ABSTRACT
The mass media have continued to be at the epicenter
of information dissemination and distribution. The power wielded by
professional journalists and media professionals in any society can be
enormous; this why media operations and professional journalism practice have
constantly witnessed many undue repressions, interferences, and in many occasions,
controls from media owners and government. The reality of this phenomenon is
that, the practices of journalism and media objectivity are continually called
into question. Therefore, in order to clearly spell out the effect of ownership
influence, this study ventures into assessing the effects of ownership on
professional journalism practice in Nigeria, comparing such effect on private
(Dream FM, Enugu) and public owned media (EBBC Ebonyi) houses. The population
of this study was derived from the two state and the sample (385) was generated
using the Australian calculator. Survey and in-depth interview were used to
gather data in this study. The findings revealed that 299 respondents
representing 77.7% of the sample size admitted that they noticed differences in
the stations’ programme presentation. Also, 330, representing 85.7% of the
sample size believed ownership influence on the two stations is high, to find
out whether dream FM and EBBC media professionals enjoy same amount of
editorial freedom, 322 or 83.6% respondents believed that there exist
discrepancies in the level of freedom enjoyed in the private and government
stations. The study further revealed that media professionals are under owners’
whims, majority representing 83.1% support this claim. In order to reduce
ownership influence and control, the study suggested that media operations
should democratized, the liberalization of media operations should be enforced
through streamlining the FOIA; encouragement of social responsibility and media
regulatory bodies are to ensure strict compliance to the ethical codes guiding
media operations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Definition of Terms
References
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Focus of Review
2.1.2 The Review of Related Literatures
2.1.3 Media Ownership and Control in Nigeria: A Historical Analysis
2.1.4 Media Ownership and Influence ov Various Media Operations
2.1.5 Ethical Implications of Media Ownership in Nigeria
2.1.6 Importance of Press Freedom
in Forestalling Undue Control of the Media
2.1.7 A Case for Responsible
Press in Nigeria
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.2.1 Social Responsibility Theory (SRT)
2.2.2 Public Interest Theory
References
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size
3.4 Sampling Technique
3.5 Measuring Instrument
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Validity of Instrument
3.8 Reliability of Instrument
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
3.10 Limitation of the Study
References
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND
ANALYSIS
4.1 Data Presentation
4.1.1 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
Bibliography
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
The mass media are fundamental
in ensuring purposeful and peaceful co-existence in the society. They are
indispensable to the success of most human endeavours. Through their
agenda-setting role, the mass media set the hierarchy of current issues,
determine the extent of transmission and establish the terms of reference and
limits of debate, which ultimately influence people’s actions, reactions,
decisions and judgements on the issues so raised. However, the current trend in
mass media practice has raised a controversy as to who really set the agenda –
the media professionals or owners? (Nkereuwem, U., Nsikan, S., &Godspower
U., 2014)
The media serve as the conduit
for the various forms of interaction among the different facets of the society.
The strings of the interaction are normally controlled by many variables, such
as the legal, ethical, political, socio-cultural, technological and economic
factors. DeFleur (1989) points out that the interaction is necessary so that
certain unacceptable and disruptive behaviours are not exhibited in the
society.
Emphasizing
the influence of information in any human society, Daramola (1999:4) states
that “it is now known to possess the capacity to shape the views and mould the
minds of the people, to influence course of events and to pressure authority”.
Okunna(1999:108) posits that “the information function of the mass media is all
embracing and indispensable for the meaningful existence of members of the
society”. In the same vein, Udoakah (2006:78) added that:
Over
the years, there had been popular demands for the freedom of the press for some
reasons. Such reasons include the belief that the press incorporating all the
Therefore, control through
ownership is a fact that has become the current reality of the media in every
society. However, the nature of this control usually varies greatly, depending
on the public system, the orientation of the political leaders in control of
government, prevailing political climate, the caliber of media proprietors
running the affairs of the enterprise, and or the communication professionals.
On the other hand, media control may depend on the economic situation of the
mass media and their stated objectives and policies.(Olayinka, 2014; Onabanjo,
2001:33).
The above
positions and opinions by these numerous communication scholars demonstrate
adequately the enormous powers of information in any society. Thus, the
ownership of the institution of mass media responsible for gathering and
distribution of information should be the cynosure of both the media
stakeholders and the general public (Woods, 2006:2)
In Nigeria, there are three
main types of media ownership; namely: government ownership, private ownership
and partnership. In the case of government ownership, the government
establishes, controls and finances the media outfit. Private ownership is when
an individual or a group of people establish, control and finance the media
outfit. In partnership, both government and private individuals are into some
sort of co-ownership (Onukaba, 2005:3)
According to
Ukonu (2005:35), “the history of Nigerian press can broadly be divided into
four segments; these are the era of missionary journalism, the era of alien
dominated press, the emergence of the indigenous press and the dawn of modern
Nigerian newspapers”.
It is noteworthy to mention that
ownership of media organization and the practice of
journalism
in any of these periods were faced with difficulties. This was expectedly so because
of
the harsh socio-political and economic milieu in which they operated.Anyanwu
(1992:3)
captures
this situation vividly when he states:
These early Nigerian newspapers
were economically weak because their circulation was limited by low literacy,
poor communication network, general poverty among the people and the political
mood of the time which reflected largely in the treatment of the news by the
newspapers. Since a majority of these newspapers received no subsidies from
government, their earning capacity was limited and, consequently, their growth
as business enterprise was adversely affected and, in some cases, completely
crippled.
The
government was not
fully involved in
media ownership until
after political
independence.Nigerian
media witnessed a dramatic change in terms of orientation when the
government
entered the industry. The period between 1960 and 1966 saw the emergence of
many
government owned newspapers, among them was the Morning Post established by the
administration
of Tafawa Belewa for the purpose of providing adequate and better and better
publicity
for its activities.....
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