ABSTRACT
The researcher
in this research work focused on the attitude of female mass communication
believed that a large number of female mass communication students wants to
choose journalism as a career in our country but only a few go into the field
to practice their journalism profession. This is why the research dimmed it fit
to research into the image of female mass communication students. Research
questions are constructed to guide the researcher in her study. Relevant
related literatures are reviewed to show that similar research work has been
carried out and a theoretical framework has been discussed to support the
study. Survey method was adopted and this made it possible for the researcher
to select an appropriate sample size of 150. Using appropriate tools like
questionnaires and personal interviews, the researcher was able to study
population and adopted a simple percentage and frequency table with simple descriptive
analysis to explain the table. Hypothesis which are formed from the research
questions and tested to enable the researcher know if certain claims she made
on this work received statistical support or not. At the end of the study, the
researcher was able to find out that female mass communication students have
negative attitude towards journalism as a career, also that the female roles as
mothers and wives are some of this problem facing female journalists. The
researcher also recommended that salaries of the working journalist should be
increased so as to motivate and change the negative attitude of female mass
communication students towards journalism as a career.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page ------------------------------------------------------------------ i
Approval
page ---------------------------------------------------------------ii
Dedication
-------------------------------------------------------------------iii
Acknowledgement
----------------------------------------------------------iv
Table
of contents --------------------------------------------------------- v
Abstract
----------------------------------------------------------------------vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
Introduction ……………………………………………………………. 1
1.1
Background of the study …………………………………………… 1
1.2
Statement of the research problem ………………………………. 4
1.3
Objectives of the study ……………………………………………….6
1.4
Significance of the study ……………………………………………. 6
1.5
Research questions …………………………………………………..8
1.6
Research hypothesis ………………………………………………… 8
1.7
Definition of terms ………………………………………………….10
1.8
Assumptions of the study …………………………………………13
1.9
Scope of study ………………………………………………………13
1.10
Limitation of the study ………………………………………….14
CHAPTER TWO
2.0
Literature review ………………………………………………….. 15
2.1
Sources of literature ………………………..……………………. 16
2.2
Review of relevant literature …………………………………….. 16
2.2.1
Female attitude towards journalist ………………………….16
2.2.2
Discrimination against female journalist ………………… 20
2.2.3
Reasons why female mass communication students shy away from journalism as a
career …………………………………………24
2.2.4
Impressions about female journalists ………………………25
2.3 Theoretical framework ……………………………………………26
2.4 Summary of literature ……………………………………………28
CHAPTER THREE
3.0
Methodology ……………………………………………………… 30
3.1
Research design …………………………………………………. 30
3.2
Area of study …………………………………………………….. 30
3.3
Population of the study ……………………………………….. 31
3.4
Sample size ……………………………………..……………….. 31
3.5
Sampling technique …………………………………………… 32
3.6
Validity of the instrument ……………………………………33
3.7
Method of data collection ……………………………………33
3.8
Method of data analysis ……………………………………..34
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
Presentation and analysis of data ……………………….. 35
4.1
Data presentation and analysis ……………………………35
4.2
Hypothesis testing …………………………………………….45
4.3
Discussion of findings ………………………………………. 51
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0
Summary, conclusion and recommendations for
further study …………………………………………………….…54
5.1
Summary…………………………………………………………54
5.2
Conclusion …………………………………………………… 56
5.3
Recommendations for further study ……………………..57
5.4
References …………………………………………………….. 60
Appendix A
………………………………………………………… 62
Questionnaire…………………………………………………………63
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKAROUND OF THE STUDY
Journalism
the work of collection, preparation and distribution of related commentary and
feature materials through such media as pamphlets, news – letter, magazines,
radio, motion pictures, television, the internet and books.
The
earlist known journalists product was a news sheet in ancient Rome called the
ACTA DIURNA published daily from 59BC, it was hung in prominent places and
recorded important social and political events.
Journalism
in the 2oth was marketed by a growing sense of professionalism. In our society
today it has been observed that female mass communication students have
negative attitude towards taking journalism as a career. This negative attitude
is highly reflected in the number of mass media houses.
