ECONOMIES AND BUSINESS NEWS REPORTING IN SELECT NATIONAL DAILIES

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ABSTRACT

Economies and Agriculture business is important national development especially now that there is rapid decline in oil prices, massive unemployment, hunger and starvation. This study examined newspaper coverage of Economies and Agriculture business news. To determine how often newspapers, report Economies and Agriculture business news, to ascertain the level of prominence given to Economies and Agriculture business news by the Nigerian newspapers, to determine the range of Economies and Agriculture business issues reported in Nigerian newspapers. The researcher used content analysis to study Daily Trust, and Vanguard newspapers published between May, 2015 and May, 2016. The study found out that 33 out of 1498 stories studied covered Economies and Agriculture business positively. However, the study also revealed that no Economies and Agriculture business news was seen in front, back pages of the two newspapers indicating lack of prominence. The researcher therefore recommended that the Nigerian media should accord more prominence to Economies and Agriculture business news coverage.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

  1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In today’s world it is believed that most of achievements, have been attained due to the contribution of the mass media (Kumarswamy, 2015). Therefore, it could be strongly argued that mass media when fully utilized can help in achieving any goal set by any nation (Singh, 2011, Kadiri, 2012.).

The communication technique needed to integrate media to national development is development communication. Development communication techniques include information dissemination and education, behavior change, social marketing, social mobilization, media advocacy, communication for social change and community participation. Furthermore, Talabi (2013) contends that the practice of development communication will remain relevant in Nigeria as long as there is poverty in the country. The practice is also viewed useful in Nigeria in the area of Economies and Agriculture business, health communication and in fighting violence against women (Kadiri, 2012).

Kumarswamy (2015), said development communication is the integration of strategic communication in development projects. Strategic communication is a powerful tool that can improve the chances of success of development projects. It has also been defined as organized efforts to use communications processes and media to bring social and economic improvements, generally in developing countries. Dissemination of information about various program is one important aspect for bringing uniformity in society. The Information for all program provides a framework for international co-operation and international and regional partnerships. It supports the development of common strategies, methods and tools for building a just and free information

society and for narrowing the gap between the information rich and the information-poor. The need of development and development communication will remain as long as the existence of human society. Communication is an integral part of development process.

In Nigeria newspapers are the pioneers of development. Even after independence the contributed in building the nation because of their selfless efforts it is termed as the fourth estate of independent Nigeria. (Oso, 2012). To add to the above understanding Popoola, (2014), citing Khadar and Nadiye, said in general the print media usage is to provide information and to sensitize, reach, stabilize groups of rural people compared to other print media, print media has the advantage of being relatively cheap compare to television, cable and internet, as well as better to remember because of the fact that, written words or pictures stick better in mind Singh (2011), emphasized that, knowledge and information are essential for people to successfully respond to the opportunities and challenges of social economic and technologic changes.