PROPOSAL / CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The
important role media plays in fostering an environment of good governance needs
hardly be emphasized. As the watchdog and interpreter of public issues and
events, the media has a special role in every society. In our information-based
society the media has a disproportionately visible and influential role.
Democracy
cannot exist in the absence of a free press. This is because democracy is based
on popular will and popular opinion depends on the public’s awareness and
knowledge. It is the mass media that brings up, promotes and propagates public
awareness.
The main
responsibility of the press is to provide comprehensive, analytical and factual
news and opinion to the people on everyday issues and events of popular
concern. To fulfil its duty and responsibility, the press must work according
to the fundamental principles of professional ethics, as well as norms and
values of journalism.
Democracy
can neither be sustainable nor strong without a free press. On the other hand,
press freedom will not be possible without democracy. Therefore, the mass media
and journalists must be committed to democracy. For this, the press must be
perpetually involved in the establishment and promotion of a democratic
culture.
The press must remain ever vigilant to protect and enforce
people’s freedom of thought and expression and citizens’ right to all information
relating to the various aspects of their life and future.
The fact that access to information is a citizen’s right must be
taken to heart, and information must be presented in a simple and palatable
manner. Right to information is inherent in democratic functioning and a
pre-condition for good governance and the realization of all other human
rights, including education and health care. The main objectives should be the
promotion of transparency and accountability in governance so as to minimize corruption
and inefficiency in public office and to ensure the public’s participation in
governance and decision making.
Media must be credible and trustworthy. Trust is the most valuable
asset for any media. Once lost, it cannot be earned back. It is for this reason
that all media must uphold their principles to provide accurate and factual
news and other programmes.
Press must understand the difference between politics in general
and party politics. Media should not be a vehicle, or used as an advocate for
any political party or ideology.
Public and political issues should be clearly understood, analyzed
and presented in an impartial manner.
During
elections / political campaigns, equal time slots or opportunity must be
allocated to each of the legitimate political parties and candidates.
In the
course of elections, messages that encourage goodwill and harmony among all the
ethnic groups, religions, genders, cultures, languages, regions and communities
should be broadcast.
Media
plays the role of watch-dog in reporting corruption, complacency and
negligence. In a changing, competitive landscape, compliance to good governance
has never been taken so seriously, as people demand more transparency from both
the government and private sectors. Responsible practices from government,
universal principles on human rights and the fight against corruption have assumed
great importance.
A
flourishing media sector enables people to make informed decisions, becoming
more effective participants in society’s development.
In a developing country like Nepal, the relatively low level of
literacy, the variations in topography and limited access to electricity all
make radio the most suitable medium to satisfy the information needs of the
masses.
A robust, independent and pluralistic media environment is crucial
for good governance and the overall development of the country.
Freedom
of expression, free flow of information and fair reporting without government
and commercial influences are accelerators of development.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
Ever since the arrival of newspapers in Nigeria it has been
playing a very vital role from criticizing colonial dictators to the attainment
of independence, till the military took over power shortly after independence
and with the enthronement of democracy, press has play different roles at one
time or the other. However, this work is investigating the impact of mass media
to include both the print and electronic media on it political development and
contribution.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
i.
The objective of this
study is to know the contribution of mass media to political development.
ii.
Another objective of the
study is to stop the issue of women apathy and being victims
of violence in society.
iii.
To highlight the
challenges facing mass media in educating electorates on
their political right and power.
iv.
To examine how mass media
political programmes have impacted on voting behaviour of electorates.
v.
To study the best media to
use in converging political messages to electorate particularly rural dwellers.
vi.
To know how mass media
political crusade have been able to change the apathy orientation of women.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In this
study, an attempt will be sufficiently made to answer the following questions.
i.
To what extent does mass
media influence the voting patterns of the people of Osogbo local government?
ii.
How often does mass media
educate and sensitize the people of Osogbo local government on political
activities?
iii.
Is there any problems
facing people of Osogbo local government in participating in politics?
iv.
Does colonial antecedent
influences people of Osogbo local government participation in politics?
v.
Do mass media mobilize
people of Osogbo local government towards political participation?
vi.
Does participation of
people in Osogbo local government in politics depend on their exposure to mass
media?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is expected that at the end of this study, it will update
knowledge within the framework of the study. Particularly, it will assist
people’s views on the usefulness of mass media in political development
Media practitioners will also gain fro the research findings as it
will expose them to what responsibilities media are to play in society.
It will also serve as reference materials for future researchers
who may want to expand or explore on study relating to this work.
This
study will draw the attention of government to empower electorates especially
women to participate in politics through the use of radio, television, films
and motion pictures and print media in their packaging of news reports and
events, and to academics in their practices and training of journalist.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study will be limited to Osogbo local Government
especially Osogbo metropolis. This is selected due to the fact that it is
difficult if not impossible to study the entire population of Nigeria.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
It is not an overstatement that a work of this nature cannot be
carried out without some hard experience, however below are some of the
constrains to this work.
There are many limitations ranging from not knowing where to
start, not knowing who to consult or approach for materials not knowing what
next to write in various segment of this study and not actually knowing who to
put me through in achieving my work and others are:
Stress from other academic activities is one of the limitations to
the research work
i.
Financial constraint to
travel to different places.
ii.
Duration for the research
work is relatively short
iii.
Material that are
available on this topic is relatively small as the concept is new or people are
not written from that angle.
Finally, back pains, dizziness as well as the researcher’s
respondent’s inability to return questionnaires that was given to them
adequately.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
In this study, certain key words will be explained below:
Role: The degree to which somebody/ something is involved in a
situation or an activity and the effect that they have on it.
Broadcast: A channel through which information/ programmers are sent out on
television or radio.
Mobilizing: To make people ready to pursue a particular cause.
Politics: The activities involved in getting and using power in public
life and being able to influence decision that affect a country or a society.
Election: - is the process through which voters choose their
representatives and express their preferences for the way that they will be
governed.
Mass
Media: -From the sense of electionary
standard it can be agree primarily that mass media are majorly the use of radio
and television, newspaper and magazine with other sophisticated equipment in
the gathering and dissemination of information to a widely diverse
heterogeneous audience.
Ballot: -Is a kind of voting method by which voters makes use of ballot
proper in marking the name of their choice of candidate, which is dropped in a
ballot box, that is counted manually.
