Article-1

Global Media Journal – Indian Edition

Sponsored by the University of Calcutta www.caluniv.ac.in
ISSN 2249 – 5835
Winter-Summer Issue/December 2016 – June 2017
Volume: 7 / Number: 2, Volume: 8/ Number: 1

REVIEW OF SOME ETHICAL ISSUES IN NIGERIAN JOURNALISM PRACTICE:

AFGHANISTANISM, CHARACTER ASSASSINATION AND JUNK JOURNALISM

by

Oberiri Destiny Apuke

Department of Mass Communication
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Taraba State University, P.M.B 1157 Jalingo, Nigeria.
Email: apukedestiny@gmail.com

Abstract: This study reviews some ethical issues in media practice in Nigeria: character
assassination, junk journalism and Aghanistanism. The study made use of qualitative
research method with the consultation of secondary sources such as books, journal articles
and magazines. The study reveals among other things that Afghanistanism is the practice of
concentrating on problems in distant parts of the world while ignoring controversial local
issues, character assassination is damaging the reputation of an individual, while junk
journalism otherwise known as sensationalism is the tendency to publish information that
causes any interest or emotional reaction. Base on the study, these ethical issues are affecting
journalism practice in Nigeria. The study recommends that sanctioning the defaulters of
Aghanistanism, character assassination and junk journalism by NBC, NUJ, NPC will go a
long way in curbing the menace of these practice among journalists.

Keywords: Aghanistanism, character assassination, junk journalism, ethical issues, media

practice

Background to the Study

Like every other discipline, there are “dos” and “don’ts” in journalism practice. i.e, codes of
conduct that guide the practitioners of the discipline. Here emphasis is given more on what
should be avoided rather than what should be done. Ethics are rules or principles of behavior
that are purported to guide actions (Marcel, 2009). Going by Marcel, things that violet the
guiding principles are unethical and hence, should be avoided entirely.

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 There are quite many ethical issues in journalism practice but in this study, attention will be
given to Afghanistanism, character assassination, and junk journalism. The study aims at
reviewing their meanings, their practice in Nigeria, their effects or implications to Nigeria
journalism practice and finally, proffers solutions.

Afghanistanism

Afghanistanism is the practice of concentrating on problems in distant parts of the world

while ignoring controversial local issues. Robert M. Hutchins (1955) refers to it as the
practice of referring always to some remote country, place, person, or problem when there is
something that ought to be taking care of near at home, which is very acute. Going by their
definitions, it can therefore be deduce that Afghanistanism is an unethical act in journalism
professions or practice where journalist or media stations give attention more on foreign or
far-away issues ignoring more pressing issues at home in order to divert attention. It is a
political tool in which the government used to shift the attention of the public or masses from
the pressing issues so as to be free from being attack.

According Asemah (2011) Afghanistanism is a term that is used to describe the situation
where by journalist tends to focus on far away issues to the neglect of local issues. This
implies that if a reporter of NTA Jalingo is busy reporting the birthday of the Osun state
governor, child dedications of the member of the house of assembly in Benue state, while
flood issues, crime issue, rape issues here in Jalingo are neglected such journalist is practicing
Afghanistanism. Again Nigeria journalist who are often reporting events in united state, UK,
Russia, Canada while neglecting issues of national or local interest are practicing
Afghanistanism.

History

The term Afghanistanism was first used in 1948, when Jerkins Lioyed Jones seriously
lampoon the soviet of American newspaper for paying more attention on problem of
Afghanistanism instead more or American domestic problems (Asemah 2011). According to
Asemah, Jones was the editor of Tulsa (Oklahoma) Tribune and since then the term came to
be used in journalism.

Reasons Why Afghanistanism is Practiced in Nigeria

i. According to Asemah (2011, p. 399) fear of tackling issues closer to the home is the
reason for Aghanistanism.
ii. Another reason is to divert the public attention from government public issue and policy.
E.g. when much attention should be given on economic recession, denial of potential
coppers from serving etc. much attention are given on reporting American politics and
other irrelevant foreign issues.

Effect of Aghanistanism

i. It devalues our country as citizens tend to know and discuss more of the foreign
countries instead of our local or national issues.
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 ii. It destroys surveillance roles of the media as citizens as no more informed or less
informed about the societal issues.
iii. It encourages corruption. Governments ill policies are not covered and as such, they
enjoy free or no criticism of their poor governance.

Character Assassination

According to Asemah (2011) when the journalist damages the reputation of an individual, he
is guilty of character assassination. This is an unethical and illegal practice. In most cases,
government officials or rather politicians pay the media to do this on their behalf, destroying
their opponent’s images. Character assassination is a political tool used to vilify opponent’s
reputation before the right thinking members of the society. Character assassination is carried
out in either calling people names (name calling) labeling and stereotyping. The
contemporary issues of character assassination in Nigeria shall critically unveils the
manifestation of the three mentioned above. Thus:

Contemporary Issues of Character Assassination in Nigeria

There are several issues of character assassination in Nigeria which are defamatory. It
encompasses both written statement, known as “libel” and spoken statement known as
“slander”. Below are some of these issues in Nigeria.

