ABSTRACT
This project is on “the press in Nigerian politics: with
analysis of issues and patterns of news coverage.
The aim of
the study is to find out whether or not the Nigerian press is selective in its
report of similar political issues that affect the progress and functioning of
the nation or not.
To carry
out this research, the research, the researcher adopted the survey research
method. A total of 200 samples were used
to represent the sex (male and female) of Enugu Metropolis.
A
questionnaire was constructed for the study.
The questionnaire is made up of 17 questions that were administered to
respondents. They were later collected. The data contained in them were carefully
analysed.
There was
the review of relevant literature for the study. Summary of the finding was given, conclusions
were drawn, while the researcher made some recommendations at the end up the
study.
Among the
many findings of this study, is that the press in Nigerian politics is a direct
force in creating awareness, shaping perception, informing and educating the
general masses.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Certification page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
1.1
Introduction/background of the study
1.2
Statement of research problems
1.3
Objective of the study
1.4
Research questions
1.5
Research hypotheses
1.6
Definitions of terms
1.7
Assumptions
1.8
Significance of the study
1.9
Limitation of the study
1.10
Theoretical frame work
CHAPTER TWO
2.0
Review of literature
2.1 The
review
2.2
Media ownership and control
2.3
Pre independence press
2.4
Press in 1998 election and transition
2.5
Summary of literature
CHAPTER THREE
3.0
Research methodology
3.1 Research
design
3.2
Population
3.3
Samples
3.4
Measuring instruments
3.5
Nature of
questionnaire
3.6
Data collection
3.7
Data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
Data analysis and result
4.1 Sample
characteristics
4.2
Testing of hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0
Summary and recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2
Recommendation
5.3
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The development of Nigerian politics is interwoven with
that of the press. The early press,
notably Townsend’s Iwe Irolin fun awon oti Egba Yoruba, the Nigerian first
newspaper was used as a political progranda tool to fight the colonial
administration in Lagos during the struggle for Independence. Idowu (2001:55) reports that the newspaper
was so effective that the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in England found
it necessary to caution Townsend over his “excesses” in 1963. he further comments that a year later,
governor freeman complained to the home government that Iwe Irohim was
“aggravating problems of foreign policy”.
This explains why the press is viewed as a very powerful weapon in the
hands up both the government and the governed.
It is the seeming efficacy of the media that Ngene (2001:1) writes that
“As an institution, the press has been described variously”. Some people see and perceive it as the “watch
dog of the society”, some describes it as a “mirrow” through which society sees
itself as it is.
In similar vein, others describe
the press as “the unrecognized fourth arm of government”. This later description of the press gave rise
to the tag on the press all over the world as the “fourth estate of the realin”,
thus being accorded the fourth position on the hierarchy of leadership in a
democratic society. The other arms of
government being referred to include the executive, judiciary and legislature.
As the
fourth estate of the realm, press enhances not only the smooth operation,
performance and interactions between the various arms of government in the
service of the people, but also prevents any operation of the people by these
arms of government.
Similarly,
the press in performing its “watch dog role”, Edeani (1993:80) posits that
press the press is supposed to keep a watchful eye on what the government is
doing and has the obligation on behalf of the public to criticize the
government whenever it thinks that the government has not performed in the
public interest.
This not
withstanding, the pen profession, like any other profession can also affect a
society – negatively or positively. On
the positive side, the press (mass-media) appear to possess unequalled and
unparallel capacities and capabilities to unveil, portray and reflect the society
in which it operates.
On the
negative aspect, Kenneth Kaunda, a Former Zambian President explains “given
appropriate conditions, the press can cause war or create peace. It can promote development or create
difficulties in ways of development”.
What the above statement by Kaunda
simply means, is that it is counter productive for any society to create
conditions that would provide the press the opportunity of exhibiting its
negative traits since the consequences are always far-reaching.
Mahatma
Ghandi acknowledges this much when he said “the press is a great power but as
an unchained torrent submerges the whole country side and devastates crops,
even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy”.
