DESCRIPTION

ABSTRACT

In recent times, news is fast becoming a commodity valued for its role in informing or persuading the publics on social, political, cultural and economic issues.  In modern journalism practice, news is commercialized to the extent that only the rich get their ideas communicated to the members of the publics. Hence, affects objective journalism practice. The research work examined the extent at which news commercialization influence the performance of journalists in government radio stations. The study was anchored on social responsibility theory and development media theory. Survey research method was adopted in the study which involves the use of questionnaire administered to sixty-six (66) respondent’s selected using purposive sampling technique. Data gathered from the study were analyzed and interpreted using simple percentage and tables. The study revealed that news commercialization has a great influence on the performance of journalists in government radio stations. The study therefore recommends that government should ensure prompt payment of salaries for journalists in government radio stations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statements of the problem                       

1.3 Objectives of the study                                                       

1.4 Research Questions   

1.5 Significance of the Study   

1.6 Scope of the Study                                 

1.7 Limitations of Study           

1.8     Operational Definition of Terms                                                               

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1   Theoretical review                                                                    

2.1.1 Social Responsibility Theory                                                           

2.1.2 Development Media Theory                                                             

2.2   Conceptual framework                                                                      

2.2.1 Concept of News Commercialization                                      

2.2.2 Origin of News Commercialization in Nigeria                                  

2.2.3 Historical Development of Radio Broadcasting in Nigeria           

2.2.4 Journalism                                                                              

2.2.5 Ethical implication of Journalism                                           

2.2.6 Brief history of Paramount 94.5FM                                       

2.2.7 Brief history of OGBC 90.5 FM                                                       

2.3    Empirical studies                                                                              

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1. Research Design                                                                        

3.2 Population of the Study                                                                      

3.3 sample size                                                                                 

3.4 Sampling Technique                                                                            

3.5 Research Instrument                                                                            

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument                                  

3.7 Method of data collection                                                          

3.8 method of data analysis                                                                       

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYIS AND DISSCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction                                                                               

4.2 Demographic Analysis                                                               

4.3 Discussion of Findings                                                                        

CHAPTER FIVE:

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Findings                                                                                    

5.2 Conclusions                                                                               

5.3 Recommendations                                                                      

5.4 Suggestions for further studies                                                  

References                                                                                                  

Appendix                                                                                                            

Questionnaire                                                                                   

Organogram                                                                                       

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The mass media are tools for mass communication which have unique responsibilities to keep members of the society informed, educated and entertained, it is through the mass media that the society gets to know what is happening within and around  the country and react accordingly. The basic function of the mass media according to Lasswell in Udomisor, et al (2013) is to act as the society’s watch dog, they are expected to mount surveillance over the environment and correlate the components of the society heritage from generation to generation. In carrying out these functions, the mass media make use of several methods of collecting and disseminating information which includes straight news reporting, interpretative reporting and investigative reporting.  Bo. et al in Udomisor (2013) In Nigeria, the roles of journalists in the affairs of the nation is constitutionally recognized in section 21, sub section 1 of the 1979 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that the press must uphold the aims and objectives of Nigeria as a nation and that the press must ensure that all organs of government (Legislature, Executives and Judiciary,) upholds these aims and objectives and perform the duties imposed on them in furtherance of nation building; the press must hold the Government accountable to the people in the performance of its duties and responsibilities to ensure that the aim and objective of nation building are realized.

The above provision recognizes and consequently assigns certain functions to the Nigerian media as partners in progress. In 1992, the Babangida military administration de-regulated the Broadcast industry, so as to usher in more participation and ensure more pluralistic views. The basic aim of this policy thrust was to empower those people who hitherto did not have access to the government owned media, for any reason, so that they will have the opportunity to express their views and opinions on national and topical issues. There is a general recognition of the fact that journalists have responsibilities towards the publics. These responsibilities may include: contractual responsibility in relation to the media and their internal organization; a social responsibility obligations towards public opinion and society as a whole; responsibility or liability deriving from the obligation to comply with the law; and the responsibility towards national and international communities, to ensure acceptable values, (Ugwuanyi :2005).

