Attitude Of Nigerians To The Role Of Mass Media In The Enthronement Of Democracy

Attitude can be seen as an inner emotion exhibited towards a physical object. The essence of this study was to assess the attitude of Nigerians to the role of mass media in the enthronement of democracy. The study examined the roles of the mass media towards democracy; it also examined the mass media objectivity in its reports. The study made use of descriptive survey method of analysis. The study formulated the tested hypothesis using the Statistical package for Social Science with Chi-square as its major. The study found that Nigerians has positive attitude towards the mass media. However, the massmedia has not maintained objectivity as its independence is still in doubt. The study recommends total independence for the mass media and media policy regulations to avoid biased information.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

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 gate keeping 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

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: The mass media has not contributed to the promotion of democracy in Nigeria.
H1: The Mass media has not contributed to the promotion of democracy in Nigeria.

H0: The Mass Media has not influenced the decision of Nigerians in their perception towards democracy in Nigeria.
H1: The Mass Media has influenced the decision of Nigerians in their perception towards democracy in 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.

1.8. Definition of Terms

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.

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, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to reiterate that the objective of this study was to assess the attitude of Nigerians to the role of mass media in the enthronement of democracy.

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given.

In this chapter, certain recommendations are made which in the opinion of the researcher are drawn from the findings of the study.

5.2 Summary

The study has tried to assess the attitude of Nigerians to the role of mass media in the enthronement of democracy. The study introduced the problem in the first chapter by stating the problem, study objectives and the research question. The chapter also formulated the hypothesis which will be tested using the chi-square. A literature review was undertaken in the second chapter where the role of the mass media was examined and the functions x-rayed. The third chapter described the study"s methodology and research design. The fourth chapter analyzed and presented the data collected from the third chapter.

5.3 Conclusions and Recommendations

The Media can make full use of their potential to contribute to the consolidation of democracy if their rights are protected. Moreover they need to have the requisite skills for the kind of textured and in-depth reporting that new democracies require. Because the media are powerful, there should also be mechanisms to ensure they are held accountable to the public and that ethical and professional standards are upheld. Media independence is guaranteed if media organizations are financially viable, free from the intervention of media owners and operate in a competitive media environment. Finally, the media"s power is enhanced if they have broad reach in, and support from, society.

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