The attitude of Nigerians to the role of Mass Media in the enthronement of Democracy Since 1999
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page………………..i
Certification………….…ii
Dedication………………iii
Acknowledgment……….iv
Table of content……...…v
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance to the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Limitation of the Study
1.8 Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Media and Elections
2.4 Guiding Principles of Media and Elections:
2.5 Nigerian Media and Candidate Election
2.6 The Impact of the Media in the Delivery and Consolidation of Democracy
in Contemporary Nigeria
2.7 Leadership Role
2.8 Watchdog Role
2.9 Electioneering Role
2.10 Accountability/Whistle Blowing Role
2.11 The Buhari-Gate Scandal
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Restatement of Research Question
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 RESEARCH SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection
3.6 Validity of the Instrument
3.7 Method of Data Collection
3.8 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 PRESENTATION OF DATA
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Recommendation
5.3 Conclusion
REFERENCES
APPENDIX 1
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The conventional wisdom among Third World planners today is that the mass media should integrate with the indigenous modes of communication in promoting development. This wisdom has become intuitively logical because the traditional forms of communication are innate to Third World societies and, therefore, better suited for the dissemination of culture-centred development information to people at the grassroots. However, while the intrinsic nature of the indigenous forms of communication endows them with "a high degree of credibility and acceptance by the people" (Ranganath, 1977; Adhikarya, 1974), the attitude of Third World peoples toward the modern mass media are not yet clear.
This study explores Nigerians Attitude toward the role of mass media (i.e. radio, television and newspapers) in enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. Specifically, the study addresses some questions, these questions are necessary to discern what value people at the grassroots place on the mass media in Nigeria. Such knowledge will be crucial to the efforts by development support communicators to receive maximum influence from communication resources at the project level of development planning.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The problem that leads to the study of Nigerians Attitude toward the role of Mass media in the enthronement of Democracy since 1999 can be perceived from the rapid change in the constitution and laws that guide the activities of the media in the country. In the view of some individual, mass media as not been able to meet up with there role of upholding democracy in the country. However this is not so in the view of others, many people believe that the mass media as not be empower to carry out their function of gakekeeping in the Nigeria economy.
This study will emphasis the attitude of people towards the activity of mass media in protecting and upholding democracy.
1.3 Objective of the Study
This research work seeks to examine the attitude of Nigerian to the role of mass media in enthronement of democracy since 1999.
This paper examines the role the media have played and continue to play in the socio-political and socio-economic reengineering of structures in a country faced with enormous problems which militate against its optimal performance as an emergent democracy. This study will seek to know the impact of mass media on enthronement of democracy and analysis the attitude of Nigerian to the this role of mass media
Research Questions Does mass media play any role in a democratic setting?
(ii)To what extent has mass media promoted democracy in Nigeria?
To what extent do Nigeria value the role of mass media in the democratic setting?
Does mass media contribute to the political development of Nigeria?
1.5 Significance to the Study
This study help us to access the power of mass media in influencing and bringing about attitudinal changes in people, especially to win support a candidate during election and to promote the enthronement of democracy in the country. It will also help political analyst and campaign managers to know the
beset type of media to reach out to people during election as they fashion their campaign programmes to get maximum support and acceptance.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study is limited to the Nigeria Mass media. This study focuses on the role of mass media in the Nigeria Democracy since 1999. The concepts defined in this project work are mainly related to the Nigeria media. However the concepts may be well applicable to the media of other African country and the world at large.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
The following are the limitation that hinders the study of this research work;
Financial Constraint: There are not enough funds to fuel the study of this research work. The researcher has access to a very little source of fund
Time Constraints: Due to the limited time available to carry out this research work, it is not possible to carry out the research extensively as anticipated by the researcher.
Definition of terms
1. ROLE: Role according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (6 edition) is the degree to which somebody or something involved in a situation or an activity and the effect that they have on it.
2. MASS MEDIA: Defleui and Denhis (1981) defined mass media as the devices for moving messages across distance or time 10 accomplish mass communication. ACCEPTABILITY: Agreed or approved of by most people in a society
CANDIDATE: A nominee or aspirants for any position or honour.
ELECTION: Is a process of selecting one person or more for an office, : public or private, from a wider field of candidates.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary
This study used selected questions to attempt to discern Attitude of Nigerians to the role of Mass media in the enthronement of democracy since
1999. While the results are fascinating, they should not be generalized beyond the borders of the specific ethnic groups mentioned in this study. This is because
Nigeria's high ethnic diversity makes it impossible to attribute the characteristics of one group to another.
5.2 Recommendation
The researcher based on the information contained in the finding recommended as follows;
The mass media should ensure effectiveness in their role of upholding democracy. By so doing people of Iree community will have positive attitude to the role mass media in enthronement of democracy.
The role of Nigeria mass media in the enthronement of democracy has promoted culture exchange produced widespread uniformity in pattern of behaviour among the people of the community.
Nigeria mass media have gave access to different information at booth national and state level.
5.3 Conclusion
Conclusively, this study suggests that the peoples of Nigeria have a positive attitude towards the role of Nigerian mass media in the enthronement of democracy. This is due to the light of the numerous positive contributions that the Nigerian mass media have made to communication, cultural exchange and national integration. However, the mass media and Nigerians, regardless of patterns of social differentiation, have gained access to instantaneous, uniform and consistent information, both at the national and state levels. This has promoted cultural exchange, produced widespread uniformities in patterns of behavior among the population of the country and generally fostered the spirit of inter-ethnic understanding and cohesion.
.