Influence Of Photographs In Newspaper Production

This study was carried out to examine the influence of photographs in newspaper production using Punch newspaper, Lagos State as a case study. The study was specifically carried out to determine the extent photograph are utilized in Newspaper production in Nigeria, find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria, find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production captures and sustains the attention of the newspaper"s readers in Nigeria, and find out whether photojournalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of photojournalist of Punch newspaper, Lagos State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 53 respondents and 50 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables. While the hypotheses were tested using Chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria. The study also revealed that Journalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion. Therefore, it is recommended that the media house should appropriately train their photojournalists in line with the requirements of photojournalism and the journalists in turn should have sense of responsibility and professionalism in quest of their duty. To mention but few.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

According to Walter (2012) the mass media has evolved significantly over time, before there was no the internet, television, or the radio but there was the newspaper. the newspaper was the original or platform for mass media. For a long period of time, the public relied on writers and journalists for the local newspaper to provide them with latest news in current events. Print media are over the years competing and struggling to survive and one basic tactic newspapers and magazines often used to put message across is the use of photographs to draw reader"s attention. Photographs are used extensively by newspapers and magazines to convey information and advertise products and services. Graphics especially photographs at glance trap the readers. If a photo is interesting enough, the reader will stop to it and read the caption and if the interest stays there the title of the article is read next. If the beginning of the article is catching enough the reader will read all of it. (Isamuko, 2010). In conclusion only few of readers read an article but almost all the photos get noticed. Photos are of primary importance when selling magazine. The photos are actually newspapers and magazines marketing device (Akinrosoye, 2011).

Print media (newspapers and magazine) are over the years competing and struggling to survive and one of tactics that newspapers and magazines have often used to put message across is by employing photographs. Therefore, photographs are used extensively by newspapers and magazines to convey information and advertise products and services.

Photography extends human vision into the realm of objects that are invisible because they are too small or too distant, or events that occur too rapidly for the naked eye to detect. A camera can be used in locations too dangerous for humans. Photographs can also be objects of art that explore the human condition and provide aesthetic pleasure. For millions of people, photography is a satisfying hobby or a rewarding career. The public wants to spend more time with pictures than text, and the immediacy and availability of photography makes that possible.

Consumers want a photo with every story they read, but it can cause strong emotions since a photograph can tell an entire story.

On the other hand, photojournalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of news material for publication) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism. According to Isamuko (2013), photojournalism basically involves photo reporting, that is, reporting with the aid of meaningful and action photographs. Photojournalism is well depicted by taking action photographs of events.

In essence, the photojournalist only takes part of the whole and not the whole itself. These photographs are expected to tell stories and they are essentially used in magazines and newspapers. A media reporter uses a tape recorder or pen and paper to record newsworthy events. A photojournalist uses a camera to capture such events. Both of them work to achieve a common goal to inform, to educate, and to entertain the public. Photojournalism is communication through photography. It requires a sense of journalism as well as ability to handle the camera. You tell the story with photograph and the story must be told clearly. It is against this background that the research examines the influence of photographs in newspaper production.

1.2 Statement of Problem

There is no doubt about the fact that graphics especially take two dimensions in newspaper either tell the story in all (Stand Alone Photo) or to complement story. It is important to realize that for information or photographs to have any substantial impact, influence and effect on the readers it must be well snapped and pass message. According to Mitchell (2001), the visual elements of news and advertisement may affect perception and attitudes in at least two ways. First, consumers might make presumptions about the news or advert based on the graphic information presented.These presumptions may "result in the formation or change of beliefs about the published information" (Mitchell, 2001,). Second, if the graphic element is positively or negatively evaluated, it might affect a brand attitude operating through perception towards the news and information. In essence, the valence of a photograph can significantly influence a consumer"s perception towards information. More often, graphics element is constantly used in newspaper production with a view of providing the readers the vivid information. Despite the fact that photojournalists are using their cameras to tell stories by bringing the source of the events closest to their readers in Red paper newspaper,yet it needs to be interpreted most of the time even the STAND ALONE PHOTO need some wording to accompany it, called caption. However, a good photograph without caption may mean little or meaning to some readers.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main aim of this study is to examine the influence of photographs in newspaper production. Other aims of this study are:

Determine the extent photograph are utilized in Newspaper production in Nigeria.

