to perform these functions

effectively and efficiently there must be press freedom.

 

Journalism also sets agenda, organizes public debates and discussions, and interprets issues to put themin proper perspectives to make meaning to people. Through these roles, journalism not only educate, inform andsocialize; it also confers status, values and significance to issues, thereby serving as the mouth-piece anddefender of the voiceless and the oppressed in society (Sambe, 2008).

Since the emergence of modern journalism in Nigeria in 1859 according to (Aliede, 2003), it has been struggling to achieve the needed freedom that would enable it discharge its social responsibilities creditably. The journalistic task of gathering and disseminating news has not been an easy one largely due to limited freedom occasioned largely by government firm grip and control of the mass media. Thus, Uche (1989) notes that “relationship between the mass media and the government in Nigeria has been a cat and mouse affair”. This implies that, the free flow of information has been trampled upon. Journalists have had no access to vital information let alone the masses. In struggling to get detailed, factual and balanced reportage, journalists have

had to continue to nose around for information, exposing themselves to high levels of risk that got them victimized, jailed, tortured and sometimes killed (Ezeah, 2004).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Before the signing of the freedom of information act FOI by president Goodluck Jonathan on the 28

th

May 2011 the press went through a lot of critics in the hands of people and government, especially the military government which as a result many journalist / media practitioners were imprisoned assassinated and assaulted . However this research work aim at studying;