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Abstract
The assertion that says “he who pays the pipers dictates the tunes”, agreed more with this study because there are lots of government controls and influence on Nigerian journalists especially those working with the state media. Government dictates to journalists what they should and should not broadcast. It is believe the most of the government media journalists have been turned to their secretary and public relations while government has also turned media to her extension of ministry of information that cannot but support her activities dogmatically. Survey method was adopted with the use of 100 questionnaires out of which 90 were returned upon which the analysis was based.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
DEDICATION ii
CERTIFICATION iii
Abstract iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES viii
CHAPTER ONE 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 6
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 8
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION 9
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 9
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 10
1.7 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY 10
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS 11
CHAPTER TWO 13
LITERATURE REVIEW 13
2.1 ELECTRONIC MEDIA 13
2.2 BROADCASTING IN NIGERIA 14
2.3 MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN NIGERIA 16
2.4 GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN 17
2.5 GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OFELECTRONIC 19
2.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 25
2.7 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW 27
CHAPTER THREE 30
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 30
3.1 THE DESIGN OF THE STUDY 30
3.2 THE POPULATION OF THE STUDY 31
3.3 THE SAMPLING TECHNIQUES USED 32
3.4 DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT 33
3.5 VALIDATION AND RELIABILITY OF THE RESEARCH 34
3.6 ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTRUMENT 35
3.7 DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURES/TECHNIQUES 35
CHAPTER FOUR 36
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 36
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 36
4.2 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 45
CHAPTER FIVE 49
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 49
5.1 SUMMARY 49
5.2 CONCLUSION 50
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS 52
BIBLIOGRAPHY 53
APPENDIX 56
APPENDIX B 57
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The phenomenon of ownership of the media and its effecton media output has continued to interest scholars over the years and may continue for some time to come.This is informed by the all-important role the media playsin the society asagents of sounded national development especially as information purveyors. While tracing the landmarks in the development of the Nigeria press, Ukpnu (2006:10) narrates that Journalism is the oldest profession in Nigeria. It actually predates colonialism even though the early press facilitated the exploits of the colonial over lords. Print journalism (as is the case) is the earliest attempt at mass ‘for decades, before the beginning of radio broadcasting in1032, television was to follow later in1959.
Media effect on society has always created anxiety in the mindsof theleaders informing why they have always been concerned about the structure of its ownership. Commenting on this Chukwu (I999:15) narrates that policy makers recognize this crucial role of the mass media and formulate policies that will help check and regulate the power and influence of the mass media such as its ownership pattern.
The essence of the interest of government over the ownership pattern of the media underscores the important of ownership on the content of the media. In the same vein, the impact of the media content on the social systems cannot be overemphasized. This answer why public, private and other forms of ownership pattern can be found today jostling for supremacy as products of societal power structure.
While stressing this fact, Sean McBride in the report of the commission for the study of communication problems (1977) remarked that both ownership and control are products of the overall political system or climate of the country.
Globally, the phenomenon of industrialization is closely linked with the media ownership especially in the Western world as media became members of big time business empire, as a result it was not the man who had something to say that had access to media but access was under the strict control of political bigwigs entrepreneurial giants and big-time advertisers.
McBride tried to identify some factors as influencing the pattern of ownership of media worldwide. Among these factors include the following: technological advances, concentration of production, marketing and the capacity for a global span of communication.
Modern hi-tech has changed the terrain of the mass media while enormous financial resources usually go into procuring one, therefore, ensuring that it is only the super-rich that can afford one. Hence we find the media concentration in the urban centers as opposed to community/grassroots based low scale media were emphasis is on participation and democratization as opposed to urban-based, large scale media were emphasis is on capitalization and commercialization.
While commenting on the phenomenon of media ownership and access Galadma and Enigh (2003) identified four factors synonymous with government ownership of the broadcast medium.
- Government ownership of electronic media makes free flow of information impossible, or at least, a lopsided one-way traffic.
- Monopoly of such ownership by the government fosters lack of press freedom and suppresses professionalism.
- Government’s control of these media enables it control what people say and how they say it.
- Government ownership also makes development of democratic ideas not attainable.
This is in line with SobowaleIdowu as quoted in Galadima and Enighe (2003). He enumerates the problems of the broadcast medium in Nigeria to include ownership of the medium, self-censorship arising from fear of losing a job, the political climate, office interference, finance, enlightenment, personnel and management. In the same light Okunna (2005:12) dearly underscored the importance of ownership and capitalist tendencies on the social responsibility of the media. She narrates that although there are many reasons for establishing media outfits, the desire to make money is often a strong factor. The media, like virtually everything in capitalism are profit oriented because media content is considered more or less a commodity for sale, just like other commodities in a capitalist environment.
So we discover that for these reasons enumerated above and more, government and other interest groups will to a large extent continue to be concerned about the ownership pattern of the media. “He that pays the piper dictates the tune”, says an old adage.
In general terms, newspaper in most countries than the broadcasting media, are owned mostly by private commercial interests. However, exception to the above pattern can be found in countries like Cuba, few African, Asian and Eastern European countries – where government do monopolize the newspaper industry.
In Nigeria the newspaper industry is presently dominated by private commercial interest, however government effort in this direction in recent times yet to register any appreciable importance. The broadcast medium is an exception as government have continued to hold sway in this medium because of government belief on the perceived strength of this medium, especially in mass mobilization and governance. In almost all countries there are private but non-commercial newspaper owned by political parties, non-governmental organizations, etc.
