CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The Media represent an essential and integral part of democratic process in any political community. Their statutory functions of enlightenment, education and entertainment have placed them on a pedestal of alertness and vigilance such that they have become an indispensable part of social governance. As whistle blowers, they inform the populace, set agenda for social discourse and hold public opinion through their editorial comments, public opinion corner and opinion articles.

Through their watch dog oversight, they bring to the public space shoddy deals of government which in most cases violate the basic freedoms of the people. It is through these checks that the principles of good governance are respected. (Oboh, 2014).  

This at variance with the Authoritarian media theory which harps on the absolute protection of the State and its paraphernalia by the media at all time. Indeed, it is the libertarian theory that empowers the media to be on the side of the people, bring government officials to scrutiny for accountability and ensure the efflorescence of a democratic etiquette. This paper derives its inspiration from the above theory.

The salient thing we have to understand about the media is that, it is the windows that enable us to see beyond our immediate surroundings, interpreters that help us make sense of experience, platforms or carries that convey information interactive communication that includes audience feedback, signposts that provide us with instructions (Oboh & Onu, 2008). Through a mosaic of media propaganda and threats, colonialism penetrated precolonial African political economy, and integrated it into the global capitalist economy only visible in its subservience.

In fact, in 1851, the Nigerian Broadcasting Service, the month piece of the colonial state used the radio to stress the need for the public to participate in the implementation of the government’s policies and programmes for development and facelift (Oboh, 2014).

Conversely, the media became a veritable tool of anti-colonial struggles in Africa. In Nigeria, right from 1859 when Iwe Irohin was established to the 1960s, an avalanche of newspapers emerged such as the popular West African Pilot in 1937 by Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria Tribune in 1949 by Obafemi Awolowo, Lagos Weekly Record in 1890 by John Pagne Jackson, and the African Messenger in 1914 by Ernest Ikoli. These newspapers were unrelenting in highlighting and condemning the exploitative tendencies and fallacies of colonial rule.

Today, with the advent of globalization and its concomitant social media, such platforms such as the internet, YouTube, and GSM information is made easy and almost placed at the doorstop of people. These phenomena have shattered the opacity in governance and subjected everything to microscopic scrutiny. This is not strange because the internet is trumpeted as the newest and best for increased democratic involvement and participation, and emboldens ‘citizens journalism or participatory journalism (Tsaaior & Agina, 2011). Looking at the vital role of the Media, to gag it becomes an exercise in social destruction. Therefore, as an instrument to strengthen and reposition society.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Nigerian Media and corruption in Nigeria just like in other society, the mass media transmit ideas and new information to a target audience. This implies that they are responsible for most of the adjustments in the behavioral pattern of people in the society. The role of the media is critical in efforts against corruption. The problem broadcast media in corruption fighting could be that there are no careful structuring of the relationship between mass media and anti-corruption officials. Secondly, another problem could be that the media units are not encouraged to develop and enforce adequate standards of conduct regarding their professional competence and their objectivity which might avoid any temptations of accepting gifts, envelopes, fare or any other support that might interfere with their free reporting. Finally, several researches have been carried out on media and corruption but not even a single research has been carried out on broadcast media and fight against corruption in Nigeria.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to examine broadcast media and fight against corruption in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine the effect of broadcast media on the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
2. to determine the factors influencing corruption in Nigeria.
3. to determine the effect of corruption in Nigeria.
4. to determine the factors affecting broadcast media in Nigeria.
5. to proffer possible solution to the problems.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS               

1. What is the effect of broadcast media on the fight against corruption in Nigeria?
2. What are the factors influencing corruption in Nigeria?
3. What is the effect of corruption in Nigeria?
4. What are the factors affecting broadcast media in Nigeria?
5. What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:   Broadcast media has no significant effect on corruption in Nigeria.

H1:      Broadcast media has a significant effect on corruption in Nigeria.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on broadcast media and fight against corruption in Nigeria will be of immense benefit to the entire NTA and RAYPOWER FM Abuja in the sense that it will enable the media to be encouraged to avoid any temptations of accepting gifts, envelopes, fare or any other support that would interfere with their free reporting and also tarnishing their image. The study will also enable the relationship between mass media and anti-corruption officials to be carefully structured for effective productivity. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing protocols and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on broadcast media and fight against corruption in Nigeria is limited to NTA and RAYPOWER FM Abuja.

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

Broadcast        To transmit (programs) from a radio or television station. 

Media      Are the collective communication outlets or tools used to store and deliver information or data.

Fight To take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons, struggle to overcome, eliminate.

Against    In opposition to.

Corruption      Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.