CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Freedom of information is both a concept in journalism an issue in contemporary

medical practice. This controversial concept establishes that media practitioners‘

especially journalist reserve the freedom to probe to dig to pry for the purpose of

obtaining information news opinion and publish same without hindrance. It proposes

that the gathering and reporting of news and opinion should operate without any

limitation or constraint. In other word journalist like every other Nigeria have the right to

hold opinion receive information and impact ideas without interference. This is a

fundamental human right guaranteed every individual by the constitution including

journalists.

Again freedom of information is an essential right for every person; it allows

individual and groups to protect their right. It is an important guard against abuses

mismanagement and corruption. It benefits government themselves in terms of openness

and transparency in the decision making process and improve citizen trust in government

action.

For the important of the freedom of information survey had shown that nearly

seventy[70]countries around the world including Nigeria have not adopted

comprehensive freedom of information act to facilitate access to record held by the

government bodies and another fifty have pending efforts. A few countries have issued

decrees or used constitutional provision. Many countries have adopted others that can

provide for limited access their own records held by the government agencies and private

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organization specific statutes that give right of access in certain area such as health

environment government procurement and consumer protection.

Freedom of information could be traced to the age enlightenment and

development of democracy in America.it is a product of libertarianism which derived

unarguably from the libertarian theory of the libertarian approach to the ingredient of

libertarian approach of media.

Freedom of Information stoutly opposes the authoritarian philosophy of the press

in which absolute power and control over ownership content and the use to which the

media could be put resided with the monarch.

As pointed out in chapter five of GOKE R.[2003].mass media and the society.

issues and perspectives the authoritarian system pre-supposes that; truth was conceived to

be not the product of the great mass of people but a few men who were in a position to

guide and direct their fellows thus truth was thought to be centered near the center of

power .The rulers of the time used the press to inform the people of what the rulers

thought they should know and the policies the rulers thought they should support.

The role of the press then therefore was chiefly to support and advance the

policies and thinking of the government in a society where criticism of the political

machinery and officials in power through the media was forbidden.

This contradicts the beliefs of the libertarian that man is a rational being capable

of choosing between truth and falsehood deciding between bad and good and when face

with alternative choices capable to unerringly choose the truth and the good. The press

therefore must be free to feed the people with information and allow them to judge

because they are rational beings. According to Siebert pater so et ela ―the libertarian

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liable assume that in a democratic society there would be multiplicity of voices available

to if not actually reaching the public.‖ Let every man who has something to say on

public issues express himself regardless of whether what he has to say is true or false and

the public ultimately decided.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Before the signing of freedom of information act (FOI) by president Good luck

Jonathan on the 28

th

may 2011the press went through a lot of criticism in the hands of

people/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;

 The effect of government censorship on journalists.

 Non access to public information kept by government public institution and

private bodies.

 Criticism and government suppression.

1.3 Objective of the Study

It is a well-known fact that Freedom of Information Act (FOI) was to strengthen

the constitutional guarantee of freedom to receive and impact information and ideas. The

law encourages investigative journalism balance reporting and objectivity verification

of stories openness transparency fairness and accuracy in media presentation.

Therefore the researchers consider the following objective relevant.

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1. To find out the Impacting of Freedom of Information Act (FOI) on journalist

practices in Uyo Community.

2. To know the extent of Freedom of Information Act Practice in Uyo Community.

3. To determine how Uyo L G A (local government area) encourages Freedom of

Information Act.

1.4 Research Questions

The researcher‘s attend in the research work will be focused on how to answer the

following questions;

1. What are the impacts of freedom of Information Act on journalists in Uyo

community

2. What are the extents of Freedom of Information Act among practicing Journalist

in Uyo Community

3. How does the government of Uyo community encourages Freedom of

Information Act.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study is mainly focuses on the residence of Uyo community which include

the four clans of Uyo local government of Akwa Ibom state.

1.8 Significance of the Study

This study is aim at promoting and encouraging the new law ―Freedom of

Information Act‖ in Uyo community and Nigeria at large. The study will be of great

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benefit to the researcher journalist and the entire Nigeria to embrace the law in order to

encourage professionalism and the ethnics of journalism.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

Freedom: This is the power or right to act speak etc. as one wants without anyone

stopping. It is the permission to use act and speak etc. without restriction in Uyo

community.

Information: This is a fact told heard or discovered about something/ somebody. It is

also seen as knowledge gives/ provides/ pass on/ receive/ obtain/ collect about something/

somebody in Uyo community.

Act: This is a law made by a parliament or similar body in Uyo community.

Journalism: This is the activity or product of journalists or others engage in the

preparation of written visual or audio material intended for dissemination through public

media with reference to factual ongoing events of public concern. It is intended to inform

society about itself and to make public things that would otherwise be private in Uyo

community.

Uyo community: This is a city in the south eastern Nigeria and is the capital of Akwa

Ibom state. The city became a capital of Akwa Ibom state on September 23 1997

following the creation of Cross River. Uyo is bounded by;

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Abak

Itu

Uruan

Ibesikpo Asutan and

Etinan local government all in Akwa Ibom State. She is made up of four (4) clans which

includes; Ikono Etio Oku and Offort clan. She has a total population of 309513(male

153 11 and female 156460) according to 2006 National census.

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