The media perform these functions in furtherance of their responsibilities to the general publics. But a situation whereby media practitioners perform their duties based on financial promptings and rewards negate the ethics and objective of the profession

However, the mass media in the society are regarded as the purveyors of the national cultures which they transmit from generation to generation. One of the means through which this activity is carried out is by news gathering and dissemination function of the mass media. In a situation where news selection and presentation is based on material gratifications instead of public goals and interest, stands against the ethics of the profession, it is anti- public unity and development. Above all it amounts to a total disregard and breach of codes of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)

In 1980, Sean McBride commission, set up by UNESCO in its final report clearly stated that news had become commercialized, that important news in the country are put aside as un-important while trivial news items concerning urban events and the activities of highly placed personalities are given prominence and regularity by the nations’ mass media. Many years ago, the UNESCO’s assertion stated above has become the cardinal practice of the Nigerian media scene as news items have to be paid for by those who want to be heard. News is no longer about reporting timely occurrences or events, it is now about packaged broadcast or reports sponsored or paid for by interested parties. By this practice, individuals, communities, private and public organizations, local governments, state governments and ministries, gain access to the mass media during news time for a prescribed fee. The message they wish to put across is then couched in the formal features of news and passed on to the unsuspecting public as such.

Asoqwa, (2012) defines news commercialization as ‘the situation whereby the electronic media carry paid news, which does not have an identified an sponsor and giving the notion that news is fair, objective and socially responsible’.

 Omenugha, et al (2008) notes that news commercialization operates at two levels in Nigeria; at the institutional level, where charges are officially placed for sponsored news programmes and at individual level whereby journalists make monetary demands to cover or report an event.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A burning sensation relating to the issue of ownership in the current Nigeria media landscape is the new practice of commercialization of news contents by the media, worst hit are government owned broadcast stations. This phenomenon has put most media practitioners on the mode forgetting that media practice is a profession of public service in a professional kind.

 Consequently, this study intends to focus on the how media organization lost their focus on investigative and interpretative journalism; which has lead to loss in variety in news monotony.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

(1)   To examine whether news commercialization affects the performance of journalists in government radio stations.

(2) To measure the extent of the influence of news commercialization on the performance of journalists in government radio stations.

(3) To examine the forms of news commercialization used in government radio stations

(4) To proffer solutions to the influence of news commercialization on the performance of journalists in government radio stations.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

(1)  Does news commercialization affects the performance of journalists in government radio stations?

(2) To what extent does news commercialization influence the performance of journalists in government radio stations?

(3) What are forms of news commercialization used in government radio stations?

(4) What are the solutions to the influence of news commercialization on the performance of journalists in government radio stations?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Upon completion of this project, the result will be beneficial to students of mass communication, researchers, journalists who are interested in further research work and government.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work is deemed to examine the influence of news commercialization on the performance of journalists in government radio stations.

However, the scope of the study is therefore restricted to investigate the influence of news commercialization on the performance of journalists in paramount 94.5 FM and OGBC 90.5 FM

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Majorly, there are four identifiable factors that constitute limitation to the execution of this research project. These are time, inadequate materials on the topic under study and financial incapability.

• Time: The time mentioned here is the major hindrance of this study, being an academic based research; the time allocated for this study is not enough in combining the work of this project with academic routine.
• Inadequate materials on the topic under study: The researcher would be faced with the problem of gaining access to some materials that would be very important for the study because of some organizations policies that would not permit it.
• Financial incapability: inadequate fund to carry out an extensive research work is another limitation of this study.
• Sizable numbers of journalists in government radio stations: limited journalists working in government radio stations is one of the limitations in carrying out an extensive research

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Influence: The capacity or power of something to be compelling force on opinion or somebody.

News commercialization: The term news commercialization simply means deliberate presentation of commercial news in such a way the unsuspecting audience members will take it for conventional public interest-oriented news (Nwodu, 2006).

Performance: The ability of journalists to accomplish the task measured against a preset known standard of accuracy, completeness and speed.

Journalist: A journalist is a professional who gather and write news for newspapers and magazines and also prepares news to be broadcast on radio and television.

Government owned radio station: This is a radio station owned and controlled by the government i.e. OGBC and Paramount FM.