Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Communication and Media Studies Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 64-70)

ABSTRACT This research tackles the subject of the internationalization of the ethics of journalism. It tries to extensively make an argument for the internationalization of the ethics of journalism and draws its context from journalism in Nigeria. The internationalization of ethics of journalism will make for a better practice of journalism. The research considers salient questions such as how a global code of ethics will impact and capture the evolving dynamic of the profession. It also considers questions such as whether it is possible to arrive at a general consensus on universal values that cover the multicultural peculiarities as well as questions relating to enforcement of such code. The research uses a quantitative methodology which involves the use of interviews, surveys and questionnaires to gather relevant data to profile answers to the questions of the research. Participants were drawn from various circles including professional journalists, personal contacts, and social media in/from Nigeria. The data obtained were sampled via the random sampling technique. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS version 22. The research also examined international theories on ethics and journalism and particularly the psychoanalytic theory, the harbernas theory of ethnicity and nationality as well as the media ethics theories from movements of equal sexes. Analysis of the data gathered from the survey and interviews show that the majority of participants feel that journalism should be practiced with ethics at all times, especially today where the internet makes it easier to spread information faster. The research concluded by emphasizing the need for a global code of ethics for journalism given the current evolution of the world today and I saw it will represent a natural progression in the profession except that compliance would remain an issue always given that enforcement may be challenging. Finally, the research recommended that more research be conducted into the possibility of a global code of ethics for journalism, the establishment of an international body to examine the challenges to creating a global code of ethics and solutions to them, and lastly, journalists should try to be more compliant with code of ethics for journalism