ARTICLE SUMMARY
| Title: | Evaluation of Knowledge Level of South-East Journalists on Contents of the Freedom of Information Act |
| Author(s): | Nwankwo Boniface Nwankwo, Orji-Egwu Agatha Obiageri, Nwamini Samuel Chukwuemeka & Nwankwo Simon Ugochukwu |
| Abstract: | Various countries globally including Nigeria have always enshrined in their Constitutions, the freedom of speech and expression to provide Journalists the leverage to carry out their duties independently. To boost this freedom for Nigeria Press, the freedom of information Act, FOIA was signed into law in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan but in spite of the enactment of this Act and other enabling laws, a good number of Journalists especially those of them in South East are still bereft of knowledge of the basic provisions of this Act. It was on the basis of the above that this study appraised the knowledge level of South-East Journalists on the provisions of the Act. The specific objectives were to: determine whether Journalists in South-East are aware of the existence of the Freedom of Information Act and ascertain their level of knowledge about the provisions of the Act. The study was anchored on the knowledge gap theory. The survey research design was used. The population of the study was 1450 registered Journalists in the five States of South-East namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo and the sample size of 385 determined through the online Australian National Statistical Calculator was studied. Questionnaire was adopted as instrument for data collection. Data were collected, presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages. The findings of this study revealed that Journalists in South-East are aware of the existence of the Freedom of Information Act but do not have basic knowledge of the provisions of the Act. The researchers recommended among other things that Sensitization of Journalists on the provisions of the FOIA should be carried out by regulatory bodies of the media like the NUJ and NOA in collaboration with legal experts so as to keep them informed and knowledgeable about the Act. It also recommended mass production and distribution of copies of the FOIA to Journalists, custodians of public information and the general public as a way of encouraging them to read and internalize the provisions. |
| Keywords: | South-East, Journalist, knowledge, Freedom of Information, Freedom of Information Act |
Editorial Board
EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Prof. Jonathan E. Aliede
DEPUTY EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Agatha Obiageri Orji-Egwu, Ph.D
MANAGING EDITOR
SÃmon Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Ph.D
EDITORS
Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude
Prof. Angela Nwanmuo
Prof. Tyotom Keghku
Prof. Muyiwa Poopola
Prof. Nnanyelugo Okoro
Prof L. I. Ogbuoshi
Ruth. Chika Okorie, Ph.D
Adeola Sidikat Oyrleke, Ph.D
Celestine Ukeoma, Ph.D