THE ROLE OF RADIO IN POLITICAL MOBILIZATION NIGERIA BROADCAST MEDIA (A CASE STUDY FEDERAL RADIO CORPORATION NIGERIA (FRCN) ENUGU STATE)
The objective of the study is to ascertain the role of radio in political mobilization in federal radio corporation Nigeria Enugu state. Factors such as objectivity, credibility and sycophancy were examined to establish their relative impact on the effectiveness of radio news in political mobilization. Empirical survey two carefully selected radio stations in Enugu state was conducted. Data collected were analyzed so as to determine the effects for these factors on the effectiveness of radio news information an politics. From the findings, it is conducted that the radio news is perceive as lacking objectivity and creditability because of undue influence on it by government of the day and powerful politicians remarkable inter personal communication was observed as the greatest single motivator in the belief of radio news about politics.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND RESULT
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER STUDY
Appendix
Notes and references
CHAPTER ONE
Against the background of the Nigerian unstable civilian political scenarios, where politician agencies and so on manipulate the mass media and their contents at will, and where a lot of critics have continuously decried such development, this study focuses on the radio as a vital mass communication instrument for political mobilization
Political mobilization could be described as the process by which politicians and their agents (including the mass media) prepare and disseminate various information on politics aimed at influencing the minds of the people and deliciting support for the political sources in question
While the government of the day forms a major political sources of this kind of information aimed at mobilizing the people, other political minds and behaviours of the masses, who in this study cover the resident in Enugu North Local government Area of Enugu state.
In radio, for instance which is the focused of our study its is expected that such political information should of only be credible but also objective and devoid of any form of sycophancy.
In a democratic society it is expected that the press as a whole and the radio in particular should be the market place of political thought.
The radio therefore should exist mainly to serve the information needs of the citizenry politics.
This also implies that radio editors commentors, anchor and newsmen as a whole should work on the principle that “the public is entitle to all facts in a political situation and that on the basis f these facts, it can make its own decision” again, the political news information will be capable of being believed (credible) when it is balanced continues factual information and also it is verifiable.
Again, the use of radio Nigeria by the federal government to broadcast distorted information aimed at breaking up the 1964 national workers strike was vehemently decried by the general public. The was why in his assessment of the radio since independence Dr. Matthew Mojekwu noted that after independence the radio resorted to regional and ethnic group affiliations. The radio became instrument of intimidation concern and legitimization as the journalists sacrificed objectivity for brunt ethnic sectionalism.
The guide of editor in one of its meetings had occasion to observe that “ the use of the media as exclusive propaganda organ of incumbent governors and their parties in serious misuse of power and abuse of office.
Also criticizing the use of the radio in the second republic politics Tomi AderemolaOnce that fro most part of the second republic journalists have mortgaged their conscience and professional ethnic for political patronage and appointments, owing allegiance to the dictum of “ he who pays the pipe dictators the tune”.
Critics have identified distortion of news and imbalance reports clack of objectivity_ and the growing tendency of the public not to believe radio political news (lack of credibility) as the major problems inherent in the use of radio for political mobilization.
Objectivity as an ethnical standard is one of the most pervasive in all of journalism practice. objectivity in the collecting and presenting of information (news) is the goal of the reporter and a major principle on journalism. But what is objectivity? How has the concept been applied to the radio campaign messages and news reports for political mobilization? What have other researcher including mass media editor said about objectivity on news reporting. Those are some of the key questions in which this study is interested.
Inspite of the force competition among newspapers news magazines, radio, television or wire services with regard to who gets a story first and who is faster in making such news available to the public objectivity in the dissemination of news and other political information is acknowledge as a significant hall-mark of modern journalistic practice.
It is unthinkable the kind of political chas which will befall our citizenry following distorted political information embellished with prejudice, bias, half- truth and blatant lies disseminated through radio which has been identified as the most frequently and widely used media channel in most communities in Enugu state.
Objectivity has been seen in different lights of different people, but the truth remains that it is the state of quality of not being influenced by personal bias prejudice feeling and opinion” objective political information is that which is devoid of inferences judgment and stinting .but it has been noted that modern journalism Is not altogether a professional practice in which the operator become simply, automatons that is unthinking unfeeling and without motion. Because of this fact objectivity remains relative to the system that exists.
Our attention is drawn to two opposing consent of though concerning media(radio) objectivity on whether objectivity is good or bad and whether it is even possible.
The first claim (and a strong one, according you Olumuyiwa Ayodlel, is that objectivity in political information reporting is a myth and theoretically speaking a mere abstraction. In absolute terms objectivity is said to be unattainable since it does not really exist. The proposition is stretched further to indicate that what is impossible what is non-existent need not be attempted because such attempts inevitably would prove unnecessary unrealistic as well as futile.
