EVALUATION OF POLITICAL REPORTING AND ETHICAL ISSUES THE ROLE OF RADIO BENUE MAKURDI

Abstract

The study particularly, aimed to ascertain the ethical issues that the mass media are entangled in while reporting politics and how do they affect their performance of the social responsibility and agenda-setting functions as well as upholding the professional standards. The study was anchored on the Social Responsibility Theory. The research technique employed was the survey method. Residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital where Radio Benue is located formed the population. According to 2021census figure as released by the Nigerian National Population Commission (NPC), Makurdi was estimated at approximately 5, 50000. The Multi- Stage sampling techniques was employed to selecta sample size of 400, while the instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. Data was collected and analyzed by frequency distribution tables and expressed in simple percentages, while the qualitative explanation building method of analysis based on the research questions raised in the study was used to analyze responses from the respondents.Finding however, shows that, there are unethical issues inherent in mass media (Radio Benue) which are: biasness, sycophancy, bribery and corruption among others. The research work also finds out that, ownership influence caused unethical reporting through financing and legal control mechanism, and intolerance of oppositions and criticism among others. The study therefore recommends that, journalists should consider the utilitarianism of their actions as a way of getting over some of these ethical issues or problems instigate them from responsible reporting and upholding the professional standards.