ABSTRACT
This study is about photojournalism
with focus on the use of News pictures in Nigerian Newspapers. Photojournalism
is an important arm of Journalism that uses images to tell stories and report
events. Thus, photojournalists interpret events and communicate news worthy
messages through their photographs published in the newspaper.
The research method applied in this
study is content analysis. The Guardian newspaper and the Punch newspaper
published in June 2007 were used. Using the simple random sampling method 15
editions of these newspapers was each selected to analyze their front-page
photographs.
Putting into consideration the
message, News worthiness, space allocation, the pattern and diverse trend of
coverage, the use of News pictures were studied. However, the findings showed
that Nigerian Newspapers need to improve on the use of News pictures,
especially the front-page photographs to communicate news worthy messages
effectively.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
1.2
Background of Study
1.3 Statement of problem
1.4 Purpose of study
1.5 Objectives of study
1.6 Significance of study
1.7 Scope of study
1.8 Research Questions
1.9 Definitions of terms
CHAPTER
TWO
2.1 Preamble
2.2 The Concept of Photography
2.3 The Front-page photographs
2.4 Communication Theory and photography
2.5 Summary
CHAPTER
THREE
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Sampling size
and Technique
3.3 Data Presentation and Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Collection and Analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusion and Recommendation
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1 The front-page
photographs of The Guardian Newspaper June
2007
Table 4.2 Attention score of the Guardian Newspaper
Table 4.3 The Front-page
photographs of The Punch Newspaper June 2007
Table 4.4 Attention Score
of the Punch Newspaper
Table 4.5 Newspaper
Diversity of the use of front-page photograph
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Photojournalism is an arm of
journalism that uses images to tell stories and report events. It is different
from other forms of photography such as commercial, Architecture and industrial
photography. This could be seen in its adherence to certain journalism norms
like News, Timeliness Objectivity, fairness and accurate representation of the
events.
Photojournalism involves the use of
camera to record events as they happen. Like a news reporter, a photojournalist
is a reporter but he or she writes with camera and disseminates news events
through images. Photojournalists use pictures to tell stories interpret event
and communicate their feelings about the society as Journalists hoping for a
better society.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
To set the pace of this study, it is
necessary to define the subject of discourse under scrutiny in order to
understand the basis of their inception and the relevance they have to the
research.
1.2.1 NEWSPAPER
Newspaper refers to a daily or
weekly publication used to disseminate news to a mass audience. The Newspaper
traces its roots to handwritten news sheet posted daily in the public market
place of ancient Rome. However, the first printed newspaper, Ti-Pao, appeared
in china during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). “Iwe Iroyin fun awon Egba ati
Yoruba” was the first newspaper published in Nigeria by Reverend Henry
Townsend, missionary in Abeokuta in 1859. 1 Subsequently, other
newspapers were published by different people in the pre-colonial and post
colonial era. Today, there are over 100 newspapers published either daily or
weekly in Nigeria.
As a medium that furnish readers
with News, information in the Newspaper is expressed through linguistic,
typographic and graphic forms which are defined by the media organisation’s
house style. This in its totality affects the way news are gathered and
reported in the newspaper including the use of photographys on the front-page.
1.2.2 THE FRONT PAGE
The front-page is a well thought out
extention of the values and themes that a Newspaper wants to communication to
its target audience. It is often seen as the major selling point of the
Newspaper because it attracts the potential readers to buy the paper and read
further.
Readers enter the newspaper pages
through large pictures and a headline, thus adding a visual element makes the
stories more likely to be read. From a population of 857 daily newspapers with
circulations of 10,000 and above 300 were selected in 2002 by Editor and Publisher International Year Book
for a series of study on the Newspaper design trends.
From the findings, almost half of
the newspapers run two photographs everyday on the front-page while others run
three or more. However, 98 percent of those newspapers use a dominant
photograph.
Editors choose front-page picture
carefully to attract readers. The layout of the newspaper front-page, headline
and photographs used are important factors that determine the level of
attention given to the newspaper.
For example, the Frankfurt Allegemeine Zeituny, one of
Germany’s leading daily newspapers published a colour photograph on its
front-page for the first time on October 5th 2007, since its 58years
of existence. This was part of an effort to create a modern layout that would
make the traditionally sober-looking broadsheet fresher and more appealing to
readers. 2
1.2.3 PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOJOURNALISM
A photograph is a picture produced
through the chemical action of light sensitive film, or as a Digital
photography that records images on memory card and processed on the computer.
The act of photography can be traced back to French inventor, Joseph Nicephore
Nicepee, who was the first photographer to successfully make permanent images
in 1826. Thirteen years later, another Frenchman, Louis Jacques Daguerre made
photography more practical by fixing light images on silver-coated copper
plates.
Photography was used to capture news
worthy images soon after in the 1830s. English photographer, Roger Fenton,
documented British troops during the Crimean War (1853-1856) in Europe, another
Photographer, Mathew Brady Photographed battle scenes during the American Civil
War (1861-1865).3 As at then, photography was an expensive and time
consuming endeavour.
The growth of photography and
photojournalism can be traced to two major factors that occurred near the end
of the 19th century. The first is the technical innovation. This
includes the invention of roll film, smaller cameras, faster lens and the
perfection of the half tone process of printing photographs as a series of
light and dark dots which allowed newspaper publishers to reproduce photographs
quickly and inexpensively.
