The Examination of the Level of News Commercialization in Media Organization
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The purpose of carrying out this research includes the following;
- To determine the presence of news commercialization in media organization in Asaba
- To ascertain the dimension of news commercialization in media organization in Asaba
- To find out public or audience perception toward news commercialization.
CHAPTER TWO
RELATED LITERATURE REVIEW
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.
According to Ude in his book introduction to Reporting and news writing 1998 defined news “as the timely report of facts or opinions that hold interests or importance or both for a considerable number of people.” Also, Ukozor 2003 in her book: Fundamentals of interpretative and investigative Reporting, defined news “as something new and unusual. Stressing further, news according to Kamath (1980: 33) “is any event, ideas or opinions that is timely, interests, or affects a large number of people in a community and that is capable of being understood by them”.
The standardized criteria judging news value as discussed by Ukozor encompassed the followings: consequences impact, prominence, timeliness, Action, novelty, conflict, Human interest, and currency. – Consequence is the most important criterion in determining news value. It has to do with news events that affect the lives of the largest number of people. It should be considered at every level, both for good news and bad. It is the grater effects.
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.
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 the examination of the level of news commercialization organization. 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 the level of news commercialization organization
Summary
This study was on the examination of the level of news commercialization organization. Three objectives were raised which included; to determine the presence of news commercialization in media organization in Asaba, to ascertain the dimension of news commercialization in media organization in Asaba and to find out public or audience perception toward news commercialization. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected mass media house in asaba. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
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.
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