CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Over the years, the agitation for the emergence of a free press society, has been on the front burner of national discuss, especially among journalism practitioners in Nigeria. This owes largely to the fact that the expediency of having a legislation that guarantees a high level of press freedom cannot be ignored. It cannot be ignored apparently against the backdrop of the attendant positive effect it could have on any society. In spite of the significant role of the media in the development and consolidation of democratic governance in the south, there has been comparatively little written about their democratic significance (Berger, 1998: 600, also cited in Tettey, 2001). It is, therefore, important to evaluate that significance, particularly in the presumably new democratic dispensation in Nigeria. How is the ‘fourth estate of the realm’ performing and what are the challenges that confront it? Alongside the other three main ‘estates’ – the executive, the judiciary and the legislature – the agents of mass communication are generally regarded as the fourth estate of the realm. As I have argued elsewhere, the mass media educate the public on state affairs, disseminate information on the activities of the government – which are most often secretive in Third World countries – expose wrongdoing, including corrupt practices which impact negatively on economic development, and keep the government on its toes, all in order to ensure ‘accountability, transparency, probity and integrity’ (see Ojo, 1999a: 8, 2000c). These virtues are well known norms of democratic systems across all regions and climes. Furthermore, it is the role of the mass media in a democratic setting to keep the citizenry well informed. Unless citizens have adequate and accurate information on all the issues and problems confronting them, they will be unable to take enlightened decisions on them. Without such information, they will be unable to comprehend the day-to-day working of the government and to participate in it. Nor will they be able to hold those in authority responsible for their acts of omission and commission. In other words, in the absence of full truthful information, they can perform none of the functions that citizens have to perform in democracy. Second, the mass media can act as a channel between the people and the authorities. The media may convey to the authorities the grievances, the needs, the problems, the hopes and aspirations of the people, and the responses of the authorities may in turn be conveyed by the media to the people. The media can thus make up the major deficiency of indirect or representative democracy – the lack of a direct dialogue between the people and the authority. Third, because of this role they perform, the media can also act as a day-to-day parliament of the people, which may be more effective than the actual parliament. Fourth, the media can perform the task of the watchdog of the people’s interests. The media can expose the corruption, waste, in-efficiency and negligence on the part of the authorities. Through investigative journalism, scams and scandals can be unearthed, anti-social activities exposed, and implementation of the policies and programmes monitored and pursued. The mass media can thus act as an ombudsman on behalf of the people almost every day (Sawant, 2002). There are impediments to the realization of a democratic and “user-friendly” information society – specifically, the concentration of corporate control over public affairs information in the context of emerging news distribution mechanisms. As news providers on the Internet increase in quantity, the original sources of consequential international news stories remain few. Global information conglomerates Associated Press and Reuters dominate Internet news in various ways. Through still poorly understood layers of mediation, the news product and news perspectives of major wire services are reproduced directly and indirectly in the web content of cyber-news providers, often despite claims of editorial independence. As is evident at the time of this writing, thousand of media outlets from around the world turn out to do original reporting on occasional massive stories – like war – but international coverage at most other times is left almost exclusively to news agencies. This is true across media, including television, radio, print, and the Internet. The political economy of international news maintains a duopolistic wire service based system of global news gate keeping, resulting in an ever increasing audience being exposed to an ever-decreasing news agenda. There have been a few important, although ultimately unsuccessful, challenges to the dominance of the news agencies, leading this author to conclude that public policy must addresses the implications of their control over the international “public sphere.”
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The recent enactment of the press freedom law in Nigeria has been greeted by many proponents of the law as a step in the right direction. Media practitioners believe that the Freedom, as a communication phenomenon will play an essential role in placing Nigeria on the right track of development. It will also increase the people’s participation in government programmes and policies as well as translate to the enthronement of accountability and good governance. All that said, the problem is the level of preparedness on the part of the media practitioners, being the journalists as it relates to their maximizing the provisions of the Act towards effective media practice. While the acts promises a lot, its workability in a country like Nigeria, where there is a penchant for violating laws with impurity, tends to puncture its potentials directed towards effective media practice. Maximizing the potentials of the media in Nigeria depends on how well the media practitioners are acquainted with its provisions. It appears that not many journalists are fully aware of the provisions of the media in the democratic world, thereby limiting their push for information in the custody of government, as well as other public institutions. More so, whether the emergence of the press freedom signals an era of Freedom with or without responsibility, media practice remains an issue of great concern. Similarly, it is a problem that since media practitioners are yet to be well acquainted with the provision of the prospects; it becomes difficult making the most of it. More so, the argument that the emergence of media in an era of freedom without responsibility is a threat to national security remains an issue with great concern.
1.3AIMS OF THE STUDY
The major purpose of this study is to examine the management structures for enhancing teaching and learning in adult literacy centres. Other general objectives of the study are:
1. To examine the role of media under democratic system in Nigeria.
2. To examine the seeming challenges of media practitioners in Nigerian democratic system.
3. To examine the effect of media dissemination under democratic system in Nigeria.
4. To examine the benefits of media to Nigerian democratic system of government.
5. To examine the relationship between media management and Nigerian democratic system.
6. To suggest ways for improving on good media dissemination under Nigerian democratic system.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the roles of media under democratic system in Nigeria?
2. What are the seeming challenges of media practitioners in Nigerian democratic system?
3. What are the effects of media dissemination under democratic system in Nigeria?
4. What the benefits of media to Nigerian democratic system of government?
5. What is the relationship between media management and Nigerian democratic system?
6. What are the ways for improving on good media dissemination under Nigerian democratic system?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: There is no effect of media in Nigerian democratic system.
H1: There is a significant effect of media in Nigerian democratic system.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is significant in more ways than one therefore; the study will provide effective and objective information in gathering its dissemination by the media organization. Aside its immense potency to contribute to the body of knowledge, the study also, will serve as a reference to managers, journalists, editors, specialized groups, society, government etc. Moreso, the study can serve as one existing literature or as an additional literature on freedom of information in Nigeria libraries. It will also be instrumental to prospective researchers and students who may want to plunge into this similar area of study. In the same vein, the study is significant to the extent that it provides a platform for government press collaboration which if harnessed, can facilitate national development.
1.7SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is based on prospect of media under democratic system in Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
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