PROPOSAL
/ CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
Before information can be disseminated
to the public, it undergoes strict examination by certain people. These people
are known as gate keepers. They limit, expand and recognize or interpret the
information the audience receives. This information can be in form of news,
film, graphics art and photographs e.t.c.
However, there are lots of scholarly
definition of what gatekeeping and who gatekeepers are. The term “gate-keeper”
was first used by the Austrian Psychologist, Kurt Lewin. He defines gate-keeper
as the individual or groups of persons whose role is to monitor the traveling
of news in the communication channel.
Expanding Lewin’s definition, Bittner
(1989:12) defines gate-keeper as any person or formally organized group
directly involved in relaying and transferring information from one individual
to another through a Mass-medium.
Akindele and Lamidi (2001:52) says “A
gate-keeper is anybody who has the propensity to start Mass communication
industry”, Lewin’s definition of gate-keeper is centered on the people who
govern the movement of news within the communication channel.
Bittner in his definition asserts that
gate-keeper is any person or formally organized group who has the job of
transferring message from one person to another. Analyzing this definition
further, we will see that gate-keeper is not graphic communication, censorship
etc.
In his word, Bittner asserts that a
gate-keeper can be a film producer who cuts scene form a prime time show
because it is perceived as being too sexually explicit, a director who
determine what segment of film to use in a documentary, a newspaper executives
who determines the topic for editorial, or any other individual in the
processing or control of messages disseminated through “Mass-media”.
The definition of Lamidi and Akindele
emphasized the influence which gatekeeper can have on the final product in the
Mass communication industry.
Black and whitney (1983:15) cited in
Akindele, Lamidi (2001:52) says gatekeepers “determine what the public read the
event they bypass are events that never happened as far as the public is
concerned, society exposure to the days reality and fantasy is in the
gate-keepers hands”.
Gate-keeper, in my own word is any
person or organized group of person who control the flow of information in the
mass-communication channel this include reporters, proof-readers, editors and
host of others.
1.2 STATEMENT OF
THE PROBLEM
The major problems facing the Nigerian
press arise from ignorance and negligence on the part of the gatekeepers. It is
even universally believed that anybody who possesses the talent irrespective of
his education can practice journalism, we can see people from different fields
such as English Language, History, Economic, Accountancy e.t.c. to name just a
few.
Although, eloquent at speech and skilful
at grammar without journalism, he or she may not practice according to the
ethics of the profession. Many Nigerian press men are half baked because they
undergo meager education.
Another worthy problem facing the
Nigerian press men is their negligence to their duties. Most of the news aired
or published nowadays is not well edited, some news which can bring hatred and
tribal crisis in the country are still being published. Therefore the problem
of this study is to investigate or know the role of the press as gate keepers
in our society using the Radio Lagos (107.5 F.M)as a case
study.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
i.
To
examine whether broadcast industries recognize the role of reporter, proofreaders
and editors as gatekeepers.
ii.
To
know some of the challenges facing gatekeepers in broadcasting media from
performing effectively.
iii.
To
study if lack of press freedom affected the investigative and gate-keeping
spirit of journalists.
iv.
To
study if Nigerian journalists have sound formal education in the field of
journalism.
v.
To
know how broadcast media can exercise its gate-keeping function.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
i.
To
what extent do broadcast industries recognize the role of reporter,
proofreaders and editors as gatekeepers?
ii.
What
are the challenges facing gatekeepers in broadcasting media from performing
effectively?
iii.
How
lack of press freedom affected the investigative and gate- keeping spirit of
journalists?
iv.
Do
Nigerian journalists have sound formal education in the field of journalism?
v.
How
can broadcast media exercise its gatekeeping function?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work has been limited in
scope through the topic itself “Impact of Gate-keeping on News Credibility of a
Broadcast Station (A case Study of Radio Lagos 107.5)“The discussion in this
project will view the importance of press men as gatekeepers in our immediate
society.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This study will go a long way in
helping researchers, students of journalism, students, lecturers and people
studying mass communication and the large public to follow the way or make use
of this research topic to know the way they will follow to their respective
research.
Students: students of mass communication and
other related field will find this material useful.
Journalists: through this research pressmen
will know how to gate keep information within and outside the information flow
circle.
1.7 LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
This research is limited to a print
media i.e. Nigerian Tribune, one of the Nigerian foremost newspapers. My effort
to generalize the study is limited because it takes huge amount of money to
carry out the research by going from one place to another in dissemination of
information about the topic given to me, transportation problem and the
unwillingness on the part of people interviewed the slanting of fact by the
interviewers who reluctantly give out information for the fear of not being
misinterpreted. Therefore, this is applicable to the print media houses and
journalists.
1.8 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Gate-keepers: These are people that protect wrong
information from getting to the public.
Nigerian Press: people that bring news from an
event or visitation to the public and audience.
Roles: This means part a function of a character in a
topic or a play.
Editors: An editor is a person who edits
the unwanted part of a news or report.