Okunna (2001:75) supports the press
for its roles in politics when she says the history of the press in many
societies shows that journalists have always been in the forefront of the
struggle for freedom. The best
journalists, that is, those who distinguish themselves and stand out among
their peers are journalists who speak for the people/or grant people access to
the media.
1.2
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLME
This work sets out to determine the role of the press in
Nigerian politics particularly its patterns of reporting and analysing
political issues, crises and struggle since their pre-independence era. For quite a long time now, as could be
observed from the preceding studies, the press have proved to be a potent tool
used in shaping, altering, perceptions and causing attitude change. The press (radio, television, newspapers, and
magazines) are used to lend credence, support, and authenticity to certain
political issues, political office holders and parties yet, little or no effort
has been made to find out the impact of continuous press participation in the nations
politics.
Based on
the above, the researcher therefore deem it expedient and purposeful to
investigate the role of the press in politics.
A historical analysis of issues and patterns of news coverage.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of the study is to find out whether
or not the Nigerian press is selective in its report of similar political
issues that affect the progress and functioning of the nation or not.
The study
will also find out the circumstances and the reasons for the performances of
the press especially in periods of political crisis. This study will further strive to ascertain
what was responsible for the dearth of investigative reporting during the
period and the in updating of the payes of newspapers and magazines with personalities
who hold and support similar views as the newspaper organizations they work
for.
Similarly,
this study will determine the implications of using the press for pure
sectional, ethnic and religions biased coverage’s of events.
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
For the purpose of carrying out this study effectively,
the following research questions have been formulated to guide the study.
1.
Do Nigerians thinks that the press was selective in
its coverage of similar political issues in the country?
2.
Does ownership and location of a media organisation
affect its patterns of news coverage on politics, events, and political issues?
3.
What implication does investigative reporting and a
high preponderance of views/opinions in the press holds for the Nigerian press?
4.
Is sectional, ethnic and religious bias glaringly
observe in the pattern of news coverage and analysis of issue by the Nigeria press?
1.5
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H1: The Nigeria press
is selection in its coverage of similar political stories and issues.
H0: The Nigeria press
is not selection in its coverage of similar political stories and issues.
H2: Ownership and
location of a media organization affect its pattern of news coverage on
political issues and events.
H0: Ownership and
location of a media organization does not affect its pattern of news coverage
on political issues and events.
H3: Absence of
well-investigated reports and stories have adverse effect on the image of the
Nigerian press.
H0: Absence of
well-investigated reports and stories on political message does not affect the
image of the Nigerian press.
H4: The patterns of
news coverage and analysis of issues by the Nigerian press do manifest
incidents of sectional, religions and ethnic bias.
H0: The patterns of
news coverage and analysis of issues by the Nigerian press do not manifest
cases of sectional, ethnic and religion bias.
1.6
DEFINITION OF TERMS
OPERATIONAL
AND CONCEPTIONAL DEFINITIONS
At this point, it is necessary to define concepts under
study both operationally and conceptionally.
To this effect, the following concepts have to be defined: press,
politics, analysis, issues, pattern, coverage.
PRESS
CONCEPTIONAL
DEFINITION: Radio,
Television, Periodicals – including newspapers, magazines, book, leadlets, that
are used in Nigeria
for the dissemination and transmission to widely dispersed audience.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION: In this
study, press refers to the use of organs of mass-communication like radio, and
television.
POLITICS
CONCEPTIONAL
DEFINITION: The art of
science with guiding or influencing government policy, winning and holding
control over a government.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION: The
struggle for power and dominance, sharing and allocating of the country’s
resources.
ANALYSIS:
CONCEPTUAL
DEFINITION: An
examination of issues, events, and topics that are complex so as to elucidate
and make its meaning clear.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION: In this
study, it is the manner in which the media reports or packages political news
to aid the struggle and quest for power and control of the nation.
ISSUES
CONCEPTUAL
DEFINITION: These are
important topics for discussion and argument.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION: These refer
to policy, options or programmes put in place by media organization for the
over-all purpose of advancing the country and politics.
PATTERNS
CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION: This is a design or reliable and
systematical style or packaging news coverage’s.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION: Here,
pattern is the way and manner the press/media organisation treats position and
slant stories to favour a cause.