Ayodele noted from the philosophical premise of such logic, subjectivity of political news reporting which in the literature is often called interpretative journalism” would appear the only possible sensible and realistic position or attitudes open to journalists.
To has been indicated also that the second no less popular school of thought indicates that objectivity in political news reporting is a definitely attainable goal, but that one must strive for it even if in the face of opposing realistic, adherents of attainable objectivity in mass media claim that the reporter need not shy away ambitions unthinking , unemotional, “saying it as it is” with bland facts and figures and not analyzing nor interpreting. Rather the journalists is to struggle to place under lease his biases.
The position adopted by this study is that objectivity in political information presentation is not a myth nor a mere philosophical abrasions but an attainable media goal which the journalist in Enugu state radio (Radio Nigeria) (FRCN) and ESBS) must drive for, even in the face of opposing realistic.
Concepts of news have been discussed in various ways. Dr. Tony Onyisi, in his lectures of news writing ad reporting delineated these concepts of news which include and western concepts, the eastern concept and the developing concept of news.
According to Dr. Onyisi, the westerns concept of news involves the philosophy behind news value as seen by the western countries of the world such as USA, Canada, Sweden, Western Germany and so on.
News values as identified by this concept include timeless, oddity prominence proximity consequence human interest and conflict timeliness say that news should be timely. It should be an account of an event reported at the time it happened. The argument is that when a news events is delayed before it is reported, it may loose it accuracy and its believability.
Oddity has it that news could be an usual event that is something that is out of the ordinary Curtis Mac Dougal in his interpretive reporting, puts it succinctly that a clog bite a man is no news prominence maintains that an event, a person or a place that is well know makes news more that an event a person or a place that is not well known,’
Consequence bothers on the effect of what happened on the people, that is what is the consequence of what is reported o the people or how does it change their way of life belief system, attitude, behavour and so on.
The human interest element talk about the person who is being reported about. Does the news affects a person’s personality? Or what is the lesson that human being should learn from such news events?
Similarly people are interest ed in conflict or competition. News should emphasis the conflicting nature of human being. Sometimes, news about crisis appeal to people very much. Such news include disasters, wars and so on.
Similarity political information should involve the unification of the people. It should try to bring the people together in communism and giving them a sense of oneness.
In a similar manner, news should endeavour to develop the people in a rural terms. Eh news for political mobilization should educate and instruct the people as they aspire for greater height political participation..
Again, political news should emphasis the unification of the various religious groups, political parties, status, age, groups, etc. in the state, it should integrate the various and cultural denomination.
Finally, news about political mobilization should also be made to entertain the people, make then relax and enjoy themselves, thereby giving the people leisure and making them forget their strives, problems and so on.
Although these varying concepts of political news information news values and so on exist, its seems that exporters and editors however, make decision daily on what and what is not objectivity.
This study which focuses on objectivity and credibility of radio political information or news will look at the objective news prejudice. It is news that its fair, accurate and factual.
The study will see the journalist as a product of society. The communities in Enugu state with its various facts traditions, beliefs, religious groups, image, status, goals, constraints etc. must inevitably influence and be influenced upon by the journalist. He helps to shape the size and direction of what is communicated to the different public of the media. They (the different publics of media –radio) set the journalists own agenda of what he selects to communicate. The study will look at “sycophancy in radio political news to see how it affects the objectivity and credibility of political news reports sycophancy here is seen as the act of radio news reporters and editors crying to win favour by flattering rich or political people (especially government official and powerful politicians). The study recognizes that sycophancy is rather strong and deteogatory concept. When mentioned, it immediately portrays image and merit association of negative social attitudes and deviant behviour.
Obviously, there are always sycophants in the midst: media men and women who having abdicated their sacred duty oath and trust play up to the gallery journalists whose actions and attitudes appear or actually are sniveling and grovel lying.
This study maintains that objectivity in political news presentation however much desirable cannot thrive in climates. People but much such characters. But we recognize that fact that these sycophancy exist because the society may have made them so.
Our study is therefore and embracing one bringing together objectivity credibility and sycophancy in radio political news in a filed research.
Enugu state throughout her history has sustained government ownership and control of the radio. Objectivity in the radio is a relative term in the state because civilian government have kept displaying shifting political bases. This affects the extent to which the journalist is or been free of censorship and influence from state and national government) and free from personal bias.
The question of who owns and the rancho, and for what affects therefore determines to a large extent the degree of objectivity of radio political information in Enugu state especially during politics.
This study is long over due because of its significant to the theoretical. policy, political, socio-cultural development of radio in political mobilization. Firstly, the study presumes that there should be theoretical framework on which political information objectivity in radio should stand. The study will therefore try to generate theoretical statement will focus on whether radio audience from opinion on politics following their exposure to radio political information.
