MAC 212 MEDIA AND SOCIETY
CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Objectives
3.0 Main Content
3.1 Definition of Press Council
3.2 Reasons for Setting up Press Councils
3.3 The Nigerian Press Council and its Functions
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
7.0 References/Further Readings
1.0 INTRODUCTION
One of the ways of ensuring that journalists perform their social
responsibility function effectively is through strict adherence to ethical
standards of their profession. The press council ensures that journalists
operate within the professional dictates as it monitors and regulates the
practice of the journalism profession. In this unit, we shall take a look at
the Nigerian Press Council.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
• define press council
• outline reasons for establishment of press councils
• discuss the structure and functions of the Nigerian press council.
3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 Definition of Press Council
Press councils by way of definition are self regulatory bodies which
enforce moral sanctions in the practice of journalism profession.
According to Daramola (2005:239), “a press council is mainly to
investigate and rule on public complaint and against the press to make it
more responsible, and also to fend-off restrictive government
regulations and interference. Duyile (2005:80) describes press councils
as journalists’ court of honour.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
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What are press councils?
3.2 Reasons for Establishment of Press Councils
Press councils are desirable and inevitable in the practice of journalism
anywhere in the world. The major reason for putting in place press
councils is to maintain the character of the press in accordance with the
highest professional and commercial standards.
Another cardinal reason for setting up press councils is to ensure the
freedom of press in the belief that such preservation is crucial to the
existence and independence of the press and vital to the society that the
press serves. (Daramola 2005: 239).
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Outline two major reasons for the establishment of press councils.
3.3 Structure and Functions of the Nigerian Press Council
The Nigerian Press Council was established as an autonomous body in
1992 by Decree No. 85. The Decree was amended by Act No.60 of 1999
by the Federal Government. The major objective of its establishment
was to defend and protect people against unfair treatment by the press
and the press against unfair attacks and harassment by the government
and other power structures.
The Nigerian Press Council, as observed by Daramola (2005:241), was”
inaugurated on December 29, 1992 with 17 members comprising the
chairman, four representatives of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),
two representatives each of Newspaper Proprietors Association of
Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guilds of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting
Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the public.”
The law made it mandatory for one member representing the country to
be a woman. Other members are a representative of the Federal Ministry
of Information; News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Journalism training
institutions and the executive secretary of the Press Council.
It is important for us at this juncture to take a look at the functions of
Nigerian Press Council as chronicled by Daramola (Op cit).
Functions
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The Council is to among other things, perform the following functions:
i. Enquire into complaints about the press and the conduct of any
person or organisation towards the press;
ii. Research into contemporary press development and engage in
updating press documentations;
iii. Review developments likely to restrict the flow of information
and advice on measures aimed at remedying such developments;
iv. Ensure the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in
the lawful performance and maintenance of high professional
standards by the Nigerian Press;
v. Foster the achievement and maintenance of high professional
standard by the Nigerian Press Council.
The Council works through four Committees. These are:
i. The Complaint Committee
ii. Research and Documentation Committee
iii. Registration and Disciplinary Committee
iv. Rights and Privileges Committee
The Complaint Committee
The Complaint Committee vets, investigates and deals with complaints
brought before the Council. In the treatment of complaints, the
Committee observes strictly the Council’s procedure, which sets out to
complain. The Complaints Committee in the consideration of
complaints before the Council lays emphasis on what it regards to be the
public interest. Through its recommendations on adjudication it provides
normative interpretation of the Code of Conduct of the NUJ to give the
press board guidelines in its operation. These include stressing that the
public is entitled to news and comment presented fairly and honestly
with respect to privacy and sensibilities of the individual. The
committee also emphasizes the obligation of the press to take all
reasonable steps to ensure the truth of its statements.
Rights of Complaints
Any member of the public is entitled to lodge complaints against any
medium of the mass media, provided the complaint is one of unethical
conduct. One can complain if:
i. Anything unethical is published in respect of him in any medium
of information in Nigeria. The media is defined under Press, and
include radio, television, wire services, newspapers, magazines
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and such other channel of communication involved in the
collection and dissemination of information.
ii. Anything considered objectionable is done in respect of him by
any journalist in his capacity as a journalist. A journalist is one
who is engage in the collection, processing and dissemination of
information for use in the Press and has been accredited by the
Nigeria Union of Journalist.
iii. Anything done against the journalist that is capable of limiting
the preservation of the freedom of the press guaranteed by the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
iv. What is done and complained about is not in accordance with the
Code of Conduct of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Focus of Complainants
A person can complain only when he is satisfied that he has drawn the
attention of the medium concerned to what he deems objectionable and
he is not satisfied with the way the matter was handled by the medium.
The medium may have failed to react to his complaint or informed him
that it was not liable. If the grouse has to do with a broadcast, it is
advised that the complaint be directed to the station’s director of news
and/or programmes. One should be in no doubt about the publication he
is complaining about, when the publication was made, what harm it did
and what he wants done. The complaints must be written. The
Committee entertains no verbal complaints. One has to state clearly
what one’s own grouse is; the steps he had taken to effect redress; and
that the Press Council should look into the matter.
Processing Reports of Complaints
Within 48 hours of the receipt of the complaint, the office of the
Executive Secretary will make a preliminary report to the Complaints
Committee to keep it fully informed, as well as set in motion the
following administrative steps for the resolution of the complaint.
iv. Acknowledge receipt of the complaint
v. Refer the complaint to the Legal Department of the Nigerian
Press Council for interpretation and confirmation that the
complaint falls within the Council’s jurisdiction. If the advice is
negative, the Secretary will write to the complainant to say the
complaint is not within the Council’s jurisdiction. If yes, the
Secretary will write to the complainant to supply documented
details if not already submitted.
vi. The Secretary will then write to inform the defendant about the
complaint and invite him to comment in writing.
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vii. With necessary preliminary investigations now completed, the
Secretary will lay all available facts of the case with documents if
any, before the Complaints Committee for adjudication.
Handling of Complaints by the Committee
The Complaints Committee will meet as often as the need arises while
the Press Council itself will meet every quarter.
i. The Complaint Committee handles the matter by inviting both
sides and witness as provided for in the Nigerian Press Council
Decree. In this regard, attention is drawn to section 9 (1) and (10)
of the Decree, with particular reference to the powers of the
Council to summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting
of the Council to give evidence and to examine him as a witness
and in the case of journalist, without prejudice to the provisions
of the Code of Conduct; as well as the power of the Chairman to
issue summons etc.
ii. The Complaints Committee will lay its findings and conclusions
before the Council for consideration. The Press Council will take
a decision and announce its findings.
iii. The Complaints Committee will handle matters that have to do
with publication in newspapers or magazines and broadcast on
radio or television.
Rights and Privileges Committee
The Council through its Rights and Privileges Committee from time to
time holds discussion with and advises government on developments,
which might limit the press in its performance. The Committee also
prepares position papers on laws and developments adjudged as capable
or impeding the performance of the press and issue press releases that
advise and give general guidelines to the press. The Council, since its
inception, has written three position papers on the Newspapers
Registration Decree No. 43 of 1993, Newspapers, etc (Proscription and
Prohibition from Circulation) Decree No. 48 of 1993 and on the
provision for the information of a National Mass Media Communication
in the Draft Constitution which was abrogated by the General
Abdulsalam Abubakar military administration in favour of the
suspended 1979 Constitution in April, 1999.
Registration and Disciplinary Committee
The Nigerian Press Council is required by Section of its enabling law to
maintain a register of accredited journalists submitted to it by the
Nigeria Union of Journalists. The Union registers any person as a
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