NEWS COVERAGE
Conceptually, this means gathering and presentation of
happenings, events peoples and places on newspapers, magazines, radio and
television. Operationally, the actual
style, language, positioning and slant given to a story in any of the various
organs of mass-communication in Nigeria.
1.7
ASSUMPTIONS
The following assumptions are made:-
The
critical, pungent and vocal posture of the Nigerian press on political
happenings, events, and politics in Nigeria as well as its patterns of
news coverage are responsible for the advancement of the nation.
That print
and electronic channels as well as political messages and advertising have
helped Nigeria
to become a democratic nation.
Professional
and credible discharge of functions by the press could lead to sustenance of democracy.
That the
respondents are aware that the media of communication affect and reflect
social, economic and political forces and processes.
1.8
SIGNIFICANS OF THE STUDY
Circumstances have assigned the press (mass-media) in
many countries the unique function of presenting and clarifying the goals and
values of society.
The mass media are also expected to
give the citizens of any country full access to the day’s intelligence. As a result of this role of the press, the
greatest significance of this study lies in the provision of an insight into
what the Nigerian news media’s sojourn and participation in politics holds for
the country.
In this
regards, this study will ascertain whether or not the press fulfilled their
social responsibility role of providing access to the days intelligence. This study will also show the extent
political news, a vital information and educational needing the society,
receives coverage in Nigerian print and electronic media.
The study
when completed, would have succeeded in providing a validly rich data on which
further studies on this and related areas will be based.
1.9
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The need to meet up with the costs that would be involved
in carrying out a study that will cover a wider area was a major problem. Hence the researcher limited the research
only to Enugu Metropolis.
1.10
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The background theories upon which the researcher hinge
the study so as to give it clarity and meaning are the agenda setting and
social relationships theories.
In his
celebrated book “the processes and effects of mass – communication”. Wilbur Schramm (1980) noted that a major
factor which is extremely important in understanding and ascertaining the
effects of mass-communication of the audience members is the interaction
between people in a society, which according to him is explained in the social
relationships theory. This theory, he
further painted out is closely related to the social categories theory but that
the crux of the social relations theory stems from the emphasis it places on
the interaction of members of social categories, that is, the relationship
between them. Interpersonal
communication and interactional symbolism becomes evident and of significant
importance during face-to-face communication.
Members of group (press) are able to
influence one another and that helps to also determine the effect of mass-media
messages on individuals. “No man is an
island” and that we cannot live for ourselves alone are catchy phrase which
perhaps, captures succinctly the power and essence of social relationships.
Attitudes and behaviours of people
whether in private or public life are known to be powerfully shaped by social
influence.
Herman
Melville (1964) acknowledges the above position when he notes that “our lives
are connected by a thousand invisible threads”.
According to him, these threads may strain with tension, vibrate with
joy or he peacefully calm. Surely,
relationships of various kinds whether of the media and government of the
family and one of its members or even relationships existing between members of
staff of an organization and its management is often a complex issue and a
suspect idea. Hence, the media, social
fact whose primary task is to serve society needs.
Accordingly,
the major premise of the agenda setting theory is that it acknowledges the
undisputed ability of the mass-media in exercising a powerful influence in
determining the degree of attention or prominence they give to subjects in
which they are interested.
Succinctly
put, “Agenda setting” is label often given to the ability of the mass media to
direct attention to certain subjects.
Cohen
(1963:120) appears to agree with the above statement when he affirms that: “the
press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think,
but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about.
The important and implication of
Cohen’s assertion is indeed predicated on the fact that the mass-media do
indeed have a strong influence on what people think is important. Thus, any issue or subject matter that escapes
the attention of the press is considered unimportant.
Thus, the
press, through its discharge of its legitimate function of informing the people
on politics, party manifestoes, party mission statements and other related
issues influencing the political landscape of the country. This confirms Peterson (1980:98) finding in
America 1976 election campaign that the respondent defined as “most important”
those issues and subjects matters the media emphasized in its coverage. Thus there exists a co-relation between
journalistic emphasis and public preoccupation on politics and political
stories.
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