Scholars Perception of News Commercialization on Broadcast Media Content
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the perception of scholars on News Commercialization
- To examine the extent to which news commercialisation influences objectivity, fairness, balance and truth in reporting
- To ascertain whether commercialised media are profit-oriented rather than audience needs according to scholars
- To ascertain whether news commercialization has damaged the traditional role of the media as servers of the public interest according to scholars
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual review
Meaning of News
News according to the advanced learner’s dictionary means, a new or fresh information, reports of recent events. It has so many different definitions. From different authors and scholars.
Prominence deals on the well known people (important personalities), institutions in the society etc. proximity bothers on the events that happened within the locality of the audience. Timeliness means that news should be reported to the public which it is fresh e as soon as it unfolds lest it become stale news.
Novelty means the unusual or odd issues that happened in the society (oddity). Human interest has to do with stories that most often touch human feelings.
However, news gathering is a work of mass media who cover the most interesting stories events in society on behalf of the public, it later publish or broadcast such to the public again after refine it.
Mass Media:
Mass Media Can be explained as a means or channels through which messages or information are transferred or disseminate to a wider and larger heterogeneous audience who are residing in a diverse location such channels are usually categorized into two I.e. electronic or broadcast media represented by the radio and television while the print media is represented by newspapers and magazine.
Newspaper- This is a daily record of events. It is a journal that reports daily occurrences. It is published and circulated daily. According to Section2 of the Newspaper Act of 1958, A Newspaper can be defined as any paper containing public news, intelligence or any remarks, observations and comments, thereon printed for sale and published.
Magazine- This is a paper covered periodicals containing stories, particles, advertisements, photographs and others illustrations supplied by writers and other for publication.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to scholars’ perception of news commercialization on broadcast media content.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in gathering information relevant to scholars’ perception of news commercialization on broadcast media content. 100 staffs of department of mass communication Art and 100 students of department of mass communication arts of Ogun state University were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
One hundred and sixty (160) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and forty (133) were returned. This figure was the sample size. Out of the one hundred and thirty-three, only one hundred and twenty (120) were properly responded to. As a result, the researcher used one hundred and twenty for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain scholars’ perception of news commercialization on broadcast media content. 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 news commercialization on broadcast media
Summary
This study was on scholars’ perception of news commercialization on broadcast media content. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the perception of scholars on News Commercialization, to examine the extent to which news commercialization influences objectivity, fairness, balance and truth in reporting, to ascertain whether commercialized media are profit oriented rather than audience need according to scholars and to ascertain whether news commercialization has damaged the traditional role of the media as servers of the public interest according to scholars. In line with these objectives, four research questions were formulated and answered. The total population for the study is 100 staffs of mass communication art department and 100 students of department of mass communication art. 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 senior lecturers, junior lecturers, final year students and year three students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The broadcast media organizations are undeniably expected to protect the public interest of their audiences. However, it is observed that recent journalism practice in Nigeria is plagued with the malaise of news commercialization. The implication being that it is only the rich that can get their ideas communicated to the public. Although commercialization of media industry is not a new phenomenon, but it is one that has accelerated. News commercialization means that news has become a commodity, which can be bought by those who have the money so their voices can be heard. But, commercialization of news in not in the best interest of journalism practice neither is it in the best interest of the people, who are being short changed in the quality of the news information they are provided, the access they are given, the diversity provided. Although there are divergent opinions between those for and against on the issue. It is the contention of the researcher that news commercialization under any guise should be condemned, exposed and curtailed for the interest of the public.
Recommendation
The following recommendations are suggested as a way forward in dealing with negative consequences of news commercialization.
- Media professional bodies should be serious in maintaining ethics in the media industry by sanctioning defaulting journalists to ensure that journalism practitioners adhere to laid down codes of practice.
- The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other media professional bodies should ensure that there is real unionism in the profession by ensuring that journalists‟ rights are not trampled upon. These bodies should also put in place a mechanism for the negotiation of a better pay package for journalists.
- Sound education and professional training of journalists should be provided this will serve as a good antidote for solving the problem of news commercialization. The acquisition of sound education has a way of giving the journalist a self-worth, which makes him look beyond unlawful avenues of getting gratifications. Ethically-oriented training and socialization of the journalists will readily expose them to the inherent pitfalls that are associated with the acceptance of bribe and the need to resist the urge.
- Improved pay package for journalists: It is a common knowledge that a great percentage of journalists fall prey to monetary inducements because they are not well paid, even when their job is a daunting and risky one. This makes them susceptible to easy lobby by members of the society. Should media owners increase the pay package of the journalists, starting with the cub reporters, the incidence of brown envelope will be reduced.
References
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