Comperative Analysis Of Sellect Print Media Coverage On Industrial And Political Issues

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

The print media plays a vital role in the development process of a country. The print media is generally regarded as a channel of communication that is capable of reaching heterogeneous audience simultaneously with uniform message. They regularly cover all sorts of issues such as health, music, fine art, crime, sport, entertainment, industrial, political event among others (Meyer, 2012, Soela 2014). The print media transmits idea and new information to target audience in the society.

Tosanisunmi, (2012) has observed that the print media educates inform and entertain beyond these functions as they also persuade and catalyze for social mobilization. In other words, the print media can be regarded as a powerful service of information because they have the capability to penetrate every segment of the society having the ability to disseminate messages about issue, ideas and product

Furthermore, the print media has that capability to create awareness and knowledge about issues of national interest. The traditional print media usually consist of newspaper and magazine while the news media involves the internet technologies contextually; these media have the responsibility to mobilize for national development. Social mobilization for development largely depends on the media for success. Crusade for change and dissemination of useful information against industrial and political issues depends on the print media. These information includes information against corruption, bad governance and terrorism. Ogwezzy (2010) states that it is a common knowledge that the media is the engine of mass communication and the avenue through which the public could be reached easily. In the other hand, election is an important element of democracy: elections enable the individual to express a sense of belonging to a political system. Elections provide forum for the discussion 0f public opinion on important issue. Election allows an exchange of influence between leaders and the electorate (Nwaozuzu 2013). This statement captures the relevant function of the print media in the elections which serves as a tool of mobilizing all the different people in the society and at the same time helps to co-ordinate the activities as they are made to express their views about candidates contesting for political position.

The prints media through its programmed creates avenue through which the people express their views about candidate. There are many editorial features straight news stories and cartoons that have made people pass on tropical political and industrial issues. Also, the print media (newspaper and magazine) provide platforms through which individuals or members of the society contribute on issues of public interest through feedback
Ebo (2013) maintain that the print media play decisive roles in the lives of the citizens no matter where they are located and whatever their stage of development. The print media are the most potent and sensitive sector of communication industry considering the reach and influence they have on their viewers and listeners.

This statement succinctly explains which relevance the print media is to all the components of the society, the power it acquired from it inception not only during political campaigns. It is the power that grants it the ability to mobilize people and make them participate in mass in political and industrial processes. The media force attends to certain issues, they build up images of political figures, and they are constantly presenting objects, suggesting what individuals should think about, know about, and have feeling about, etc, concerning political and industrial issues.
This means that the dominate thought people carry about, is influenced by the media’s constant projection of their thought especially concerning the electoral process.

The print media has the power to affect the behavior of people in the society to a great extent having this power therefore, it will not be out of place to say that, the failure and success of every electoral process lies largely in the hands of the print media as it determines if the electoral process will fail or succeed. However, it is important to note that, indeed the print media has every a strong role to play in politics/elections. To this burns, the media in a civilized society occupy a very important and powerful position with capacity that can easily influence the opinion of the masses as it is expected to be the condolence of the people where divergent views are expressed in order to serve as a check against autocratic and totalitarian role.

1.2 Statement of Problem

The role of the media in every society is often to educate, inform and enlighten. It is assumed that, where these roles are adequately carried out, elections are bound to be free and fair. However, in Nigeria, several elections have been marred.

Print media coverage of industrial and political issues by Nigeria newspapers have not been fully undertaken as it could have been. Therefore, this research work, seeks to compare the print media reportage on political and industrial issues in punch and the nations newspapers.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objective for which this study is intended to undertake is a comparative analysis of select print media of industrial and political issues are to:

Find out the prominence given by the print media on industrial and political issues;

Find out the slant/direction of the print media report on industrial and political issues;

Find out the volume of coverage given to industrial and political issues;

Find out the volume of reportage given to the industrial and political issues by punch and the Nations newspapers.

1.4 Research Question

The research questions formulated for this study were:

Did the select print media give prominence to industrial and political issues?

What is the slant/direction of the print media’s report on industrial and political issues?

What is the volume of coverage given to industrial and political issues?

What is the volume of reportage given to industrial and political issues?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study becomes very significant because it will enable the print media re-assess industrial and political issues. The masses will be able to compare the pattern of coverage of select print media on industrial and political issues as the study intends to highlight more on print issues. In addition, it intends to add more to academic growth since it will be useful to researchers. However, this means that at the end of the study, students of mass communication, print experts, newspaper readers, and other interested persons and management of print media shall add knowledge to themselves. Therefore, on the completion of this project, the end result will benefit academics, students of communication studies and other researchers that may want to carry out further research on this study as print experts shall develop news skill in covering news on industrial and political issues.

1.6 Delimitation of the Study

The study scope shall be focused and limited to select print media analysis of coverage on industrial and political issues. Specifically, the study will examine how punch and the Nations newspapers have so far covered news on industrial and political issues and also having a comparative analysis between them.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

The research work may be faced with time and fund constraints being an academic based research. The time allocated for this study is not enough as in combining the work on this study with daily academic routine. Also, the study will be limited to some areas due to the problems of funds. Shortage of texts, journals and information relevant to the study

1.8 Definition of Terms

In respect to this study the following terms are to be defined:

Analysis:

This is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts in order to gain a better understanding of it. This technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle (384 – 322 B.c), though analysis as a formal concept is relatively recent development. print media coverage
This process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations. In other words, it refers to an intensive study in which a subject matter is discussed. print media coverage

Print Media:

This is a medium that disseminates information of news in a printed form. The print media is composed of newspapers, news letters, wire services, magazines and other publications. This industry is associated with the printing and distribution of news through newspapers and magazines. Print media also refers to paper publications circulated in the form of physical editions of books, magazines, journals and newsletters. print media coverage

Political Issues:

This means anything that has to do with the government; this could involve changing laws and making it better for the public. This political issue may include issues related to party politics or political system or social environment of a country as determined and related to the public. print media coverage

Communication:

This means the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing or using some other medium in transferring information from one person or group to another. Communication is elemental to human existence. No human association can cohere without communication. It is the sharing of meaning, messages, ideas, thoughts, information and experiences with one’s self, with another individual, with a group or with the mass of people.
Communication is continuous and dynamic; therefore the continuous study of mass communication and it measurable impact on people and the society becomes expedient. print media coverage