In socialist countries media are either owned or operated by business interest or political groups as trade unions, organizations, factories, collective farms, sports associations, highly educational institutions, etc. However in Western industrialized countries like U.S.A. most radio and television are privately owned.
Media that operate as commercial enterprises expect to sustain themselves through adverts. They are not always viable. Capital and profits from other ventures are often needed to keep them afloat. This answers why media usually belong to big time conglomerates. This today translates in the big time mergers and acquisitions that have orchestrated mass media industry in western industrialized nations.
In United States precisely, the big-time media giants like America Online (AOL), time Warner and Viacom are currently making moves to acquire smaller media concerns (both print and electronic). The importance of this big-time ownership pattern on the media cannot be overemphasized as media watchers in America say that media merges and acquisitions could mean less spending for news gathering but certainly fewer opportunities for people to hear diverse views on public issues and rising prices for advertisers. Therefore this study attempts at x-raying this concept of ownership of media and its implications on the quality of the performance of the media.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Ownership and control continually constitute a cog in the wheel of press freedom. Press freedom is frequently violated by the twin factors namely ownership and control, this usually leads to the proliferation of mushroom press and rivalry between public and private owned media (Chukwu, 1995).
Government owned media functions basically to serve the interest of their masters while the private media commitment is the larger society whose patronage is a scoreboard of the relevance of the private media. Government on their part formulates laws to regulate the conduct of the private media.
Experience has shown that the media are often a reflection of the proprietorship or ownership structure of each organization. This is why some journalists would define news as what the owners wants or says it is (Okeke, 1993). This means that a radio or TV station must just be pre-occupied with how to effectively exploit the possible economic benefits of his venture. This may imply directing all energy towards the coverage of such issues that are of interest to the greater majority or potential advertisers in his medium.
An assessment of the extent or the success of the media in fulfilling their obligation to society especially considering our geographical environment is a subject yet to receive general consensus. As individuals of groups our opinions about the media are often products of our perceived role for the press, this often items may be quite distant from the reality. For instance, the private electronic media are likely to yield to partisanship and sectionalism in its information dissemination role.
Again all broadcasting organizations must operate under the ambit of governmental regulations. All these adversely affect the quality and quantum of media output.Journalists and other media operatives find themselves encumbered by these factors so discussed resulting in radio, television stations or newspapers, projecting news and information which does not necessary reflect the perspective of the journalist or the face value of the facts on ground but essentially the desires of the owners guided by government policy. This is the problem we are facing today.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to determine government ownership and effect of electronic media on the performance of journalist in Nigeria. However, the specific objectives are:
- To examine whether journalist working in government owned media are given free hands to operate professionally.
- To investigate whether government perceived control of NTA affect the public acceptance of programmes and news of NTA.
- To analyze the extent to which news of opposition parties are being heard on NTA.
- To assess the extent to which NTA objective in reporting news about state government.
- To determine whether radio listeners and television viewers prefer NTA programmes to private broadcast media.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
The following questions will guide the researcher in this study.
- To what extent are journalist working in government owned media are given free hands to operate professionally?
- Does government perceived control of NTA affect the public acceptance of programmes and news of NTA?
- To what extent does the news of opposition parties are being heard on NTA?
- To what extent is NTA objective in reporting news about state government?
- Do radio listeners and television viewers prefer NTA programmes to private broadcast media?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H01: There is no significant effect of government ownership of the media on the performance of journalist.
H02: There is no significant effect of electronic media on the performance of journalist.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study tried to identify some reasons behind government interest in ownership and control of media organizations. Added to this is a comparative analysis of the operational pattern of both public and private media institutions with a view of isolating the impact of ownership in both cases. Consequently, what may ordinarily be hot news may be “killed” by a particular medium due to one or a combination of these factors.
Finally, this study tries to underscore why government own and control media organization. It also serves to keep practicing journalists constantly conscious of the need to conform to media laws, broadcasting policies ethics and other general media guidelines.
It tries to throw some light on the importance of constant review of the pattern of media ownership and control in Nigeria and its effect on the performance of the mass media.
1.7 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed to examine government ownership and effect of electronic media on the performance of journalists in Nigeria. The study will be limited to Staffs and Management of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) channel 10, Port Harcourt for the sake of time available for the completion of this research work.
In writing this project, the basic constraints of the researcher have been that of time, finance and other logistic problems.
- Cost/Financial Constraint: Non availability of enough funds to finance the project became a thorn in my flesh, as the needed cash was not there. Most of the financial requirements needed for this work at the normal time also became a problem.
- Time: The study was also hampered by time. The time frame within which the study was carried out was too short.
- Material Constraint: Difficulty in location of materials related to this study.
Despite all the limitations above, the researcher was able to put available resources together to ensure that this project was successfully carried out, and to reality.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Effect: A change that something or somebody causes in something or somebody else.
Ownership: The right of possessing or owing something; the procedure for acquiring or establishing something; the pattern, establishing, owing and acquiring and controlling media outfit.
Performance: Methods of productivity or ways of carrying out a task or duty; the process for/of actual duty task or function done by journalists.
Mass Media: It is a communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated.
Electronic Media: It includes television and radio.
Journalist: A person whose job is to collect and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, radio or television.
Nigeria:A nation in the west coast of Africa. It is one of the third world countries (developing countries) or nation in West Africa inhabited by people of various ethnic groups with different socio-cultural and political beliefs.