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.
- Do Nigerians thinks that the press was selective in its coverage of similar political issues in the country?
- Does ownership and location of a media organisation affect its
patterns of news coverage on politics, events, and political issues?
- What implication does investigative reporting and a high
preponderance of views/opinions in the press holds for the Nigerian
press?
- 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.