CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Isamuko,
B.J. (2011) says, the press is a moulder of the society. Although this fact has
been lashed with numerous criticisms, we cannot deny the fact that the press
shapes the society. Most journalists are aware of this, so they are determined,
even to the extent of sacrificing their lives, to give the society what it
desires and what it needs.
The
reporter who is scampering to meet a politician who has just alighted from an
airplane; the reporter who is on a wired boat sailing into a remote mangrove to
find out the extent of damage flood has wrecked in an area is trying to satisfy
the society by informing the members of the society on what is happening around
them. The function of news gathering and news dissemination has not been a rosy
one for the journalists, from the inception of journalism and newspaper
publication in Nigeria.
There has been a cat and mouse relationship
between the press, society, organisation, politician and the governments of all
ages, whether military or civilian, except when the press allows itself to be
cajoled, used and manipulated by the government or personal interest of the so
called ‘big power” to suit its whims and caprices.
However,
Wainwright (1992) describes journalism as day-to-day operation of gathering and
transmitting new. Therefore, journalism is the sharing of information and ideas
using a suitable channels of communication.
Longman
Dictionary (7th edition) see journalism as the collection and
editing of materials of current interest for presentation through the news
media.
In
a nutshell, is the act of looking for new event and edit the unwanted part
before it is served to the public who are the final consumers.
The
journalists are those that practices journalism in Nigeria and other countries,
the journalists are always in problem each time they disseminate the news story
that against important personality, most especially the politicians.
Therefore, hazard in
journalism sphere refers to the various dangers, challenges facing that
journalist, reporters, newscasters, camera man, and others who are working in
the media organisation are exposed to during the course of their duties. Similarly,
press or media practitioners are to injury, killing, kidnapping, rape, assault,
beating, threaten, destruction of their property and host of others,
In the history of media most
of these hazard emanated from the following source as highlighted by Ewuola P.O
(2005)
-
Government hostility
-
Sinister attack
-
Problem of statement denial
-
Difficulties in separating truth from false
hood.
-
Unfriendly and hostile people
-
Problem of publishers interest
-
Language barrier
-
Prone to road accident
-
Lack of rest
To this end the researcher want to x-ray some the
hazards of journalism and some remedies or way out especially as new Freedom of
Information Law has become law in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
There
has been a cat and mouse relationship between the press, society, organisation,
politician, secret bodies, kidnapper, terrorists, venders and the governments
of all ages, whether military or civilian, except when the press allows itself
to be cajoled, used and manipulated by the government or personal interest of
the so called ‘big power” to suit its whims and caprices.
Journalists
are hunters that is been hunted especially in Nigeria and third world
countries, this assertion stressed that journalists are hunting for
information, secret, facts, figures, idea to be shared to the public while some
individuals, government, agent, organization, group e.t.c want their
information, activities remain hiding this make press to be become their target
and enemy.
However,
the work of journalists placed them at the centre of society because they are
regarded as the fourth estate of realm as it gather and disseminate information
from government, group and individuals.
Hence, the research x-ray some of the
hazards facing journalists and other media practitioners in the course of the
daily assign and highlight some remedies or way out especially as new Freedom
of Information Law has become law in Nigeria.
1.3
Objectives
of the Study
The basic objective of this study is
to find out the hazards facing journalists’ effectiveness and solutions in
Nigeria. Others are:
i. To know if journalists in Nigeria facing
any professional hazard?
ii. To highlight some of the hazards facing
journalists and media professionals
in Nigeria
iii. To study
the effects of hazards on the performance of journalists in Nigeria.
iv. To know how
hazards facing journalists can be prevented.
v. To find out
the extent which New Freedom of Information Law in Nigeria can reduce hazards
facing journalists in Nigeria.
vi. To study
whether the level of insecurity in Nigeria has proned journalists to more
hazards.
1.4 Research
Questions
Below are some of the research
questions drawn from the statement of the problem with the view to provide
answer to some issues begging for answers.
i. Is there any hazard facing journalism
practice in Nigeria?
ii. What are hazards facing journalists and
media personnel in Nigeria?
iii. Do media
hazards have effects on the performance of journalists in Nigeria?
iv. How can
these hazards of journalism be prevented?
v. To what
extent can new freedom of information law in Nigeria reduce hazards facing
journalists in Nigeria?
vi. Does level
of insecurity in Nigeria prone journalists to more hazards?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This research work deals with the
media hazards of Nigerian press. As an academic work which intends to pass
through the scientific scrutiny in terms of empirical analysis, it aims to the
academic knowledge both for the benefit of the researchers and students of
great minds.
This study will no doubt be useful to mass media
practitioners in Nigeria and beyond and will help the public appreciate the
numerous role of the press in Nigeria so as to enable them rise in defense of
the press whenever it is threatened by excessive power.
It is also expected
that at the end of this study, the work will update knowledge within the frame
work of the study. Particularly, it will assist people on the reasons while
journalists need to be more freed and benefit of freedom of information to the
press and society at large.
This
study will draw the attention of the government to empower the press and ensure
journalists security in carrying out their duties. More so, those who want to engage in
similar topic will find it very useful by serving as a reference point as very
few materials are available on the topic.
1.6 Scope
of the Study
The scope of this research work had been narrowed down to TELL
Magazine for the purpose of convenience and lack of time, fund and other
considerable logistics.
To this end, TELL Magazine is selected
to represent all mass media in Nigeria while demographic TELL Magazine will be
considered to access the number of staff, educational level, and qualification,
working experience, sex, marital status and many more before the administration
of research tool.
Nevertheless, the finding of the project work can be well
applicable to all media houses in Nigeria.
1.7 Definition
of Terms
Press:
These refer to various workers in Tell magazine whose primary occupation is to
gather, write, edit and publish information to the publics.
Hazards:
These
refer to the dangers or risks faced by workers of Tell magazine in carrying out
their activities.
Media:
This refers to channel of communication
such as Tell magazine through which information is conveyed to the public.
