Responsibility and ethical reasoning in the Nigerian press

This analysis of the responsibility and ethics of six Nigerian daily newspapers addresses two major questions. First, what is the dominant ethical philosophy of the Nigerian press as indicated in its editorials? Second, what is the ethical responsibility of the press as indicated in its editorials? It examines the 'role-responsibility' of the press within the context of three dominant ethical themes: deontological, situational, and utilitarian ethics. A qualitative thematic analysis of the editorials indicates that the Nigerian daily press has a preference for applying utilitarian ethics to national issues. Situational ethics has the least presence in the editorials. The analysis also indicates that the government-owned newspapers are more likely than the privately-owned newspapers to use a utilitarian ethical perspective in expressing their opinions on, and in criticizing, government actions. This analysis concludes that by beginning to understand the different manifestations of government-press relationships and of media role in contributing to the nation's 'common good,' journalists can better plan for the difficult process of more effectively involving the press in national development.