Port Harcourt Residents’ Response to NPC’s Campaign Against Inaccurate and Malicious News Publications

Daniel Nwanmereni — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In its effort to ensure that media contents are factual, accurate and without malice, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) leaves a window for members of the public to lodge complaints about perceived inaccuracies and malice associated with news reports to the Council for proper investigation and action. Notwithstanding this window which also offers the public an opportunity to entrench responsible journalism, it appears that many Nigerian citizens do not take advantage of the directive.This study investigated Port Harcourt residents’ response to NPC’s directive against inaccurate and malicious news reports. Among other objectives, the study investigated Port Harcourt residents’ response to the directive. The Critical Political-Economic theory provided theoretical cornerstone to the study. Using the survey research design, a sample size of 384 respondents was drawn from a population of 205, 507. Findings of the study showed that many residents of Port Harcourt had had observed inaccurate and malicious news reports but failed to report to the NPC due to fear of being victimised. The study recommended, among other measures, that NPC should assure Nigerian citizens that complaints towards the eradication of malicious publications would be treated as confidential.

Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies

Port Harcourt Residents’ Response to NPC’s Campaign Against Inaccurate and Malicious News Publications