Media Ethics as Key to Sound Professionalism in Nigerian Journalism Practice

This paper examines the implications of ethics as key to sound professionalism in Nigerian journalism. The paper sets out to assess how ethics affect the standard of journalism practice in the country, using media practitioners in Rivers State, Nigeria as case study. The population of study consisted of the 300 registered journalists in Rivers State of Nigeria, including the editors and managers. The survey research method was used while the questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data gathering. It was revealed that despite the importance of ethics to journalism practice, journalists＇ adherences to the ethical codes were low. The study also revealed that journalists most times go against the ethics of the profession due to sycophancy, security reasons, desperation, greed, ethical dilemmas, and ignorance of the code of ethics. Based on the timings of the study, it was recommended that media establishments should liaise with the Nigerian Union of Journalist （NUJ） to ensure that only trained journalists are employed to work as journalists. Again the NUJ, it should institute standing disciplinary committee to discipline erring journalists both at the State and National levels. The Ethics Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists should regularly review the ethical conducts of journalists and encourage them to adhere to their code of practice