APPLICATION OF MEDIA ETHICS IN NEWS GATHERING AND DISSEMINATION

Abstract: The broad focus of this study borders on  application of media ethics in news gathering and dissemination. The study further investigate whether journalist applies ethics during news gathering and dissemination, examined  the extent journalists maintain the ethics of the profession in news-gathering and dissemination and highlighted some of the effect of  journalists not upholding the ethics of the profession. Survey research design was employed for the study and with aid of convenient sampling selected Thirty-Six (36) participant who  are media practitioners and journalist  as the sample size for this study. The sources of data collection was both primary and secondary with the application of questionnaires as an instrument to gather the necessary data. The questionnaires were properly completed as well  returned  by only 30 respondent after being administered and this was a basis by which the primary data were collected. Primary data collated was analyzed using simple percentage, frequencies and tables and the result were similar to those of the responses drawn from the questionnaires. Hypotheses was tested using Chi-Square statistical tools.Findings of the study to a high extent most journalist in Ikeja are aware of the ethics and principles of journalism, however struggles to maintain professionalism during the practices of journalism. The effect of not upholding ethics during information and gathering and dissemination leads to deliberate exclusion of some vital pieces of information especially when it portrays the leadership of the day unfavorable in the sight of the masses. m. The study therefore recommends that Media establishments should liaise with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state to ensure that only formally trained journalists work as journalists in their organisations. Finally, media organizations should make it a matter of priority to organize yearly refresher courses on ethics for their staff.