Find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria.

Find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production captures and sustains the attention of the newspaper"s readers in Nigeria.

Find out whether photojournalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will be answered in this study:

To what extent photograph are utilized in Newspaper production in Nigeria?

Does the use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria?

Does the use of photograph in Newspaper production captures and sustains the attention of the newspaper"s readers in Nigeria?

Is photojournalism an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Ho: Photojournalism is not an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion.

Ha: Photojournalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion.

1.6 Significance of the Study

It is expected that at the end of this study, it will update knowledge within the framework of the study. Particularly, it will assist photojournalists to discover more of their uniqueness in the day to activities of newspaper production.
It will reveal to the media practitioners especially photojournalist on the benefit of photograph to readers. It will assist the photojournalists to know their role in keeping public informed through their camera.

Professionals and students of mass communication, marketing, fine art, visual communication and other related field will know the role of photographs in newspaper and book and get familiar with how it can be blend with other design element in newspaper.

It will further enable other researchers to continue from the aspect which this study has not covered as it will also serve as reference materials for future researchers who may want to expand or explore on study relating to this work.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the influence of photographs in newspaper production. Hence, this study will be delimited to Punch newspaper, Lagos State.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

In the cause of the study, there were some factors which limited the scope of the study:

Availability of Research Material:

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

Time Constraints:

The researcher was involved in other departmental activities like seminars, attendance of lectures et.c which limited her time for the research but the researcher was able to meet up with the time assigned for the completion of the research work.

Financial Constraints:

The researcher was with limited funds, he cannot visit all the areas to get responses from respondents but she was able to get good information concerning the research topic

Attitude of Respondents:

The attitude of the respondents to the study was not encouraging and this affected the study.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Photographs:

In this study, photographs are images or pictures use in newspaper usually to compliment news stories.

Newspaper:

It is a medium for disseminating information to the masses which is printed daily to inform, entertain and educate the public.

1.10 Organizations of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on influence of photographs in newspaper production using Punch newspaper, Lagos State as a case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was to examine the influence of photographs in newspaper production using Punch newspaper, Lagos State as a case study. The study was specifically carried out to determine the extent photograph are utilized in Newspaper production in Nigeria, find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria, find out whether the use of photograph in Newspaper production captures and sustains the attention of the newspaper"s readers in Nigeria, and find out whether photojournalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 50 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent were Journalist of Punch newspaper, Lagos State.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;

The extent photograph are utilized in Newspaper production in Nigeria.

The use of photograph in Newspaper production increases Newspaper consumption in Nigeria.

The use of photograph in Newspaper production captures and sustains the attention of the newspaper"s readers in Nigeria.

Photojournalism is an effective tool for news communication, information dissemination and persuasion of public opinion.

5.4 Recommendations

The followings recommendations are hereby given as a result of the findings from the study:

The media house should appropriately train their photojournalists in line with the requirements of photojournalism and the journalists in turn should have sense of responsibility and professionalism in quest of their duty.

Graphic newspapers should place their independent pictures in such a way that it will not contradict the news stories placed around it

The newspapers should give prominence to the use of candid pictures as it is capable of showing the reader the action in the event and story.

Graphic newspapers sustain the reporting of more local news than foreign news as this will go a long way in reducing the level of internet pictures used in the newspaper

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Content

List of Tables

Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Research Hypothesis

1.6 Significance of the Study

1.7 Scope of the Study

1.8 Limitation of the Study

1.9 Definition of Terms

1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample Size Determination

3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure

3.5 Research Instrument and Administration

3.6 Method of Data Collection

3.7 Method of Data Analysis

3.8 Validity of the Study

3.9 Reliability of the Study

3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation

4.2 Analysis of Data

4.3 Answering Research Questions

4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

• Influence Of Photographs On Readers Of The Nigerian Observer Newspaper

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials