Reporters Responsibilities And The Urban - Rural News Imbalances In Nigerian Newspapers

Academic writings are replete with studies on news imbalance. So much have been said about news imbalance in the international scenes. However, by writing this project, the researcher intends to look beyond the imbalance to the root cause. It is hoped that the information contained in this project will go a long way to correct the persistent problem of urban - rural news imbalance in Nigerian newspaper. Consequently, chapter one introduce this study as well as the theoretical frame work on which the study is based. In chapter two, the researcher gives an in-depth review of the works and studies done by the urban - rural imbalance. Chapter three simply states the method of study used to conduct t he study. Chapter four and five presented and analysed the data. Besides, the researcher drew some conclusions from the data presented and make appropriate recommendation.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

"Two powers which make modern society different from the previous one are the power of industrial technology and mass media of communication, of which the newspaper is a part . when Dexter (1964) made this statement, little did he know that the mass media of communication will create some problems for modern society.

However, this news and information from the mass media has never flowed in a balanced way. It has always been lopsided - this imbalance in information flow has been one pertinent issue both in international and national communication in the global scale, the information imbalance has reached the stage, according to Nwosu (1986) when "a demand for adrastic change I the present pattern of information flow between and among nations should gather momentum.

The third world nations are complaining that "not only is every little said about them but also that every little said about them but unfavourable". (Masmond,1979). Such information about the third world is usually about disaster, crime, coup detect tribal war. Etc.

This unequally distributed and badly used information /news made some see the reason to demand for the new world information and communication order (NWICO).

Sofar, so much effort and resources are being spent in the call for NWICO. The demand of the third world of which Nigeria is a part, for a balanced flow of information, is perhaps best delineated and forcefully argued in the so-called NWICO (mgbemena & Onwura, 1980).

Moreover, the western nations go to any length to defend their nations. Stephenson (1990), for instance, argued that "the attention given to disruptive news in the third world is characteristic of all, media system, particularly those of the third world it self.

In re - affirming what Stephenson said, meil (1990) says that if western journalism is quality of bias, sop is journalism all over the world. He said apply that "certainly much global coverage can be said to contain basis -but all reporting can be so indicated".

However, are the allegations of the western nations right? It is a fact that Nigeria is an outspoken nation among the third world nations demanding or this new balance and free flow of information between two parties.

The result of some researchers and expressed opinions did not exonerate Nigeria from the imbalance flow of information, which it accuses the western media of.

After all, imbalance flow of information has the same ill consequences, whether it is at international or inter - national levels. Imbalance within a nation is equally unacceptable as imbalance between nations (Agba,1997) one may ask, what is the situation of Nigerian journalism? Is it guilty of imbalance flow of information among and between different sectors of the country.

The Role of Newspapers in Rural Development

The print media of which newspapers is an outstanding parti-plays an important role in rural development. According to general system theory, which has an important influence on system level analysis of mass media effect, "social system"s usually change their structures to higher level of complexity (development) (cawallader, 1968). This process of elaboration according to general system theory "is a result of information exchange element of social systems" (DEUTCHE,1968).

Besides scramn (1972) described newspapers as a channel for informing, motivating, persuading, instructing and providing a means of a collective participation in development. Lasswell(12972) has identified it"s other basic functions to include the surveillance of the environment, correlating parts of the environment and the transmitting cultural breakage. "rural development, according to Okorie (1986) is predicted upon understanding the rural people, rural environment, and interaction of rural system brought about by "change agencies" incidentally the newspaper is among the change agencies.

It is obvious and beyond doubt that newspaper doubt that newspapers are important to national development and variably to rural development it all depends on the way the newspapers discharge their functions.

Unfortunately, the situation in Nigeria is not commendable. Although Nigeria is imbued with a passion for rapid national development and has embraced the notion that the mass media must be used and guided to promote national development, the newspaper (mass media) is still found wanting in this regard.

Lerner posted that mass media (newspapers) have a relationship with national development. He attached great importance to newspapers in nation -building process. It has been said that media development is "tied closely with a country"s development" (schramn, 1964).

However, our situation in Nigeria is pathetic. Our information officers, including newspapers managers, editor and reporters have not done well enough is sensitizing the people toward rural development, which constitute the center for national development programmes. A traditional view is that the resolution of social problems in rural areas is related to inputs of information. If a system sufficiently saturated with information. According to this view, "a general understanding will invariably lead to development of the system (Rogers, 1975).

With respect to Nigeria suleiman (1983) has noted that reading the Nigerian newspaper one will almost get the impression that outside the various states capitals and some local governments headquarters (urban areas) there are no more human habitations in the country" .

This is because the tendencies of the expense of the newspapers have always been to report the urban areas at the expense of the rural areas. This tendency has not helped to foster rural/national development in any way, because according to the population census figure of 1979 over 70 percent of Nigerians are rural dwellers. Oton (1978) observed that everywhere in the rural areas, development programme are going on that are never chronicled.

It is also alleged that Nigerian reporters, being urban-based tend to perceive the news different from the rural areas to urban cities. Often times news reports about rural areas to urban cities. Often times news reports about rural areas seem to concentrate on disasters, failures, disputes and the negative features. All of these are antithesis to rural and national development. The urban centrality of news has gotten to the stage when one has no choice but agree with Omu (1981) who pitied the realities for doing so much and getting so little from the Nigerian mass media (newspapers).

It is bad enough that the rural area seldom gets mentioned in the newspaper, but worst Dave (1970) said "people in the rural area are neither little nor invisible and are doing newsworthy things besides committing crimes.

It is as if the Nigerian reporters/editors forget that the content of communication of any given time reflects the value pattern of society (schramn, 1964). By removing almost in entirety rural news room the newspapers, it is as if the newsmen are telling the public that the rural areas are not important in national development.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In the international scene various reason have been proffered by the third world nations for their unyielding demand for a balanced information flow between them and the western nations. Firstly, the third world nations have realised the importance of information. Secondly, they have observed that the under reporting of the developing nations, distorts the image that others have about them.

However, according to Agba (1997: pg) the third world nations including Nigeria must show sincerity in their agitation for news balance by balancing news flow between urban and rural communities in their individual nation:

Ironically, inspite of their unyielding demand for balanced flow of news, no noticeable change have been observed in their national urban rural news imbalance. This is traceable to the failure of Nigerian newsmen and communication policy makers to integrate the rural populace through banked information flow. This study intends to find out the extent of the coverage of rural areas vis-Ã -vis the urban areas.

Besides, there is an apprehension that dwindling government ownership of newspaper in Nigeria poses a threat to the integration of the rural populace in the news content of newspapers. This encourages the super imposition of the urban populace.

Furthermore, the responsibility of Nigerian newsmen in this news imbalance is one problem that this study intends to sole.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are;

To find out the causes of the prevailing news imbalance and see whether newsmen are to blame.

To ascertain the relationship between reporters responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspapers

To ascertain the effect of urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspaper

To ascertain whether rural areas are being covered negatively than urban cities.

1.4 Research Hypotheses

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0: there are no causes of the prevailing news imbalance and see whether newsmen are to blame.
H1: there are causes of the prevailing news imbalance and see whether newsmen are to blame.

H02: there is no effect of urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspaper
H2: there is effect of urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspaper

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is important to our present day Nigerian society where 80 percent of the total populations are in the rural areas. Schramn (1975) once said, "the content of communication at any given time reflects the value pattern of society". It is hoped that this study will proffer some useful suggestions on how to include the majority of Nigerians in the newspaper rather than just a few elites. Besides, for our demand for NWICO to be met and to benefit the majority, there is need for this imbalance between urban and rural areas to be dismantled. This study will help develop a new national information and communication order for Nigeria. This seems to be the first step in the right direction, if NWICO must be realized. Further, the information contained in this research will provide handy reference materials for all communication policy - makers.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the study covers reporter"s responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigerian newspaper. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

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.

c) Organizational Privacy:

Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Reporter:

A journalist is a person who collects, writes, or distributes news or other current information to the public. A journalist"s work is called journalism. A journalist can work with general issues or specialize in certain issues

Urban:

Urban means "related to cities." It may refer to: Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas. Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities, sometimes used as a euphemism for African-American culture

Rural:

In general, a rural area or countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities.

Imbalance:

Lack of proportion or relation between corresponding things.

Newspaper:

A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events. The journalism organizations that publish newspapers are themselves often metonymically called newspapers. Newspapers have traditionally been published in print (usually on cheap, low-grade paper called newsprint).

1.8 Organization of the Study

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

Chapter one is concern 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

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain reporter"s responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigerian newspapers. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of reporter"s responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigerian newspapers

5.2 Summary

This study was on reporter"s responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigerian newspapers. Four objectives were raised which included: To find out the causes of the prevailing news imbalance and see whether newsmen are to blame, to ascertain the relationship between reporters responsibilities and the urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspapers, to ascertain the effect of urban-rural news imbalances in Nigeria newspaper, to ascertain whether rural areas are being covered negatively than urban cities. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected newspapers in Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made production managers, editors, news correspondents and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

5.3 Conclusion

The information flow pattern between urban and rural areas vis-Ã -vis development in Nigeria, has become pertinent to look within and be more conscious of internal information flow chart before taking the agitation to international level. The fact remains that the internal information structure is weak; therefore, the struggles be balance in information circle should start at home (Rural) and urban areas in (Nigeria). National Development can only be achieved in a society, where there is both quantitative and qualitative information, which is available and accessible to the majority people. The Daily Sun and The Guardian carry rural news through insignificant compare to urban news. This negates the principle of development communication. Development communication indicates the overall contribution of communication to the development of society (communication in the service of development). Or sometimes to highlight the use of the media to deal with development themes (media products); it generally refers the planned use of strategies and processes of communication aimed at achieving development. Newspaper informs and educates their readers by publishing their news stories on their pages in accordance with the ethics of journalism and; they play an increasingly valuable role in explaining, interpreting and commenting upon events in society, especially when broad debates on rural-urban information flow is taking place.

5.4 Recommendation

It is recognized that newspapers are different from other industries because of the special nature of their activities and products. Through, it is through the newspaper that symbolic culture is communicated; through them, societal values and ways of making sense of everyday lies and culture are disseminated. 40 Also, it becomes pertinent and imperative that a national information and communication policy should be formed. This will be an open-aided conceptual and operational framework which may direct the communication practitioners towards cataloguing and defining the problems affecting the building of a freer, more just, more effective and better balanced rural-urban information flow in Nigeria. This policy will facilitate coherent discussion at the national level by focusing it initially on the more urgent and practicable tasks. In reality, it is a matter of initiating a long-tern process at the national level involving not only those primarily a long-tern process at the national level involving not only those primarily concerned but all the stakeholders in the communication industries; and equally, geared towards academic discussions and more to effective and practical actions. Many people have come to realize that balancing the rural-urban information flow dichotomy is very vital to development communication. It at the level of this aiming at achieving development that the differences abounds: extend participation to decision making and strengthen community institutions; compensate for gaps in terms of attitude and information; produce a consensus among the participants in a development initiative, and promote social justice and methodological approaches, however, it may underscore that the lessons from experience in this field have demonstrated the importance of emphasizing interactive and participatory processes, rather than the production and dissemination of separates from the community processes.

• Reporters Responsibilities And The Urban �" Rural News Imbalances In Newspapers

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials