NEGATIVE EFFECT OF BROWN ENVELOPE IN THE PRACTICE OF JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA: A CASE OF VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

ABSTRACT

This study examines the Negative effects of brown envelop in the practice of journalism in Nigeria. Data was collected by triangulation method, that is, quantitative and qualitative research methods which helped tremendously in obtaining rich and accurate data from participants. The major findings of this study showed that a lot of factors have contributed to Brown Envelope also known locally as ‘egunje’ by journalists in Nigeria. Such factors include level of education of journalists; meagre salaries received by journalists; and the view that it is appreciation and/or transportation from news sources. The study also found that Brown Envelope takes various forms such as money, car, clothing and in some cases scholarships. Based on these findings the society should desist from giving Brown Envelopes to journalists and more importantly Media houses should improve remuneration of journalists as a measure to deal with the challenge. Again Journalism Training institutions should instill moral principles in trainees. Further studies need to be conducted in other parts of the country to further confirm whether Brown Envelope journalism undermines ethical reporting.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………..…..i

Statement of Authenticity……………………………………………………………………ii

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………iii

Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………            ..iv

                                                                      

Chapter one

Introduction

 Background of Study…………………………………………………………………..1

Statement of the problem……………………………………………………………....4

Aims and Objective……………………………………………………………………4

Research Questions …………………………………………………………………....5

Significance of the Study………………………………………………………………5

Scope and limitation of the study……………………………………………………...6

 Operational Definitions of term……………………………………………………….6

Reverence……………………………………………………………………………….7

Chapter two

Literature Review

Meaning of brown envelops…………………………………………………………………..7

 Euphemistic names for brown envelope……………………………………………………...8

 The argument for and against Brown Envelope ……………………………………………..9

Ethical Burden of Brown Envelope ………………………………………………………..10

Meaning of News Commercialization ……………………………………………………..11

Legal/extra legal issues in Nigeria mass media industry……………………………………12

Newspaper Registration……………………………………………………………………..12

Newspaper ordinance no.10 of 1903…………………………………………………………12

Major provisions of the ordinance …………………………………………………………..13

Freedom of information act 2011…………………………………………………………….13

The esscess of the act………………………………………………………………………..14

Extra-legal measures of controlling the press ……………………………………….15

Implications on journalism practice………………………………………………….17

Press freedom in Nigeria …………………………………………………………….17

Factors impinging on press freedom in Nigeria. …………………………………….18

Mass media and polities in Nigeria …………………………………………………………18

Theoretical Framework……….....................................................................................19

 Social responsibility theory………………………………………………………….19

Structural functionalist theory………………………………………………………..21

Related study…………………………………………………………………………….22

Reverence …………………………………………………………………………………29                                          

 Chapter Three

Methodology Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….......28

 Sample and Sampling Technique…………………………………………………………..28

Research Design……….........................................................................................................29

Data collection method……………………………………………………………………..29

Data analysis plan…………………………………………………………………………...29

Ethical considerations……………………………………………………………………….30

Chapter Four

Data presentation and analysis

 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...31 

Demography Respondents…………………………………………………………..........31

 Gender……………………………………………………………………………………32

 Age of the Respondents………………………………………………………………....32

 Educational of Level…………………………………………………………… ……….33

Marital Status …………………………………………………………………………….34

 Employment Status ………………………………………………………………………36

 Job Title …………………………………………………………………………………..36

 Income Level ……………………………………………………………………………..38

 Training in Journalism and Nigeria Journalists Association Membership ……………….39

 Forms of Brown Envelope Syndrome…………………………………………………….40

 Factors That Influence Brown Envelope syndrome in Journalism………………………..41

 How brown envelope affects journalism in Nigeria………………………………………41

Levels  of Journalists Involved in the reception of brown envelope……………………….42 Reverence……………………………………………………………………………………57

 Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………...48

 Summary of Findings………………………………………………………………………49

Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………………49

Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………..50

Reference……………………………………………………………………………………50

 

List of Tables

 Educational level of the respondents…………………………………………………………..33

 Marital status…………………………………………………………………………………...34

 Employment status of respondents……………………………………………………………..36

  Income Level…………………………………………………………………………………..36

  NJA membership……………………………………………………………………………….38

 Forms of brown envelop………………………………………………………………………..40

Consideration of brown envelope as a bribe…………………………………………………….45

 Cross tabulation of levels of journalists involved in the reception of brown envelop…………………………………………………………………………………………..