The Role of Commercialization of News in the Sustainability of the Broadcast Industry in Rivers (A Case Study of Today FM)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the role of commercialization of news in the sustainability of the broadcast industry in Rivers state
- To find out whether news commercialization thrives in today’s FM, Rivers state.
- To ascertain the relationship between the commercialization of news and today’s FM sustainability\
Chapter Two
Review of the Related Literature
Israel Udomisor and Akutus Kenneth (2013) believed that Commercialization as aconcept gained much currency in Nigeria in 1986. Israel Udomisor and Akutus Kenneth(2013) citing Ekwo 1996; Ogbuoshi 2005, Onoja 2009 explained further that the arrival Commercialization of news began in Nigerian media houses as a result of the structural adjustment programme (SAP) introduced by the Babangida regime and the eventual withdrawal of subsidies from government owned media houses. Ugande (2011) believe that structural adjustment programme (SAP) introduced by the Babangida was in consonance with the deregulation of the economy. Consequently, government subvention to public enterprises dropped. According to him the number of enterprises both private and public, but particularly public, began to experience the hard knocks of economic hardship
News commercialization has become a major trend in news treatment globally, and an issue of ethical concern in the mass media. It is a tactful strategy through which the media relegates its responsibility of surveying the society disseminating information on the event, and people of social interest aside for financial gains.
The broadcast media are tools for mass communication which have unique responsibilities to keep members of the society informed, educated and entertained, itis through the mass media that the society gets to know what is happening within and around the country and react accordingly. The basic functions of the broadcast media, according to Lass well in Peterson, et al (1965) is to act as the society’s watchdog, they are expected to mount surveillance over the environment and correlate the components of the society to ensure effective functioning of the system which will assist in the transmission of the social heritage from generation to generation. In carrying out these functions, the mass media make use of several methods of collecting and disseminating information which include straight news reporting, interpretative reporting and investigative reporting. (Bo, et al 2009). In Nigeria, the roles of journalists in the affairs of the nation is constitutionally recognized in section 21, sub section 150 of the 1979 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It states that the press must uphold the aims and objectives of Nigeria as a nation and that the press must ensure that all organs of government (Legislature, Executives and Judiciary,) upholds these aims and objectives and perform the duties imposed on them in furtherance of nation building; the press must hold the Government accountable to the people in the performance of its duties and responsibilities to ensure that the aim and objective of nation building are realized. The above provision recognizes and consequently assigns certain functions to the Nigerian media as partners in progress
The survival of any society largely depends on the efficacy of its communication networks. Communication is the bedrock and life-wire for the smooth functioning of human organizations and societies. The mass media are responsible for the information exchanges that take place and needed for peace, harmony and co-existence of the various components of the society. The media serve as the link between the government and the governed, and the conveyor belt of the opinions, views or reactions of the governed to the actions and inactions of the government. The media represent and present views expressed by the masses about government policies and programmes. Thus, they earn for themselves the accolade of “the voice of the voiceless”. However, in the contemporary society, the ability of the press/media to protect and defend the cause of the masses has become a contentious issue. The emergence of “commercialism” in the media industry with a paradigm shift in emphasis from “public good” to “commercial value” of media products has put a question mark on the public interest concept of the mass media. Base on this background the researcher wants to investigate the role of commercialization of news in sustainability of broadcast industry in Rivers state.
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