CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Repositioning of women has become issue of
study and it has received the attention of UNESCO (1975-1985), “Toward Equality
under the UN Decade for women in Africa, Asia, Latin and South American”, have
brought women issues such as unequal job opportunities, cultural barriers, low
economic and political empowerment and
human right abuses.
Some Nigerians have established Non-Governmental
Organization (NGOs) such as women in Nigeria (WIN), Gender Resource Network
(GRN), and Gender and Development Action (GADA). Since it has been noticed that
women are object of discrimination, all these was established to advance the
needs of Nigerian women by calling for the abolition of obnoxious cultural
practices that have placed women at the background making their participation
in both social, political and economic activities ineffective.
The position of women in the society and
our different cultures makes the men and the society at large discriminate
against women journalists. According to Hananiya (2004), she says that “the
general view about the women was always conceived within the context of the
home.
It was that of child bearing
and carrying out home functions only”. Because of this view about women, the concept
of a women practicing journalism or making a choice to practice journalism was
considered rebellious and unfeminine.
The obsolete ideas about
women’s place in the society still tell on their position in the media houses
and journalism filed. Uzochukwu (2008:72) says “Women also have problems of
time, given their multiple roles and heavy domestic responsibilities” Traditional
cultural attitudes in most societies also discriminate against women having
access to education.
This can also discourage them
in the practice of journalism as girls are encouraged to get married and become
house wives or encouraged to take up any other job which gives them more time
and makes them responsible house wives than
their journalism profession.
There is also the issue of
gender bias in attitude towards women studying journalism or using information
technology as many people hold the views that women cannot think or work
scientifically.
It is not a hidden fact that women are under-represented
in the filed of journalism. This maybe because of the discrimination or the
basic assumption that “a woman’s responsibilities should be her sole priority”,
thereby undermining her active participation and performance in the practice of
journalism.
The issue of gender bias too,
contribute enormously to the low participation of women in journalism. Another
assumption militating against female participation according to Amao (1999), is
that “female sex is biologically not designed for energy exerting, hazardous
occupation and long hours filed assignment”.
Supporting this, Beverly (1995) notes that the society assumes
that “women should be mothers, school teachers, hairdressers, secretaries,
maids, and social workers only”. Therefore they do not need education or
training in other fields like journalism.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
This study was undertaken to x-ray in
real sense the challenges, limitations and contributions of female journalists
in Nigeria media industry particularly in broadcast media especially as
newscasters, reporters and anchor of programmes relating to women, children,
fashion, entertainment, education e.t.c and to know why there is low
participation of the female graduate journalists towards practicing journalism
as their career.
Despite the fact that there is considerably
good number of trained female journalists, very few of them are working with
media houses in Nigeria.
The research is will however,
examine the impact of women journalists on Nigeria Broadcast media using
journalists in Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) and Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA) both in Osogbo.
1.3
Objectives of the Study
i. To Know the extent which women are being heard in broadcast media in Osun State.
ii. To examine whether issues relating to women are given
attention to in Nigeria broadcast media.
iii. To examine if women journalists cover story relating to women in Nigeria.
iv. To highlight whether broadcast media favour men than women in their daily broadcasting.
v. To study whether the domination of broadcast media by men
affect adequate coverage of
issues relating to women in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
i. To what extent are women issue promoted by NTA and OSBC Osogbo?
ii. To
what extent does issues’ relating to women given attention to in Nigeria journalism?
iii. Does NTA and OSBC cover story relating to women in Nigeria?
iv. Does journalism in Nigeria favour men than women in their broadcast?
v. Does the domination of NTA and OSBC, Osogbo by men affect adequate coverage of issues relating to
women in Nigeria?
1.5
Significance of the Study
This research is carried out to
know how women are been treated in broadcast media, the problems associating
with poor attention given by the media
in Nigeria
when it comes to reporting issues relating to women.
Moreover, journalists and media outfits will benefit from
this research work because they will be able to identify the problem of the
women in relation to media coverage of women in Nigeria.
The researcher, therefore, has deemed it fit to find out
the contributions and the some of the reasons for low zeal among female mass
communication students to the practice of journalism.
The researcher also
observed that there are few female teachers of mass communication and
journalism in all tertiary institutions all over the world due to the limited
numbers of female journalists in the industries.
According to Okunna (1990) “In most schools in Nigeria,
women are not often seen as lecturers both at universities and polytechnics”
The work is very significant to the extent that female mass
communication and journalism students will be more focus and choose journalism
as a career.
Media owners will as well know that female journalists have
significant roles to play in both print and broadcast industry.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The research has been narrowed in scope to OSBC and NTA Osogbo
since it is very difficult if not impossible to study all mess media houses
across the country due to time available for the study, money, materials and
other logistics.
1.7 Limitation to the Study
Wide research of this nature cannot be carried out without
some constraints, these constrains pose a lot of stress to this work. Duration
for the research work is relative1y short while stress emanated from other
academic activities is also another constrain. Also, little materials are also
available because the work is relatively new. Also, financial constrain poses
another challenges as most of information are gathered through books rather
than using various sources including internet. Similarly, financial constrain
poses another challenges as it is very difficult to travel to all communities
in the State of Osun as frequently as possible.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Impact:
it means the
role, contribution, achievement of women in the practice of broadcast media.
Women
Journalist: This
is a mature female choosing journalism as a career.
Broadcast
Media: Broadcast
media are means of transmission which enable audio, audio-visual of
information, message, idea, to a wider number of people listening or viewing
usually simultaneously examples are radio and television
Journalism:
This is the
work of collecting writing and publishing of news stories and articles in
newspapers and magazines or broadcasting them on radio and television to inform
the general public on things happening in the world.
NTA:
Nigeria Television
Authority
