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 and socialization. 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-day activities and
dealings of those in government whether 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 them in proper perspectives to make meaning to people. Through these roles, journalism not only educate, inform and socialize; it also confers status, values and significance to issues, thereby serving as the mouth-piece and defender 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 28th 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;
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The main aim and objective of this study was to find out the influence of journalist in Nigeria on the influence of freedom of information act on journalism practices in Anambra state, the specific objectives were to;