The case of Dr. Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers state seeking for six billion
damages against Dakuku for defamation which resulted from a statement allegedly met by
the defendant during the press conference in the state. It was alleged that the defendant after
wike’s Supreme Court victory, alleging that Wike during his victory thanksgiving service
stated that Odili helped him to secure the Supreme courts victory. But Odili said what
Dakuku said is false and malicious, as Wike never made such inference. But that Dakuku
twisted and misrepresented what Wike said. (Case started proceedings 9:07am Tuesday
presided by Justice Lamikanra adjourned the hearing on the suit to 27 0f October 2016)

In 2014, APC chieftain, Alh. Bola Ahmed Tinubu instituted a hundred and fifty billion Naira
(N 150,000,000,00B) libel suit against African Independent Television (AIT) on the
companies across Lagos purportedly owned by Tinubu describing him as Nigerian biggest
Landlord. Although, the case was later settled out of court with huge apology tendered by
AIT. Another case of slander in Nigeria was that of Orji Uzo-kalu the former governor of
Abia in 2007 suit the traditional ruler of Uwani-Uno for slander, when the traditional
describes Kalu’s mother as criminally minded mother. Also issues of Ngozi Okonju Iwala in
Abuja when a journalist addressed her as “Madam”, she sued him to court for slander
because according to her “Madam” is a statues for market woman.

The former first Lady Nigeria Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, in her campaign during the
2015 presidential election in Calabar, described APC candidate President Mohammadu
Buhari as a man without brain. The rumours about president Muhammadu Buhari’s
secondary school certificate which is still pending. Others are character assassination which
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include name calling. For instance, General Sani Abacha who was called ‘Dark Goggle
journal’, IBB (General Babangida) been described as evil genius. Stereotyping is also a form
of character assassination. For example, Nigerians in the southern and eastern part of Nigeria,
refer to Northerns as “BOKO HARAM”. All these are political gimmicks and ethnic
bigometric in order to tarnish their image because they are political weapons and a weapon of
propaganda.

Junk Journalism

According to Levin (2000,p.18), cited in Asemah (2011), junk journalism otherwise known
as sensationalism is the tendency to publish information that causes any interest or emotional
reaction. According to Jodan.et al (1995:p137) in his book (contemporary issues in mass
media practice) junk journalism also simple known as junk news, is a sardonic term for news
stories that deliver “sensationalized, personalize, and homogenized inconsequential ,trivia
especially when such stories appear at the expense of serious investigative journalism.
Asemah (2011) who also calls it sensationalism says, it has to do with the system of
journalism which places emphasis on unusual and bizarre things in the society. According to
him, the newspaper does this by showing stories with gory pictures, paying attention to
disgusting aspect of subject to play up its news stories.

Junk journalism is synonymous to junk news and sensationalism, as Jodan (1995) submits, it
is often found in magazine. The aim is to arrest attention of the audience to read the stories
there in the publication. Sensational stories are blown out of proportion to produce strong
feelings of unusualness, shock and excitement, by using bold eye-gripping headlines, and
various escapades to generate or report the news. A report that Jim Iyke is a HIV carrier a
popular Nollywood actor is quite an example of junk journalism or junk news. Another
instance is when Genevive was reported to be dating with a top political figure in the north
east of the nation, Atiku Abubakar. No doubt this standard, these incidents are not newsy
despite the personality involved. This is because; they lack public interest and impact. Putting
modernization theory into practice, this state that the mass media should be used for
communicating, messages that of development, Mcquail (2005). It is obvious to note that
junk news is more about celebrity gossip, sex news, (exposing actors or actresses then in)
anniversaries of major events or celebrities e.t.c .

Brief History of Junk Journalism

According to Robert (2004) the term junk journalism was first used in print by Carl Jensen in
March (1983) edition of penthouse. He was the leader of project censored. He had frequently
faulted the media for ignoring importance stories.

Theoretical Frame Work

This study is anchored on the social responsibility theory of the press propounded by Siebert,
Peterson and Schramm in 1956. The theory postulates that, the press is attached with freedom
but must act responsible in carrying out fundamental functions of mass communication.
McQuail (2005:172) encapsulates the basic tenets of the theory as follows: (i) the media have

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 obligations to society, and media ownership is a public trust. (ii) News from the media should
be free but self regulated. (iii) the media should adhere to certain stipulated codes/ethics in
order to guide its practices (iv) and in some circumstances, government could intervene to
defend the public interest. Juxtaposing this study with the theory, a journalist is expected to
shield himself away from junk journalism, Afghanistanism, and character assassination as
this could disrupt his sense of social responsibility which calls for objectivity, fairness and
adherence to codes of ethics guiding his practices. As Apuke (2016) puts it, an ideal
journalist must be socially accountable to the audience.

Summary/conclusion/recommendations

Journalism is a profession that deserves respect, dignity and moral decorum. The ethics of the
profession must not be disparaged or treated with impunity. This is why media regulatory
body or council is established to protect the profession from the hands of fraudulent elements
who use it to malign, cajole and arm-twist people including men of honor and integrity in
order to get money and notoriety.

For quite some time now, the public has been served with information embodied with
unethical activities treated with the activities. These media gate crashers have often relegated
the media functions of information, education, entertainment and research to the background.
As a result of their selfish political goal and vaulting ambition, they become willing tools for
destruction. In their media contents, one hardly sees news, constructive report or research
materials. Unfortunately, nobody seems to care about the ethical standard of the journalism
profession in this part of the world. Sadly enough, the organizations and the people charged
with the responsibility of checkmating irresponsible journalism in our society have become
indolent and inactive because perhaps, their hands have also been soiled and therefore cannot
live up to the challenges. This is one strong reason that accounts for the proliferation of junk
media in recent time.

Against this backdrop, the study recommends that:

i. Sanctioning the defaulters Aghanistanism, character assassination and junk journalism

by NBC, NUJ, NPC will go a long way in curbing the menace of these practice among
journalists.
ii. Journalists should be conscious of teleological theory and apply it during their activities.

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