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07030248044CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The print media plays a central role in development and transformation of a society. This is usually carried out through its communication process which centres on enormous amounts of information that shapes new values, costumes and ideas of an emerging society. Media is also considered a powerful instrument that influences and often promotes new standards in society. As a vehicle for development communications, print media has the potential to create awareness and motivation for development and change by promoting both individual and communal interests in a society (Forsberg, 2016). The various functions of print media make it an indispensable source of development. For example, print media function as a source of power that influences, controls and promotes new orientation in society (Gisprud, 2012). The print media must however play their role in national development in an environment that is free and independent, with fair ownership spread. It is necessary to define the phrase “national development”, before delving into the discourse so as to understand and appreciate the issues involved in the relationship between print media and national development. According to Oxford dictionary, development is a change process geared at improving or making the life and environment of man better. Development involves the creation of opportunities for the realization of human potentialities as posited by Dudley Sears (2015). It is also a multidimensional exercise that seeks to transform the society by addressing the entire complex interwoven strands, living in pulses which are a part of an organic whole (Haqqani, 2013). Development involves enhanced quality of life, equity and justice, as it takes into consideration the wellbeing, growth and advancement of individuals within the society. Where the print media comes in development process is through what is called “development communication”. This development communication which is consciously packaged by the sender such that the message content or the information sent could persuade, encourage or convince the receiver or target audience to adopt an attitude and participate in actualizing a development plan or goal. The message sent aims at making the target audience adopt a positive attitudinal change towards a development purpose at certain instances. Development communication has been engaged in finding a niche in the efforts to deal with the formidable problems of underdevelopment and marginalisation of millions of people and thousands of communities worldwide through a process of directed social change. Print Media’s role in national development can be analysed from political, economic and social perspectives. In the political sphere, print media’s role can be found in areas of democracy and good governance, political transparency, foreign policy, human rights, war on terrorism, and public relations. In the economic sphere, print media can play their roles in the areas of economic policy and growth, economic empowerment, advertisements and tourism, business and investment, etc. Socially, print media’s role cover social issues like; corruption, criminal violence, communal conflicts, prostitution, war on drugs, population control, education and food security. The Nigeria print media over time and consistently has been on the vanguard of championing the cause for sustainable development in the country. The strategic role of the mass media in achieving national development in any society cannot be downplayed. The value of print media in particular and the mass media in general as development agents has been well documented (Ashong, 2016). The World Bank acknowledges the importance of the utilization of communication in development processes and highlights the impact of communication by the types of outcomes produced, including change in knowledge and attitude, behavioural change, empowerment and capacity building, coalition building and partnership, resource development, etc. (Inagaki, 2017). Incidentally, Nigeria is amply supplied with a variety of mass media, ranging from radio and television to newspapers and magazines of all sorts. In the twenty-first century information-rich society, news sources should be more analytical, proactive, and critical of strategic development efforts that impede or forestall constructive attempts at raising citizens’ consciousness and patriotism beyond tribal sentiments. Consistently, historical and empirical studies of past decades (Obotette, 2014; Faringer, 2011; M’bayo, 2015, The World Bank, 2015) noted that Nigeria’s development problem hinged on the relationship between the nation’s news sources and political system and the ability of the press/news sources to contribute significantly to the bid for sustainable national development. In other words, communication channels, especially the press by virtue of its responsibility and obligation, should be able to set the agenda for political and informed debates to guide the actions of the citizenry, electorate, and stakeholders in general. As echoed in The World Bank’s reports (2009), sustainable democratic governance is critical for the emerging democracies and developing nations of Africa. Nigeria government over time had come up with series of development plans, programmes and policies that would have enlist the country among the top economically developed country in the world. It is worthy to note that the print media threw their weight behind these programmes by making sure that people were acquainted with them. However, despite the massive support of this programmes and policies by the print media, achieving sustainable development in Nigeria is still not very visible. This is pathetic considering the billions of naira usually spent on the execution of government programmes, and yet there is no any tangible evidence of development in the nation. The issue of unemployment is still high, health services are in a deplorable state, the power sector is decaying by the day, the manufacturing sector has totally collapsed and political instability and insecurity is growing worse by the day. In view of these un-ending national problems, this study will attempt to examine the place of the print media in national development in Nigeria. It will also discuss some of the challenges that the print media faces in promoting national development in the country. It is in view of these roles that this study seeks to establish the relationship between the print media and Nigeria national development, focusing on the contributions of print media to the development of the Nigerian economy.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The role of the print media is enormous despite the problems facing them in discarding their responsibilities. Print media helps in national development due to its easy reach and penetration to diverse and scattered listening audience, the literacy level notwithstanding. But of all these impact and contributions to the national development of Nigeria, there are still case of poor funding and poor management of the print media to effectively carry out these impacts of national development. The fundamental focus of this study is on the role of the print media in Nigeria’s national development. Over an extended period of time, this issue has been a recurrent debate and a focus of scholarly analyses among researchers across political science and communication disciplines. While discussions and findings regarding print media role have been mixed and inconclusive, recent studies (Mbayo, 2015; The World Bank, 2009; Okoro, 2010; Graber, 2010) characterized the print media in developing nations as ineffective in news dissemination and analysis, and described its relationship with governments as controversial and antagonistic. The nature of the relationship that has been largely instrumental to the heightened misunderstanding and disunity among the diverse ethnic groups in the country, which continues to perpetuate tribal consciousness, engenders political instability, negates and compromises national unity and collectivity. Against the background of this study, the researcher seeks to find out what role the print media play in national development. Furthermore, the study seeks to determine if there is any relationship between print media and Nigeria economy.
1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY
The major purpose of this study is to examine the role of print media in Nigeria national development. Other general objectives of the study are:
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Hypothesis 1
H0: There is no significant impact of print media on Nigeria national development.
H1: There is a significant impact of print media on Nigeria national development.
Hypothesis 2
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
There is no doubt about the fact that research like this will be of benefit to some set of people and entity. Meanwhile, this work on the role of print media in national development will benefit the following people, journalists, media owners, government and future researchers.
This work will serve as one existing literature or as an additional literature on role of print media in Nigeria National development. It will also be instrumental to prospective researchers who may want to plunge into this similar area of study. Again, journalists, editors, specialized groups, society, government etc. stand to gain immensely from the study. For the journalists, it provides them an ample opportunity to press for national development and enthronement of transparency in government. The government, through this study could harness the latent potency of the law as educated in it towards providing quality service to its citizens. In the same vein, the study is significant to the extent that it provides a platform for government press collaboration which if harnessed, can facilitate national development.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is based on the role of print media in Nigeria National development, a study of selected residence at Ikeja, Lagos.
1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Mass media: The mass media is a diversified collection of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets
Print Media: Print media is any form of published material which is composed of newspapers, community newsletter, wire services, magazines, journals and other publications that passes specific information’s to readers.
Development: This refers to the process of moving human beings in all the strata of the· social system forward, in order to enhance the capacity of each of them to realize his inherent potentials and to effectively cope with the changing circumstances of life.
Development Communication: This refers to all the communication activities that seek to promote the enhancement of food production, quality social services like health care and education, self-reliance, entrepreneurship, cultural- values and national identity.
Developmental Communication: This refers to the communication activities, messages, ideas or information which is concerned with all spheres of development - social, economic, political, cultural, etc.
Media: These refer to radio, television, newspaper and magazines.
Role: This means the contribution, impact or simply put as the functions of print media in sport development.
Newspaper: This is a printed publication of loose folded sheets containing news, advertisements, sport, and correspondence e.t.c
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