Media Coverage of Child Right and Protection Issues in Akwa Ibom State With Use of Selected Media in Akwa Ibom State
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study is to find out media coverage of child right and protection issues in Akwa Ibom state, Using AKBC as a case study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the level of broadcast media coverage of child related issues in AKBC.
- To identify the issues (themes) that are reported on children.
- To establish the extent of media coverage given to child rights and protection issues in AKBC
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
introduction
Nwodu & Ezeoke (2012) studied the Press Coverage of Children’s and Women’s Rights in Nigeria aimed at ascertaining the nature, frequency, and volume of coverage given to issues relating to women and children’s rights in the Nigerian news media. The results showed that issues relating to the rights of women and children were poorly covered and denied prominent positioning in the Nigerian press. Furthermore, Cheit (2003) examined the amount and content of all media coverage of child molestation defendants in one Rhode Island newspaper over five years. Among Cheit’s results, he found over 50 percent of the defendants’ cases not covered by the media at all, and he identified a few key aspects of the case he thought were likely led to covered: first-degree or multiple charges; multiple victims; additional violence; and long prison sentences. However, Cheit found coverage of the cases was minimal and were rarely detailed. Kunkel, Smith, Suding, and Biely (2002) looked at the coverage of five child-related topics: child abuse and neglect, childcare, child health insurance, teen childbearing, and youth crime and violence. The study’s goals were to determine not just how frequently, but how thoroughly the media reported on these topics. The authors found although child abuse and neglect and youth crime/violence together accounted for the majority of all coverage, only 11 percent of child maltreatment stories used a thematic frame. The vast majority of child maltreatment stories simply reported individual incidents and legal actions being taken against the perpetrator. Among the other findings in stories about child abuse and neglect:
- Only 5 percent of the stories offered any contextual information, and parents and children were used as sources less than half the time
- Statistics and public policy concerns were mentioned only 9 and 17 percent of the time, respectively
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Media coverage of child right and protection issues in Akwa ibom state with use of selected media in Akwa ibom state. 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 Media coverage of child right and protection issues in Akwa ibom
Summary
This study was on Media coverage of child right and protection issues in Akwa ibom state with use of selected media in Akwa ibom state. A case study of AKBC. Three objectives were raised which included; To ascertain the level of broadcast media coverage of child related issues in AKBC, to identify the issues (themes) that are reported on children and to establish the extent of media coverage given to child rights and protection issues in AKBC. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from AKBC, Uyo. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Although individuals and organizations work to eliminate all forms of child exploitation, this paper concludes that such efforts will only have a lasting impact if the media are able to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion to this end. Journalists should therefore place child rights’ issues on their agenda by giving children fair representations, having established that coverage of children is very low in both the print and broadcast media in Nigeria. Since this study correlates with previous studies that child related issues especially their rights and issues of protection are not adequately represented in Nigerian media organizations
Recommendation
- The media should regularly incorporate these pertinent issues into their programmes.
- Media outlets reconsider the appointment of ‘children’s correspondents’, to improve a comprehensive report of all aspects of children’s rights and protections.
- Sensitization of journalists to regularly encourage the protection of child’s rights which would enable them the express the child’s point of view.
- New means of giving children access to the media as sources so they could tell their stories themselves.
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