TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
11 Background of the
study
1.2 Statement of the
Research Problem
1.3 Objectives of the
study
1.4 significance of
the Study
1.5 Research
Questions
1.6 Research
Hypothesis
1.7 Theoretical
Framework
1.8 Scope of the
Study
1.9 Limitation of the
Study
1.10 Definition of
Terms
CHAPTER
TWO
2.1Literature Review
2.2 Source of
Literature
2.3 Summary of
Literature
References
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Area of Study
3.3 Research
Population
3.4 Research Sample
3.5 Sampling
Technique
3.6 Method of Data
Collection
3.7 Method of Data
Analysis
3.8 Expected Result
(S)
Expected Results
CHAPTER
1V
4.0 Pressentation and
Interpretation of Findings
4.1 Data Pressentation
and Analysis
4.2 Analysis of
Research Question/Hypothesis
4.3 Discussion of
Results
CHAPTER
V
5.0 Summary,
Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary of
Finding
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendix
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It is
imperative to understand from the onset that the press has been subjected to a
nexus of retractions which has restricted the journalist to a corner as regards
their expected reportage and performance.
However,
the press has been faced with restrictions through set of codified laws,
constitutional encroachments, obnoxious decrease, and official extra judicial
limitation among others.
Furthermore,
there are certain laws that the practicing Nigeria journalists should adhere to
which are his actual professional guidelines, towards a better reportage.
Moreover, such press can be seen as legal limitation of the press because of
the NUSNGE backings of these press laws herein.
Before
going deeper, one cannot out-rightly out state that the level of suggestion or
adherence to press laws depends on the level of advancement of country in
question. Suffices to note at the juncture, that most countries of the world
including Nigeria, control their press through such laws like bribery slander,
sedition contempt of court, obscenity and invasion of privacy and among a host
of other press laws, but for the purpose of this study as regard the hazard
involved, it will be wise to narrow down only in those aforementioned areas.
There
are other laws as the copyright, has appropriate laws and among other laws. But
the relevance is to analyze the above press laws among a plethora of other Laws
on the professional journalisms.
Questions
thus, arises what psychological orientation of these laws on the professional
Nigerian journalist? Again, law will the journalists react as regards the press
laws in Nigeria? Is the constitution a limiting factor to the operations of the
press? All these demand answer.
In a
wider sense, the constitution is a body of rules of conduct imposed by a state
upon its members and enforced by its courts. The institution regulates the
activities of its members through its codified laws. According to J.W Salmond,
“the constitution is that body of principle recognized and applied by the state
in the administration of justice. Thus, the constitution is supreme and it
provides a basis for predicting what will happen given a particular situation.
It enables (us) to make a reasoned appraisal as to how society as repressented
by the courts will treat a particular transaction. Although it is not every
action of transaction that will end in court, the law acts as a guide which
chart the way transactions are conducted. The constitution therefore channels
and shapes our experiences and expectations in a highly interactive world”.
However the constitution and the NUJ codes of professional practice, act as an
agent of check making and also regulating the functions of journalists through
it various laws and ethical conduct. These laws include deformation, privacy,
obscenity, copyright, sedition, contempt of court, official secrets act and
contract.
The
Law of Defamation
Thus, defamation is divided into the categories libel and slander, and
this division has important consequences. A libel consists of a defamatory
statement of repressentation in permanent from, if a defamatory meaning is
conveyed by spoken words or gestures. It is slander. Examples of libel as
distinguished from slander are a picture, statue, wax work, effigy or writing,
print, mark or sign exposed to view on the other hand, defamation in the manual
language of the deaf and dump, mimicry and gesticulation would probably be
slander, because the movement is more transient. These examples show that it is
only broadly true to say that libel is addressed to the eye, slander to the
ear. It needs no demonstration that if an oral utterance is communicated orally
it is slander that is published or that if written statement is published or
that if a written statement is show to a third person, it is a libel that is
published.
The
Law of Privacy
Privacy
is one of the fundamental rights of man which distinguishes him from the
brutes. Specifically, section (37) of the 1999 constitution of the federal
republic of Nigeria states that “the privacy of citizens, their homes
correspondence telephone conversation and telegraphic communications in hereby
guaranteed and protected.” The idea is to ensure that the privacy of the
individuals is protected in no condition should journalists interfere unduly
into the private life of any individual.
Copy
Right Law
Copy
right law according to the Blacks law dictionary defined copy right as “the
right to literacy property a recognized and sanctioned by positive law. An
intangible incorporporeal right granted by statue to the author of origination
of certain literacy or artistic production, whereby he is invested for a
limited period with the sole and exclusive privilege of multiplying copies of
the same and publishing and selling them”. Originally promulgated as copyright
decree (47) of 1988 enumerated works, which are eligible for copyright as
literacy works. Sound recording, musical works, artist works cinema,
autographic films and broadcasts.