MEDIA INDEPENDENCE, JOURNALISTS 6 Chapter RIGHTS' AND PRESS FREEDOM: OVERCOMING THE THREATS AND CHALLENGES By Edetaen Ojo 1 Introduction In almost every country, there is always a tension between the level of freedom which the media should(or is allowed to) enjoy and what duties and responsibilities the media should have. Each country takes a different approach in balancing these tensions, depending on several factors, including its political system and values, journalistic traditions, social values, culture, etc. How well or how badly a country balances these tensions can have implications for press freedom in that country. In some countries, especially those with weak political cultures, the government may decide to aggressively regulate the conduct of media professionals. Such regulation can take different forms and in many cases, the attempts to regulate media behaviour frequently results in violation of journalists' rights, press freedom and freedom of expression in the most extreme manner. In other countries, where the political culture and the rule of law situation are strong, the media regulates itself and media freedom is generally better respected. Regardless of differences in approach among different countries, ethical standards in journalism, properly so called, are universal in that they have basic common elements. They constitute the agreed principles that should guide the conduct and actions of media practitioners while at the same time preserving media independence, journalists' rights and press freedom. The Media Environment in Nigeria Nigeria has had a traditionally vibrant media environment for several decades. The media's role in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria, for which scores of media professionals and organizations suffered severe repressions in the hands 1. Mr. Ojo is the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda(MRA), a non-governmental organization based in Lagos which works to promote media freedom and freedom of expression. He is also the Coordinator of the Freedom of Information Coalition(Nigeria); a member of the Working Group on the African Platform on Access to Information(APAI), based in Windhoek, Namibia; the Convenor and Chair of the governing Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange(IFEX), a global network of freedom of expression organizations with its secretariat in Toronto, Canada; the Chair of the Board of Directors of the West Africa Media Development Fund(WAMDEF), based in Accra, Ghana; the Vice Chair of the Governing Board of the Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA), also based in Accra; and a former Chair and Steering Committee member of the Africa Freedom of Information Centre(AFIC) based in Kampala, Uganda.