The other factor was the introduction, by George Eastman, of
small cameras in use at that time. Thus, convenient cameras gave
photojournalists the freedom to record news events easily and quickly. The
technological advancement enabled them to also take pictures which were
previously impossible to take such as night and moving images. 4
One of the foremost photojournalist
was a Frenchman, Henri Cartier – Bresson, who from 1930 to 2004 worked to
document what he called the “decisive moment”. Cartier-Bresson believed that
the dynamics in any given situation eventually reach a peak, at which a
photographer will capture the most powerful image possible.
Photojournalists have become visual
interpreters, using their cameras and knowledge to bring readers a feeling of
what an event was really like. Meanwhile, in the past, the photojournalist
depended on artists to draw replicas of his photograph, which was later reproduced
by an engraver into a Zinc plate. The plate was then printed on a Hoe rotary
press. Due to the long process, several days passed before these line-drawn
renderings of photographs appeared on the front-page of the newspaper.
1.2.4 THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE NEWSPAPER
The advent of photographs
mechanically printed into newspapers opened up market for press photography.
Pictures were mostly taken for their action and content rather than any
aesthetic consideration. Today, they are used in the newspapers for different
reasons.
Photographs in Journalism inform,
educate and enlighten readers about current issues and also reflect on the past
as well. Photographs in Newspaper enhance the credibility of the stories. As
they depict reality, they also furnish evidence to show the authenticity of a
news story or give proof of an event that occurred.
Its aesthetic values enable a
photograph to serve as a tool to attract reader’s attention and break the
monotony of news content. Thus, photographs enhance and beautify the pages of a
newspaper.
A photograph in Newspaper speaks
more than a thousand words. No formal education is required to understand a
picture. Photographs are therefore able to break through literacy barrier to
effectively communicate a message. It is a universal language.
This research will explore the use
of front page photographs through a content analysis of two Nigerian Newspapers
that represent different approaches to News presentation ideology and target
different readership.
1.2.5 THE GUARDIAN AND THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER
The Guardian and the Punch
newspapers were selected for this research because of their popularity, news
coverage and wide circulation. Their content gives an accurate platform needed
to analyse the subject of study.
The Guardian Newspaper was
established in 1983 by Late Alex Ibru. With long history of editorial and
political independence, the Newspaper is known for its unbiased dissemination
of news. It is a liberal newspaper with great commitment to democracy and
freedom in Nigeria.
The Punch newspaper is owned by
Punch Nigeria Limited. The paper strives to promote and uphold the values of
democracy and free enterprise through quality news dissemination.5
The newspaper is acclaimed to be the largest daily newspaper with the highest
circulation in Nigeria. It was founded in 1977 by Late Chief James Olubunmi
Aboderin.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The research seeks to address the
problem of the inefficiency of Newspapers to use News Pictures that effectively
communicate a message or tell a story. Front-page photographs should draw a
reader’s attention and communicate a message.
1.4 PURPOSE OF STUDY
The purpose of this study is to
examine the use of News Pictures of Nigerian Newspapers in terms of their
story-telling ability.
1.5 OBJECTIVE
OF THE STUDY
1.
To study how News pictures are used in
Newspapers.
2.
To study how front page photographs serve the
function of information dissemination.
3.
To identify the various types of photographs
that appears on the front-page.
4.
To study the importance of photography in the
newspaper that goes beyond page-fillings or aesthetics.
5.
To make recommendations based on the findings of
the study.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
1.
The research will examine the current trend of
photojournalism in Nigeria.
2.
The study will examine the relevance of
front-page photographs and bring into focus the use of news pictures in
Newspapers.
3.
The study will establish the function of
photograph as a tool of communication, information and persuasion.
4.
The study will serve as a guide and reference
for future researcher or as a resource to photojournalists in training.
5.
The findings and recommendations will serve to
improve and reposition the trend of photojournalism in Nigeria.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF STUDY
The study focuses on the content
analysis of the front-page of the Guardian and the Punch Newspapers published
in June 2007. This will show the diversity of the pattern of Coverage of News
pictures by different Newspapers.
The time frame is choosen base on
its significance. For instance, the year 2007 is the most current completed
year while the month of June marks the first month after the successful
transition of power from one democratic government to another in Nigeria.
1.8 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1.
What is the pattern of photograph coverage in
newspapers? Does it vary from one Newspaper to another?
2.
Does the front-page photograph relate to the
news headline or does it give a different story?
3.
Does a photograph serve as a powerful vehicle of
social change?
4.
In terms of design and layout, what size and
position do front-page photographs take in Nigerian Newspapers?
5.
How are the captions written? Do they follow the
5 W’s and H rule in news dissemination?
6.
Does newspaper give their readers a full
understanding of issues through the news pictures?
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Photograph:
A picture formed by means of the chemical action of light on light-sensitive
material.
Newspaper:
A printed publication containing news and stories that appeal to a heterogeneous
audience.
Front
–Page: The first page of a newspaper
that serves as the cover, containing remarkable news.
Caption:
A brief explanation below a photograph meant to give additional information.
Photojournalism:
The art or practice of disseminating news or story telling pictures through
photographs.
Reader:
A person who reads newspaper.
Communication:
To pass on a message, idea or information.
Journalism:
The process of news gathering and dissemination through publication to a
specific audience.
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