CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Throughout the years, the media have become trustworthy sources of information for individuals around the world. The public searches for information about events happening around the world however, is the role of the press in society, that of the mirror, the conciliator, or the shape of issues and events in the society? The safest answer is perhaps to say that the press performs all of these functions, and even more, from time to time, depending on the prevailing situation. The press is an important institution in every society, and whichever of these or other roles it finds itself performing at any time matters a great deal in the life of a people.

One particular news story, or an editorial, or a personal commentary published in a newspaper could serve as a mirror or reflector of an aspect of the social reality, and at the same time contain some ingredients of motivation, and even of conciliation as well, all of which could combine in some way to affect the level of knowledge, attitudes, and actions of people in determining the course of any event. In normal times when much of life's processes can be substantially observed in their regularized routines, this power and importance of the press continue to exist unhindered.

In crisis situations when the routines have been disrupted and when people's nerves and tempers also are likely to have been frayed, leading to a highly charged social atmosphere, the role of the mass media can easily be very decisive in helping to escalate the crisis or to assuage the tempers and bring the crisis under control Schramm (2007). Even though the press as a social institution has been around for many centuries, the question as to how the press goes about performing its function of providing information to people continues to be asked with a great deal of interest and anticipation.

The question continues to be asked because despite the various constraints, the press usually has the ability to determine what to report, when to report it, how to tailor the information, and where it will be published. This is concrete evidence of the power of the press. Talking about the power of the press (media), Dennis and Merrill (2009) clearly assert that “the media are quite powerful.” In a way, the media tell us what to think about and how to think, which constitute the theoretical issues of agenda setting and framing.

Politics is the capacity for power acquisition and its application for governance of the state and influence the allocation of its both human and physical resources in the interest of state development. Power is with people, consequently, how much prepared are you or your capacity to project viable programmed to solve the masses’ problems and crises; this will make them to release such power.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        Indigenous language newspaper coverage is a medium in which the non-literate can be brought to light with the current happens or occurrence in the aspect of politics. Though certain issues has really be challenging when it comes to indigenous language newspaper; and this could be as a result of insufficient fund from the government to the media house, it could also be that most people do not patronize this kind of newspapers and also negligence in the part of the staff in the production of indigenous newspapers. Finally, several researches have been carried out on the newspaper coverage but not even a single research has been carried out on indigenous language newspaper coverage of politics.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to examine indigenous language newspaper coverage of politics. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine effect of indigenous language newspaper coverage of politics.
2. to determine the factors affecting indigenous language newspaper.
3. to determine the extent to which indigenous language newspaper coverage affects politics.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problem.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS               

1. What is the effect of indigenous language newspaper coverage of politics?
2. What are the factors affecting indigenous language newspaper?
3. What is the extent to which indigenous language newspaper coverage affects politics?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problem?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:    Indigenous language newspaper coverage has no significant effect on politics.   

H1:         Indigenous language newspaper coverage has a significant effect on politics.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on the indigenous language newspaper coverage of politics will be of immense benefit to the entire masses in the sense that it will enable them to read with understanding news in their local dialect so as to be carried along since it isn’t everyone that is educated and more also it will enable them to know their right as citizens of the country. Indigenous language of a community is best suited for conveying messages to such communities; therefore the idea of writing news in indigenous language is necessary. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of studies and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on indigenous language newspaper is limited to politics.

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

Indigenous Language: Indigenous Language  is the local Nigerian dialects i.e. the various native languages spoken in Nigeria.

Newspaper       newspaper is a printed publication (usually issued daily or weekly) consisting of folded unstapled sheets and containing news, articles, advertisements, and correspondence.

Coverage         The coverage of a radio station is the geographic area where the station can communicate. 

Politics            politics is the process of making decisions that apply to members of a group. It refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance