PROPOSAL
/ CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The
importance of journalism comes from the peoples’ rights to opinion and
expression since the right to opinion and expression would not be a reality
without the press, people today depend greatly on the press for being informed
(yangkai,200).
Journalism
is taken as an inseparable part of any democratic system. The press plays a
vital role in democratic society. It is an institution in its own right.
The press
has earned the recognition of ‘fourth estate, and being the voice of the voiceless;
It plays the role of watchdog in our society. It is the strong bridge between
concerning authorities and the people. It handles all public issues; infact,
the press can be considered as the people’s open forum. The press makes such an
environment where people get information and then partaker in democracy.
Therefore the press can be regarded as the pillar of democracy.
Investigative
journalism is arguably one of the most important contributions that the press
makes to democracy. This could be linked to the logic of checks and balances in
democratic systems and the role played by investigation Journalism in this
regard. This form of journalism goes further by providing valuable mechanism
for monitoring the performance of democratic institutions as they are most
broadly defined to include governmental bodies, civic, organization and
publicly held corporations. It is the kind of Journalism that verbitsky
(1997,16) describes as disseminating what some one does not want to be known
According to him investigative Journalism makes visible what is hidden, and
throws salt in the wounds.
Similarly,
Negrine (1996) write that “Investigation Journalism requires active reporting,
the unearthing and putting together pieces of information in contrast t passive
reception as in the
following of leaks”.
Investigative
Journalism is considered as the thiral layer of reporting, It goes beyond the
surface; It is a journalism that seeks to bring out news behind the news and
reveals the secret a source is trying to conceal. In a nutstiell the generic
concept of investigative journalism is the act of digging deep to get things or
facts out in the open. That is, something beyond the straight news.
Herbert
(2000) posits that the investigative report produces a story that is gathered
and published or broadcast that would not have been revealed without hard work,
which in turn provides a story of public importance that had to be pierced together from
diverse and often observe sources.
One
fundamental area of investigative Journalism that has continued to draw huge
attention has been its immense contribution and impact on democratic governance
in most parts of the world, including Nigeria.
Today,
many articles, publication and media professionals and commentator view
investigative journalism as an instrument that demonstrates the power of the
press as the guard to good democratic, governance and also journalism’s own
instrument to restrain the abuse of political and economic power
As
a tool of fourth estate model, investigative Journalism retains important
agenda setting power which reminds citizens and political elites about the
existence of certain issues.
For
instance, the performance of the press through investigation is revealed in the
remarkable Watergate in the united state of America in 1972, when Bob Woodward
and the Carl Bernsteirs’s revelation led to the resignation of the then united
states president Richard Noxon from office in August 1974 (Randall:1996).
Investigation
Journalism strives to explore and reveal information of public interest even if
such information reveals abuses or crimes perpetrated by those in authority.
A good
example here in Nigeria is when the news magazine blazed the trail in
investigative journalism and successfully exposed a case of certificate forgery
by the then speaker of the house of representatives Salisu Buhari , during
Olusegun Obsanjo’s administration. Similarity, tell magazine equally exposed
the then president of
the senate, Evans Enweren of certificate Forgery, made him to loose his seat.
Also,
channel TV recently aired
documentary on not in police college, Ikya. The documentary shows deplorable
state of police college and this prompted president Johnathen to paid impromptu
visit to the college to assess the situation.
This
investigative reports further shows that Nigeria media is performing their
watchdog role in the society. It is the strong bridge between concerning
authorities and the people and it handles all public issues.
Palest
(2002,9) remarks that “compared with other forms of reporting, investigative
journalism usually involves more risk, more time and money”. There is even the
occasional threat or act at violence when carrying out investigative reporting
(Garba, 2009).
In
Nigeria, investigative journalism being an integral part of journalism’s image
in reality appears to be a minority pursuit. This means that journalistic in
Nigeria seem mostly confined within the boundaries of straight news, titivating
stories and entertainment, leaving investigative journalism un explored.
Perhaps this could because of the risk involved, or what Akanni (2009)
describes as hostility to transparency.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Investigative journalism has been considered to be an advanced
aspect of journalism which required special skills and experience, to this end
many reporters find it difficult and see it as the most dangerous field while
it is very hard to see women journalism engage in investigative journalism.