Almost
all institution of higher learning in nigeria offer mass communication courses
leading to the award of various degrees and certificates, including National
Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor and masters degrees.
The
increase in the number of female graduates from all these institution are not
reflected in the media of communication in the country. Each year, hundreds of
female students graduates as mass communications. A close look show that the
number of female journalist students surpassed the number of males. But in the
field today, a good number of those female graduates are not seen working in
the various media houses scattered over the country.
Reference to the convocation booklets from
these schools revealed that a good number of female mass communication students
graduated from these schools. In the year 1997, about 150 female journalist
graduated from federal polytechnic oko. The Ogun state polytechnic in the year turned
out about 86 female journalist students, institute of management and technology
(IMT) Enugu had about 140 female graduates. Bida polytechnic had about 26
female graduates from the department of mass communication.
In
July 1996, the Ogun state polytechnic turned out 146 female student journalists
in both OND and HND levels, the institute of management and technology (IMT)
Enugu turned out about 120 female student graduates in both ND and HND levels (
1996 convocation list/booklets).
Similarly
with other mass communication schools in the country for instance, in 1995, the
convocation booklets of the University of Nigerian Nsukka, revealed that 45
female students graduated from the department of mass communication. In the
year 2008, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka turned out about 58 female
graduates from the department of mass communication. Between the year 2008 and
2009, caritas university Enugu graduated over 50 female journalists.
Presently,
in my class in the department of mass communication the number of female
students surpassed the number of female students in the mass communication with
a great difference.
In
recent years, media houses in the western countries lack trained female
journalist in the various communication activities. Invariably it has been the
same in Nigerian and this could be seen in most cases of the media houses in Nigerian.
There has been an inbalance in the number of female, female and trained
journalists working with them.
Those
who are worried about this situation said that there were more women than men
seeking jobs in the media houses and they all have the same ability and
background, more men get the jobs. ( women in communication pg 8) she noted
that women could only be awarded a job if they are hard working and qualified
they must be awarded or offered a job in the journalism profession.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
This
study was undertaken because of the low participation of female mass communication
students towards practicing journalism as their career. Despite the fact that
there is considerably good number of trained female journalists, very few of
them are working with media houses in Nigerian
A
large number of female journalists are produced from different institutions
offering mass communication, but female participation in the profession is very
negligible.
According
to Omenugha (2004:4) “one thing that is glaring in the Nigerian media is the
near absence of Nigerian women as makers”. Though Nigerian is developing, it
has gotten to a stage where the female journalist and their male counterparts
should be competing in the media houses.
The
number of female journalists in the field is very few compared to the number
that graduated from journalism schools and universities. The female tend to run
away from practicing journalism. Women journalists are not often seen as
lectures neither to women help in the development and promotion of the
profession unlike in other professions where the female and male compete and
seek superiority over each other.
This
dormant attitude of female towards the profession has resulted to the male
claiming superiority over them in the field and as such not portraying a good
image of women in the society. This is because most men in the society believe
that journalism exposes the practitioners makes the female counterparts loose
their dignity.
Many
female journalists who work in the media sometimes do not show keen interest in
their job. This affects the female practitioners as the male practitioners
always tend to over shadow them both in position and in interest to work.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Because
of the way the image of women in our society are been portrayed when it comes
to them practicing journalism as their profession, the study is therefore aimed
at finding out the attitudes of female mass communication students towards journalism
as a career.
This
study therefore tends to look into the image of women in the media and more
also find out why there has been is imbalance in the ratio of working male and
female journalist.
This
research work will also help to reveal why there is sharp contrast from the
number of female journalists that graduate from journalism schools and the
number in the field.
Finally,
this research work helps to give suggestion based on findings.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This
study is very important because a lot of people are marveled over the issues of
why female mass communication student do not make up journalism as a career
after studies. It has really agitated the minds of some professionals and has
equally created a lot of controversies.
The
researcher, therefore, has deemed it fit out the reasons for such negative
attitude of female mass communication students towards journalism.
