CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Olayinka (2013) writes that eye contact and facial
expressions provide important social and emotional information in communication
especially in interpersonal setting. People, perhaps without consciously doing
so, probe each other's eyes and faces for positive or negative mood signs. In
some contexts, the meeting of eyes arouses strong emotions.
Eye contact is also an important element in flirting,
where it may serve to establish and gauge the other's interest in some
situations.
Therefore, newscasters adopted the use of
teleprompter in achieving an effective eye contact to prevent too much of
concentrations on script but to make them read the scripts as if they were
reading off hand.
A teleprompter displays the prompts for a person
filming or telecasting a visual report with an electronic device such as a
video camera. Teleprompters are used instead of cue cards to electronically
display the text of a script or speech. (Wikipedia.com, 2015)
Teleprompter screen, in front of the camera lens
of a professional video camera, allows the presenter, a reporter or
speechmaker, to keep “eye contact” with the viewing audience with an open and
comfortable presence. Ajetnmobi, E.
O. and Oyediran, O. O. (2005). Stressed that the words, image e.t.c on the
teleprompter screen are reflected to the presenter on a beam splitter, a clear
glass.
The use of a teleprompter allows a presenter to
appear at ease and engaged with the audience. They appear more professional and
knowledgeable about their subject, not having to fumble with or refer to a
paper copy. Oyekanmi (2008)
Cue cards are still in limited use, but they are
placed off center from the lens making the presenter to look away from the
lens, making them look distracted.
Wikipedia (2015) The first teleprompter was created
by Jess Oppenheimer, producer and head writer of “I Love Lucy” in 1953. The
teleprompter was used to allow Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to keep in character
while presenting commercials on-camera. Several variations and improvements
have been made to Oppenheimer’s original design including autoscript prompters
which scroll at a comfortable pace based on a review of the speaker’s normal speech
pattern.
One of the best teleprompters available is the
TELMAX GS-15 Teleprompter.
To this end, the research is geared towards
examining the effects of teleprompter on broadcast practice in Broadcasting
Corporation of Oyo State. With a view to know how it has influence the
performance of the newscasters and presenters of BCOS.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Eye contact is the hallmark of television
presentation, newscasting in particular as it makes newscasters to have balance
and constant eye contact.
Before the introduction of the teleprompter
journalist particularly the news and programme presenters have to be training
and retrained because many presenters did married to their script which is
against the skills of presentation.
If presenter is concentrating more and more on the
script the audience will get tired and they may flow aware to other rival
television station they making them losing audience and if they lose audience
so they will be having less advertisement.
Therefore, television media want news to be presented
as if the newscasters were reading news from hand rather than reading from
script that is why most television industries adopted the use of teleprompter
to perform the miracle of brilliancy of staffs.
Hence, the research examines the effects of
teleprompter on broadcast practice in Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.
With a view to know how whether BCOS has fully adopted Telepromter and if not
why and if yes to what extent has it contributed to the performance of the newscasters
and presenters.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
i.
To examine whether
teleprompter improve news presentation of BCOS.
ii.
To examine if
teleprompter news hold audience’s attention more than manual news reading.
iii.
To x-ray whether news
through teleprompter influence people viewing habit.
iv.
To highlight the
various challenge facing BCOS newscasters in using teleprompter.
v.
To know if
teleprompter facilitate effective eye contact of newscaster.
vi.
To find out whether
teleprompter enhance news reading.
vii.
Does teleprompter enhance
non verbal and facial gesticulation in news presentation.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i.
To what extent has
teleprompter improved news presentation of BCOS?
ii.
Does news presenter
using teleprompter hold audience’s attention?
iii.
To what extent does
news through teleprompter influence people viewing habit?
iv.
Is there any
challenge facing BCOS newscasters in using teleprompter?
v.
Does teleprompter
facilitate effective eye contact of newscaster?
vi.
To what extent has
teleprompter enhance news reading?
vii.
Does teleprompter
enhance non verbal and facial gesticulation in news presentation?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study of this nature will benefit media
practitioners and students of journalism on the need to acquire the needed
skills and qualification to succeed in their career.
Future researcher will benefit from this research
as it will be useful to them while writing on the related topic.
Media houses will also find the materials relevant
as it will of benefit to them to know the reason and importance of teleprompter
to the effective eye contact.
1.6 SCOPE OF
THE STUDY
Although, the primary aim and objective of the
project is to examine the effect of teleprompter on broadcast practice with a
specific focus on Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.
However, this cannot be effectively talked without
considering the demographic factor of BCOS staffs that will respond to the
questionnaire of this study, such factors include but not limited to, experience,
education background, professional training, age, sex e.t.c must be considered
before the distribution of research instruments.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Research of this nature cannot be effectively
achieved without some precincts. 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:
Time:
Time constraint has posed a lot of limitations to this work because there is no
enough time to carry out the research.
Literature
Material: At present there is no enough
previous work done on the subject matter because the work is relatively new and
little or no attention ever pay to this device (teleprompter) as a result of
this, the researcher find it difficult to source for relevant materials. However,
despite the challenges the researcher will not allow the limitation to affect
the success and validity of the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF THE TERMS
Teleprompter: It refers to as an electronic
machine used instead of cue cards to electronically display the text of a
script or speech in news or programme studio of television
Eye Contact:
This means the act of maintaining and good
Newscaster:
This is one that read, present or cast news to the audience usually on
television screen.