Therefore
this research work seeks to analysis the attitude and perception of Nigeria
journalist to investigative journalism Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i.
To what extent do
journalism in Osogbo engage in investigative journalism?
ii.
Do journalist in Osogbo
have investigative journalism strategies?
iii.
To what extent have
journalists in Osogbo used investigative journalism to influence the behavior
of the people in the town?
iv.
To what extent have
journalist in Osogbo used investigative journalism to reduce crime in the town?
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of the study is as follows:
i.
To assess how much media
owners and practitioners invest I investigative journalism
ii.
To examine the level of
engagement in investigative journalism by Nigeria journalism.
iii.
To examine the major
constraints on investigative journalism Nigeria
iv.
To examine the major
landmark made by investigative journalism in Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
Every society and government around the world is best described as
civilized and functional when it operates or is subjected to the rule of
democracy. It has become apparent for every society to be judged based its
regard based on its regard for the rule of law that give its citizens equal
rights, its level of regard for the freedom of expression and information, the
rights of individuals to vote and be voted for, and a government based on
legitimacy.
Halfon’s
Blog (2009) stated the gain brought about by investigative journalism when he
made reference to the effects of the Watergate scandal which did not by any
means end with the resignation of president Nixon and the imprisonment of some
of his aides indirectly. Watergate was the cause of new laws leading to
extensive charges in campaign financing. It was a major factor in the passage
of amendments to the freedom of information Act in the United States in 1986,
as well as laws requiring new financial discourse by the key government
officials. In this regard, one of Nigerian journalist’s enthusiasm and
determination towards investigative journalism is the passage of freedom of
information bill, which to a large extent, would lead to the unveiling of so
many dark secretes carried out by those in the corridor of power. Especially
with the fact that Nigeria is a society where there is widespread skepticism
about government officials honesty.
Investigative
journalism is considered as one of the most vibrant tools that uncover wrong
doings and other morally objectionable acts carried out by public officials and
those in government.
No matter
the level of democratic participation in any country, this study paint out that
less transparency would be achieved in a government where checks and balance
are not carried out by effective and seasoned investigative journalists, who
often compliment the already widespread straight news reporting. The study will
be of significance to practicing journalists and media owners.
A body
such as the Nigeria union of journalists can as a matter of the findings of
this study restructure its policy by drawing considerable attention and steering
the drive toward effective investigative journalism, as well as flagging bill
in Nigerian.
Corrupt
practices b those at the helm of affairs are noted to be behind the major
setback constraining Nigeria fro achieving her socio- economic growth and development.
This study also encourages the growth and wider practice of investigative
journalism by Nigeria journalists as it goes beyond the ordinary straight news
to give factual information about issue that are of public interest.
The study
will therefore pave the way to a new era in which the mass media will become
more aggressive in reporting activities of politicians and hidden national
issues, and in the process raising a new generation of reporters that will
embrace investigative reporting and passionately sought to uncover new scandals
in the country.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
scopes of this study specifically cover analysis of the attitude and perception
of journalists to investigative journalism in Nigeria. Although there are other
aspects of investigative journalism, this research study is however fouled on
journalist’s views and attitudes to investigative journalism in Nigeria
generally.
1.7 LIMITATION TO THE STUDY
This study was limited by some challenges which are discussed as follows:
The time
and financial constraints do not permit a larger scope.
Moreover
added to this problem is the non-challant attitude of elicit response from
journalists in media houses in Osogbo because they were always on the move for
one assignment or the other.
1.8 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Analysis: This is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into
smaller parts to gain as better understanding of it.
Attitude: This way that one thinks and feels about something or the way one
behaves towards something
Journalist:A person whose job is
to collect and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, radio or
television .
Investigative journalism:The act
of finding out facts beyond the straight news, especially about information
that someone is trying to keep secrete.
Journalism: This is the activity of journalists, engage in the process of
collecting and writing news stories intended for dissemination through the mass media with reference
to factual, ongoing events of public concern.
Fourth estate of the realm: This is the reference to the press positioning as fourth branch of
government.
Watchdog role:This is an act of
monitoring government activities to
ensure checks and balances in governance.