Again on the effect of radio exposure on political attitude change on theoretical statement to consider the role of interpersonal communication (if any) in the audience selective perception of radio political information
This study will also help government in making policy on radio use in a political situation especially as it affects political information presentation. It may also be handy in helping government to make policy on radio ownership in Enugu state. Whether it could perhaps consider allowing private individuals or groups town radio especially during politics.
This study awill obviously contribute to out political and so cultural development through an empirical linkage of objectivity, creditability and sycophancy in Enugu state environment it will enlighten our mind on the use of radio for social-cultural integration of the people through objective and fair political information management in the radio.
Some question will form a background for this study . these questions are as follows:
Based on our study established research questions, we will therefore put up some hypothesis which we shall test in this study, these hypothesis are the following.
H2: there is a tendency for radio audience to get most of their political information from the radio
Ho: it is not likely that radio audience will get most of their political information from their radio
Ho: Radio audience believe political information on radio are not likely to perceiver information reports as sycophant to the government.
H4: Audiences tend to believe radio political information only after interpersonal communication and not immediately.
Ho: Audience are likely to believe radio political information immediately even without interpersonal communication.
N.B: We include a null hypothesis after each hypothesis so as to equalize situations before looking for their differences. The null hypothesis gets common bases for all the attributes so that the different attributes so properly measured.
The variables and concepts which constitute the study have to be properly defined conceptually and operationally. While the conceptual definitions of the variables or concepts involved the ordinary literary meaning of the variables or concepts, the operational definitions involve the specification of the data representation of the variables or the concepts. In other words. Operational definitions are the working definitions for the study. The variables we have identified are as follows.
a. Radio exposure
Conceptual definition- A person’s access to the radio and its concepts.
Operational definition: Stated listening to radio political information at least once a day.
Operational definition: stated cultivation of a political view point after listening to a particular radio political information
Conceptual definition: A person’s approved or favourable reception of a message
Operational definition- Stated approved or favourable reception of a particular radio political information
Conceptual definition A word of month person to person communication.
Operational definition: Stated discussion with friends or family on political information heard from the radio
Conceptual definition: the act of talking baack toteh news/ information editor though mail or telephone and discussing a particular radio fare.
Operational definition: stated reaction of a person to a particular radio political information at least twice in a month
This study assumes that radio political information has been manipulated and elegized by the government and influential politicians that have a stake in the radio operations. The old maxim he who pays the pipe dictates the tune is assumed to hold strongly in radio political information management.
It is assumed that terms of reference are given to the radio information reporters who have to follow them at the expense of more purposeful duties to the audience. Therefore government agents and politicians imitate the stint of the information and the radio editors and reporters being professional in the filed shape the information slant what these information reporters have to do here, is to make sure that the information appeal correspondents with what the manipulators expect.
It is argued therefore, that political information on radio might sometimes (if not all the time) be unduly influenced by government to the extent that the information looses its credibility and objectivity as it aims at boosting government image or politicians image.
The study is focused on objectivity and credibility of political information on radio. These elements (objectivity and credibility) will be linked up with the perceived sycophancy in the radio among information reporters and editors.
This study will not therefore focus on such things as the rate of usage radio it has been already established that a large number of people listen to it). It will not also concentrate on effect theories because some of them do not address objectivity and credibility of the information.
Another exclusive interest in this study is pure political information. The study is not interested in commentaries news stalks etc, which are bun to be opinionated and biased. It is not interested also in political programmes or documentaries of nay kind on radio
Due to lack of finance, lack of time and personnel’s, this study will center on federal radio corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). However, we hope that the scientific nature o four measuring instrument (questionnaires / interview) will make the study capable of being generalized to a larger population
The chapter primarily deals with general introduction to the research study. It components include the introduction, statement of research problem, objective of the study, research questions, research hypothesis , definition of tern, assumptions and finally scope and limitation of the study
Introduction presents the general issues relatively to the topic although it pays much attention on emphasizing the need for a study like this. It is further elaborated under the importance of the study. The terms used in the study are defined in the manner they are used here.
The statement of he research problem explain the purpose of the study and states some problem fro which answers are bought while the limitations of the study enumerate those factors that will prevent comprehensive and perfect research work, such problems that are natural and man made
Emmanual Akpan (1985) “Broadcast Journalism in a multiparty state Nwueli (ed) Mass communication in Nigeria A book of reading fourth dimension pub. Enugu 1985 p 30
Matt Mojekwu (1986) Assessment of the Nigerian press, Sunday vew Nigeira May, 25.
Ibid
Jom Aderemola (1986) Comments in News watch magazine, October 6, p.38
Olumuyiwa Ayodele (1988) Objectivity sycophancy and the media reality in Nigeira” in Africa media review vol 3 No 1 p. 106
Ibid p. 107
Tony Onyisi (1988) Lecture notes on news reporting Dept. of Mass communication, ESUTECH Enugu
Curtis macDougall(1977) Interpretative reporting 7th edition (New York, Macmillan Pub 10 Inc
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