Attitude Of Mass Communication Students Towards Journalism As A Career

The researcher in this work focused on the Attitude of Mass Communication Students towards Journalism As a career. It is believed that majority of Mass Communication students from different higher institutions in Nigeria no longer have the zeal to practice their journalism profession. This is why the researcher dimmed it fit to research into the Image of Mass Communication Students. Research question are constructed to guide the researcher in the study. Relevant related literatures are reviewed to show that similar research work has been carried out, and a theoretical framework has been discussed to support the study. Survey method was adopted and this made it possible for the researcher to select an appropriate sample size of 133. The researcher adopted a simple percentage and frequency table with simple descriptive analysis to explain the tables. Hypotheses which are formed from the research questions are tested to enable the researcher know if certain claims made on this work received statistical support or not. At the end of the study the researcher was able to draw a conclusion and make suitable recommendations based on findings.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Journalism is the collection, preparation and distribution of News and related commentary and feature materials through such media as pamphlet, Newsletter, magazines, radio, motion pictures, television, Bill Boards the internet and Books.

Journalism according to World Book encyclopedia (Vol. 11) is the profession of recording events they may be of interest to the public. It is therefore both World-wide in scope and as limited as the territory covered by the smallest weekly paper. Men and women who are engaged in this tremendous News gatherings task call themselves journalists and such modern journalists use every means of communication to report the News of the world to Newspaper, Magazine and the New Rooms of Radio and Television.

According to Lambenr and Lambenr (1964), an Attitude is a composite of how a person understands, feel about and act towards the given object person or issues, events and objects.

The earliest known Journalists product was a News sheet in Ancient Rome called the ACTA DIURNAL published daily from 59BC, it was hung in prominent places and recorded important social and political events. Journalism in the 20th century was marked by a growing sense of professionalism. In our society today it has been observed that student journalists have negative attitude towards taking Journalism as a career.

This Negative attitude of student journalists is highly reflected in the Number of mass media houses. Almost all institution of higher learning in Nigeria offer Mass Communication courses leading to the awards of various degrees and certificates, including National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor and Master Degrees. The increase in the number of graduates from all these institution is not reflected in the media of communication in the country.

Each year, hundreds of students graduate as Mass Communicators. A close look shows that the Numbers of Journalist students is decreasing, but in the field today, a good number of these graduates are not seen working in the various media houses scatted all over the country. Reference to the convocation booklets from these schools revealed that good Number of Mass Communication students graduated from those schools. In recent years, Media houses in the Western countries lack trained journalist in the various communication activities. Invariably, it has been the same in Nigeria and this could be seen in most cases of the media houses in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

By virtue of their level of influence on society, mass communicators are supposed to be one of the best-trained professionals. But unfortunately, practical evidence shows that they are not. Journalism is a very highly essential and sensitive service to the society that training should be the best and the concern of all in the society. It is one profession that Practitioners cannot hide from the glare of the society. The society relies on it for further education, continuous and continual information and entertainment (Daramola, 1990:30). While it will be redundant to ask other professional groups what they studied, such question is far from being obvious in the case of journalism in Nigeria. The continuing dilemma for those pushing for professional status for journalism to note that it has no single set of procedure or requirement for certifying its practitioners. Moreover, as we shall see later on, there is little agreement among those current practitioners and the training institutions as to how specifically to go about becoming a mass communicator. The statement of the problem is that intending journalists no longer have the flare to practice journalism due to the problems stated above.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objectives of the study are;

To find out if the hazard of journalism as a career scare students away from the profession.

To find out if lack of learning facilities in our universities scare students away from choosing journalism as a career.

To find out possible solutions to the poor attitude of students to journalism profession in Nigeria vis a vis their counterparts in other countries.

1.4 Research Hypotheses

Hypotheses One

Ho: the hazard of journalism as a career does not scare students away from the profession.

Hi: the hazard of journalism as a career scares students away from the profession.

Hypotheses Two

Ho: lack of learning facilities does not discourage students from studying mass communications.

Hi: lack of learning facilities discourages students from studying mass communications.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The significance can be seen in the fact that there will be an addition to a body of relevant literature in mass communication practice that would be a reference point for reading and research.

This study will be of immense benefits to the female journalists because a lot of people are being baffled over the issue why students do not take up journalism as a career after studies. It has really agitated the minds of some professionals and has equally created a lot of controversy. The researcher therefore has deemed it fit to find out the reason for such negative attitude of females towards journalism.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study is primary concerned with attitude of mass communication students towards journalism. This study/project work Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are not limited to the following

a) Availability of Research Material:

The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) Time:

The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Study:

It is an act of considering or examining something in detail. It can also be said to be a piece of research that examines a subject or question in detail.

Attitude:

This is a way of feeling or your -opinion about something or somebody.

Female:

It is a situation of being a women or girl.

Mass:

A large Number of people in a community, society and nation.

Communication:

Method of sending information to a large number of people, especially through Television, Radio, Computers, Newspaper, Magazine Etc.

Students:

These are group of people who are studying at a university or colleges.

Towards:

This is in relation to something or somebody or in the direction of something.

Journalism:

It is a new effort in reporting in which professional communicators use social research method together, interpret and vividly present information to the target audience. Journalism is therefore, the science of reporting.

Career:

It is the job or series of jobs that you do during your working life, especially if you continue to get more money.

1.8 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concerned with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.

Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.

Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.

Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.

Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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