EDITORIAL POLICY AND JOURNALIST’S PROFESSIONAL DUTIES: A STUDY OF FRCN ABUJA NETWORK CENTRE
EDITORIAL POLICY AND JOURNALIST’S PROFESSIONAL DUTIES: A STUDY OF FRCN ABUJA NETWORK CENTRE
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Date
2017-09
Authors
WODI, Abdul-hameed
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Abstract
This study examined how conflicting editorial policy is managed by journalists in Radio Nigeria Network Centre, Abuja. It argues that, conflicting editorial policy put journalists in a difficult state where he/she struggles to satisfy two opposing principles. The study aims at finding out how journalists in the station manage the editorial policy of serving government interest by explaining new government policies and intentions and the policy of ensuring fairness, balance and factuality in reportage which is contained in item 2.6 (iv) and 2.3 (i) of the station’s operational guideline. The Gatekeeping theory of the media was employed and survey was used as research method. Census of all (96) journalists in the station was done. Data were collected using questionnaire and key informant interview. Findings revealed that, journalists in the station managed conflicting editorial policy through neutrality in reportage that is, desisting from injecting their personal views in their reportage but sticking to what their employers want. It was equally found that 52.7 per cent of the respondents out of the sample population hold that the editorial policy of serving government interest negatively affects the professional ethics of balance in news reportage as journalists are constrained by ownership interest. The study also revealed that 54.9 per cent respondents agree that government sometimes interfere with editorial decisions of journalists in Radio Nigeria, Abuja. Based on the findings, it was recommended that editorial policy should be devoid of conflicting provisions; and public broadcast outfits should take public interest as a watch word. Also, should be media autonomy in Government owned media in Nigeria in order for broadcast stations to independently generate revenues, pay staff and give journalists a free hand to carry out their duties.
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IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) DEGREE IN MASS COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
Keywords
EDITORIAL POLICY,, JOURNALIST’S PROFESSIONAL DUTIES,, STUDY,, FRCN ABUJA,