THE ROLE OF THE PRESS IN THE POLITICAL POLARIZATION OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FROM 1999-2006

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to critically examine “the role of the press in the political polarization of Nigeria National development from 1999-2006”.

The method of content analysis was adopted and also, three Nigerian. Daily Newspapers were selected, this include the New Nigerian Newspaper, a federal government owned Newspaper Published in Kaduna state.

The national concord and the champion, each being owned privately by different individuals but published in Lagos.

Three publications were selected per week, Mondays, Wednesday s and Fridays covering April, August and December between 1999 to 2006.

The result were carefully analysed and interpreted. The analysis revealed that the Nigerian press petitioned the much – admired doctrine of fairness and impartially and tends towards business and sycophancy.

At the end, it was recommended that in order to address the polarization of the press owners and operators of mass media, irrespective of their ethnic geographical and political difference must create an avenue where they could out minds with one another so as to eradicate the misconception held against each other.

And that the press and government relationship must improve hence seeing others as partners in progress.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

• Background of the study
• Research problem
• Objective of the study
• Significance of the study
• Scope and limitation
• Research questions
• Hypothesis
• Definition of term

 

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review

2.1 Sources of literature review

2.2 Theoretical frame work

2.3 The concept of mass media

2.4 The role of the mass media

2.5 concept of development

2.6 the press in the colonial era

2.7 the post independence press

2.8 The Nigerian press and political influences during the second republic (1979-1983

2.9 Democratic political consent of Nigerian press 1985-1993

 

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Research Methodology

3.1 Research design

3.2 Research sample

3.3 Measuring instrument

3.4 Data collection

3.5 Data analysis

3.6 Expected result

 

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Data Analysis and Interpretation

4.1 Discussion and Interpretation

 

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Conclusion, Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendations

Appendix

References

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria is one of the countries, which is “undergoing transition”. This is because politically they are visibly undergoing rapid development and change which may be positive or negative.

It is true in line with this that since independence Nigeria ha been under transition politically. It has witnessed many tainted  political transition programmers that here continue to hold political  power through  brute force or sheer power on the gun. These include the General of the political transition programme and the likes

However, Nigeria has been described us being in a transitory situation which political culture is characterized by divergent and powerful interest groups with insatiable political and economic demands on the larger political entity.

To this end, the role of press which is being as the fourth estate of the ream cannot be overlooked. This was why Hohenbery (1978) submits that:

When public arust in government declines and deeply affect the faith of millions of people, its principle and practice of the press is the institution that is likely to profit from the resultant disilluddionment.

It is this veritable position of the press that explains the inextricable relationship between the institution (press) and politics.

Consequently, a duty is imposed on the press to ensure that the political objectives of Nigeria as a country is accordance to it motto, that all the function performed in political aggregation, rule making, rule application and rule adjudication are performed through communication.

Upholding the tone importance of communication. The press in a given polity is the life line as communication is the oxygen of all political relationship.

The importance of communication in mass media has been further acknowledged while assessing the significance of the mass media in any political system is that the mass media serves as a moderator of public opinion and watch dog of the people.

The media equally helps to spread ideas, knowledge and vies. Also the press in any country should be responsible in the performance of its function. These include:

1. Servicing the political system information, discussion and debate on public affairs.
2. Enlightening the public so as to make it capable of self government.
3. Servicing the economic system, primarily by bringing together the buyers and sellers of goods and services through the medium of advertising.
4. Safe-guarding the rights of the individuals by serving as watchdog against government.
5. Providing entertainment.
6. Maintaining its own self-sufficiency as to be press from pressure of special interests.

During the Nigerian second republic in 1979-1983, the mass media was extensively used by the government in power, while the private owned Newspaper were all the services of their proprietors who were mostly members of one political party or the other.

1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEMS

The problems now are: That the Nigerian press has been somehow accused by many operating on the principle of the country’s political setting.

The press has not been working effectively towards the unification of the country. The press further compounded the existing dichotomy among the various ethnic groups. Hence, the ethnic entities has always been suspicious of one another, since political tracheotomy is along regional lines.

Therefore the press which ought to unite the people through promotion of cultural values and symbols essential to the society, appeared to be deficient in meeting the people’s expectation.

As a student of Mass Communication, this gave the researcher an impetus to investigate the issue in order to ascertain the role of the press in the political polarization and its effects on National development.

 

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of this project is to examine the role of the press which reflects the political polarization of the Nigerian state.

The study will examine the role of the press between 1979-1983 and 1985-1993.

Also, the consequences of the role of the press in the political shall be examined.

The relevance of this study will be to identify whether the Nigerian press is politically polarized and if yes, ascertain its effects on national development. It shall also identify the role of the press in crises situation and how it has been able to positively or negatively manage the situation.

The study may be useful for media critics and media  evaluators in the country. It may be also useful for student of mass communication.

Furthermore, it may help any interested member in identifying the positive and negative effects of the press in the over all development of the Nigerian state.

1.6 THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In this the researcher shall try to proffer answers to the following propositions.

1. Does the Nigerian press operate on political basis.
2. If so, to what extent has this practice been displayed.
3. How has the press affect National Development?

 

1.7 HYPOTHESES

HI:     Nigerian press play a significant role in polarization of national development.

HO:   Nigerian press does not play a significant role in polarization of national development.

H2:    Nigerian press had set an agenda on polarization of national development.

HO:   Nigerian press had not set an agender on polarization of national development.

H3: The press hard developed the new content in assemination of information.

HO:   The press had not developed the new content in dissemination of information.

H4:    Nigerian press have being able to report event effectively.

HO:   Nigerian press have not being able to report political event effectively.

 

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS CONCEPTUALLY

POLARIZATION – According to the advance learners dictionary of current English, polarization means to divide into groups based on two or more opposite principles, political opinions.

In the course of writing this project the term polarization will be taken to mean division within the body of the press in the country.

THE PRESS – The Advance learners Dictionary defines it as an organization for collecting News and supplying it to Newspaper. The term press will be used to mean various newspaper organizations in the country.

DEVELOPMENT – According to Advance Learners Dictionary of current English – development means process of development or being developed or a new stage, which is the result of development will be taken to mean all sphere of human development via: political economy, social and physical economy infrastructure that will enhance the well being of the people or as one time secondary general of United National Boutrous Ghali puts “Development is economic growth plus social changes”.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT – The term national development mean uplifted of the nations economic, political and physical infrastructure condition.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

POLARIZATION – Division into opposite groups based on two or more opposite principles.

DEVELOPMENT – Change from bad condition to good condition.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT – The changing of a nation from bad economy, political culture and moral decadence to good economy, political culture and high income of moral standard.

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