Journalism
as the researcher could understand is very controversial and need to live on mere
assumption. This study therefore provided are me for an in-dept study on the
controversial issue of knowing the militant against the idea of female mass
communication student going into journalism as career, how do these female students
see. The practicing journalism, do they go into the study with intention of practicing
journalism or taking it up just as a career?
The researcher also observed that female
journalist do not only disengage in the practice of journalist but also do not
contribute in the development and achievement of journalism schools.
According
to Okunna (1990) “in most schools in Nigerian, women are not often seen as
lectures both at universities and polytechnics”.
They
do not involve in the teaching of mass communication courses. Women prefer
working in other fields to the career of journalism.
The
study will serve as a resource material for program design and implementation
in the effort concerning women in development and to students who wish to study
journalism. It will be a useful reading and references, materials.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.
Do female mass communication students have negative attitude towards journalism
as a career?
2.
Is there any discrimination against the women journalists?
3.
Are female journalists shy of caring out their study?
4.
Are there wrong impressions about female journalists
5.
Does the roles of women as mothers and wives contribute to the problems facing
female journalists
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Based
on the research questions, the following hypothesis are derived:
HI:
Female mass communication students have negative attitude towards journalism as
a career
HO:
Female mass communication students do not have negative attitude journalism
career
HYPOTHESIS II
HI:
There is discrimination against the female journalists
HO:
There is no discrimination against the female journalists
HYPOTHESIS III
HI:
Female journalists are shy of carrying out their duty
HO:
Female journalists are not shy of carrying out their duty.
HYPOTHESIS IV
HI:
There are wrong impressions about the female journalists
HO:
There are no wrong impressions about the female journalists
HYPOTHESIS
V
Hi:
Female roles as mother and wives are some of the problems faced by female
journalist
Ho:
Female roles as mothers and wives are not some of the problems of female
journalist.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STUDY: This is an act of setting one’s mind to
acquiring knowledge and understanding, through reading, research etc.
ATTITUDE: This is a way of thinking or the character
which someone exhibits towards something or somebody
FEMALE: This
is a particular sex or gender of a primate (Human beings) that can give birth
to children.
MASS: A
large number of people or things grouped together.
COMMUNICATION: The
process of expressing, or passing ideas, feelings, or information from one
person to another, or to a group of people.
STUDENTS: These
are people who are studying in one school in order to acquire knowledge.
TOWARDS: This
can be said to be the direction of or close to something or somebody.
JOURNALISM:
This is the work of collecting and publishing of news stories and articles in
Newspapers and magazines or broadcasting them on radio and Television to inform
the general public on things happening
in the world.
CAREER: This
is particular job or the type of jpb one do in order to earn a living.
1.8
ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY
A
good number of professional have already made similar studies of women images
on the media and their attitude towards journalism.
In
this study, the researcher raised a number of assumptions. She assumes that he
attitude of the female mass communication students towards journalism as their
career is very poor. She equally assumed that the way image of the women are
being portrayed in the society as journalist have created an imbalance in the
ration of working male journalists to their female counterparts.
In
essence, the researcher has deemed it fit to concentrate more on Nigeria female
journalist and the issues that affect them as working journalists.
1.9 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Scope
of the study refers to the general outline of what the study is all about.
There
is nothing that man does that can be said to be exclusive because human efforts
are always limited by one thing or the other. This study is based on the
attitudes of female mass communication students towards journalism as a career.
Also
the study is limited to Nnamdi Azikiwe state. It would have augured well to
study the entire higher institution in Nigeria but due to limited time frame
that would not be possible and beside unavailability of fund and the demand for
other academic work made this study to particularize its sample on one section
on Anambra.
1.10
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
research has decided to limit this study to the students of Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Awka, Anambra.
It
was therefore limited to find out only the attitude of female mass
communication students towards journalism as a career, including the attitude
of others towards female journalist.
The
ideal situation would have been to study a much wider area and a larger number
of female student journalists, and practicing women journalist to enhance the
reliability of the data and to make generalization more appropriate. But due to
financial constraint, it was limited to the school mentioned above.
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