Diffusing the Tension among Journalists, Citizens’ Speech and National Security in the Digital Era in Nigeria.
Publication Date: 03/10/2024
Author(s): Emokiniovo Victor Aganbi, Peter Kehinde Akodu (Ph.D.), Festus Ayodimeji Akintoye (Ph.D.), Leonard Odum Ojorgu (Ph.D.), Bernard Diesuk Lucas, Gabriel Ayodeji, Adelusi.
Volume/Issue: Volume 4 , Issue 3 (2024)
Abstract:
Aside being one of journalistic codes of ethics, journalistic privilege is right accorded to journalists to maintain anonymity of a source of information. The paper evaluated relationship between journalists’ claim to privileged communications and government’s right to everyman’s evidence. The paper sought to define who a journalist is and duty of court to ensure permitted derogations are reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. It examined impact of emergent digital technologies and internet, which have empowered average person to perform functions of a journalist – should such people be accorded journalistic privilege? In democratic settings, free speech is not the only interest demanding recognition, they may be subject to some restrictions of which national security actions are most profound. The paper recommends that journalists’ advocacy for legal guarantees should be matched by increased social responsibility and professional ethics as a panacea to national security excesses. Keywords: journalistic privilege, national security, digital era
Keywords:
Journalistic privilege, national security, digital era.
