Journalists Knowledge and Utilisation of the Freedom of Information (Foi) Act in South East Nigeria

The study was conducted to ascertain the level of journalists in South East, Nigeria knowledge of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. It was a survey research with questionnaire as instrument for data collection. A sample size of 300 was selected from the 1, 555 study population, following recommendation of Comrey and Lee’s (1992). The study objectives were to ascertain if journalists in the South East Nigeria are aware of existence of FOI Act; extent the journalists have accessed information from public institutions in line with FOI Act; the level of compliance of public institutions in granting the journalists access to information requested in-line with the FOI Act; and reactions of the journalists when the public institutions denied them access to information. It employed the Knowledge Attitude and Practise (KAP) Model. The findings showed that journalists in the zone are aware of the FOI Act but public institutions are not fully complying to the provisions of the Act in releasing information to them. It was concluded that the usage of the FOI Act in the South East Nigeria was poor due to ignorance of its applications. The study recommended increased sensitisations of the populace on the Act.