Readers Perception of the Use of Photograph in Reinforcement of Newspaper Message
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
- To investigate how news pictures are used in newspaper.
- To examine if photographs serve the function of information dissemination in newspaper.
- How frequent do you see pictures in the Punch newspaper
- To identify the various types of photographs used in newspaper
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of Photography and its Historical Development
Photography is an aspect of science and art, and both aspects are inseparably linked through its astonishing rise from a substitute for skill of hand to an independent form. Okoro and Nnadiukwu (2000, p.34) note that photography is a product of Physics and Chemistry, adding that the functional mechanism of the camera capturing photographs is essentially an optical phenomenon. Hasan (2013, p.722) notes that the most common process of photography is through mechanical, chemical and digital device known as the camera. The aesthetic aspect of photography, coupled with its appeal to the sense of light in terms of physical appreciation makes it an art. The study of colour and its separation for beauty, framing and organizational aspect of photography are aspects of arts and humanities in the business.
Thus, photojournalism involves using ones presence at the scene of events; instinct on when to take shots and preparation for the coverage with the proper mental attitude and physical equipment; to produce meaningful picture materials for news. According to Bittner (1989, p.128):
We may not always think of photography as being a mass medium. After all, our snapshots of the last campus holiday or a family picnic may be seen by only a few close friends. But when we consider that a news photo may travel around the world on a picture wire and appear in hundreds of newspapers that are read by millions of people, we can see that photographs and the work of the photojournalist quickly become mass communication.
Photography is the process of forming stable or permanent visible images directly or indirectly by the action of light or other forms of reflection on sensitive surface. Okoro and Nnadiukwu (2000, p.1) also defined photography as the making, by an optical-cumchemical process, with tools especially designed for the purpose of visual reproduction. Photography which can be described to be an image of somebody, something or a place was coined from two Greek words: “photos” which mean light and “graphos” which means drawing. Therefore, photography literally means drawing with light. The term photo is an abbreviation of photographs while many people call it pictures. In digital photography, the term image has begun to replace photography.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter explains the methodology used by the researcher to investigate the role of the Press in the use of photograph in Nigeria, with special emphasis on the coverage by the print media, specifically the newspapers. It contains an explanation on the research design, research population, research sample size and data collection and analysis methods used during the research process.
Research Design
This study shall make use of the quantitative content analysis as the method to assess the role and the use of photograph in Nigeria newspapers. According to Uwom and Oloyede (2014), the quantitative content analysis ably evaluates communication in a systematic, objective, and quantitative manner for the purpose of measuring variables. The choice of this method was ably informed by studies affirming its efficiency (Boyagoda, 2017; Uwom and Oloyede, 2014; Rong, 2009).
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
The collected data for this study are presented and analyzed under the following tables.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusions
The place of photographs in journalism cannot be overemphasized as it could be said to be the only aspect of journalism that breaks the barrier of illiteracy. However, the act of reporting news with photographs needs to be professionally done so that the media house will not be found guilty of misinformation. A well used picture in a newspaper can make the news. So also, a badly used picture can mar the whole story and the newspaper in general. The following conclusions were reached based on the findings of the study:
- The newspapers make use of photographs on the front, back and inside pages.
- The newspapers make use of more pictures on the inside pages.
- Punch newspapers make use of more pictures than the Other sampled newspapers due to the fact that Punch has more pages than the Other sampled newspapers.
- The selected newspapers gave prominence to the use of aware pictures as against candid pictures which is factual, real, natural, and objective.
- The selected newspapers do not use more of the type of pictures that give the viewer a sense of reality and objectivity in the news story (candid).
- The selected newspapers make use of more pictures that are relevant to the story than the pictures that are not relevant to the story.
- The Other sampled has the highest number of negative picture.
- The newspapers get more of their pictures from the photojournalists.
Recommendations
The following recommendations became imperative, gauging from the findings:
- 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.
- Other sampled 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.
- Other sampled 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.
REFERENCES
- Agoro, Y. (2003). Photography and photojournalism. Ibadan: Design Print Group.
- Asemah, E. S. & Ottah, G. A. (2015). A guide to photojournalism. Jos: MAKTOL Press.
- Asemah, E. S. (2011). Selected media themes. Jos: Jos University Press.
- Bittner, J. (1989). Mass communication: an introduction. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Publishers.
- Fasheke, J.O. (2004). The practice of photojournalism: Photoother sampled technique and careers. Lagos: Keystone Books promotion services.
- Hasan, S. (2013). Mass communication principle and concepts. India:
- CBS Publishers and Distributors, PVT Ltd.
- Jennifer E. (2008). Usage of news pictures in newspaper: A content analysis of frontpage photographs in the Guardian and the Punch newspapers. Retreived from www.wikipedia.com.journalism on 24 April, 2017.
- Liu, Y., Gao, W. & Liu, S. (2004). A texture-based tamper detection scheme by Fragile
- Watermarking. In Michele, D. S. (2008). Fragile and semi-fragile watermarking
