PRESS COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR UDOM’S EMMANUEL ADMINISTRATION A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PUNCH NEWSPAPERS AND GLOBAL CONCORD
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
The press has always remained a key factor in the coverage of governmental activities. That means through coverage the mass media serve as a veritable links between the government platforms with various audiences in terms of administrative achievement just like that of Governor Udom Emmanuel who first assumed duty on the 29th May 2015
On the cardinal aspect of overage Okunna (2002:67) state that in emerging democratic like Nigeria the most prominent communication effort done by the press is through coverage of government projects and programmes aimed in the enhancement of the citizenry’s welfare.
At this juncture, it could be stated that the press has played a vital role in the coverage of governor Udom’s Emmanuel Administration. The press has been identified as a very important weapons to cover most government activities. in Nigeria, the press by which we refer to the newspapers, the magazine and other channels of communication could be said to be involved in daily coverage of several programmes, undertaken either by the government or private individuals.
The effects of news reportage through coverage are manifest in the improvement in Nigerians ranking in terms of development of infrastructures.
The Nigerians print media, especially privately owned, could be said to have indeed come along way in the coverage of important events and issues. This study realizes that Nigeria print media have discharged duties creditably well in covering the functions and duties of government officials but they are constrained by several factors which are going to be enumerated.
Despite the commendable contributions of the press to press coverage of government officials in terms of administration, it is however important to point out that the level of development of the Nigerian printed press may constitute hindrance to its effective performance of its roles as a major coverage of administrative governmental activities watchdog.
The level of the industry’s economic development, for example is still poor. most media organizations are under-capitalized to survive, most media houses depend heavily on advertisement from different institutions and governments. the are to watch and cover, also, in some media house many month of salaries are owned staff and where regularly paid, they are two how for any meaningful evidence.
This near-begger status of media houses and their staff cannot ensure strict adherence to the ethnics of the profession during coverage of events since most of the print media are privately owned there is always a tendency of lack of access to information that could be given to these newspapers houses.
Most government ministries and parastatals hid information may be for fear toe being intimidated buy the higher quarters. This compound effective coverage, the administrative aspect of information on the part of government officials, then there is always threats that emanate from the government quarters, for instance both politicians and bureaucrats often try to intimidate journalists that engage in covering specific events.
The politician and bureaucrats always try to hide embarrassing information that could tarnish their image. as such they exercise threats which lead to closure of such print media house.
This study realizes that the Nigeria print media have discharged duties effectively in the area of coverage of the administrative patterns this background that they study intends to focuses its searchlight on press coverage of Governor Udom’s Emmanuel administration with reference to the punch and the global concord newspaper.
- Statement of the Problem
Effective press coverage of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration could be determined through they ways the punch and the global concord newspapers reported such administrative.
However there are variables things that hinder effective press coverage of government officials being engaged in to the execution of their administrative duties, these are the inability of the press to access information and also treats that are being sent to most newspapers house such as closure of the arrest of key journalist such moves have not really permitted to private newspapers to discharge their duties.
Therefore one seem to ask if there is a relationship between the press and the government in terms of watchdog activities of the first which is the press. It is against this background that this study shall attempt to see how effective press coverage o f government activities could be done.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objectives that would guide the study are set to;
- Determine the nature of prominence attached to press coverage of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord Newspaper.
- Ascertain the start/direction or tone of press coverage of Udom’s Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord newspapers.
- Assess the sources of the reports of press coverage of Udom’s Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord Newspaper.
- Determines the methods that were used in gathering information for the reports as indicated in the content of the stories.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions formulated based on the study’s objectives were:
- What was the nature of prominence attached to press overage of Governor Udom’s Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord Newspaper.
- What was the start/direction of tone of press coverage of Udom’s Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord Newspaper?
- What were the sources of the reports of press coverage of Udom’s Emmanuel administration by the Punch and the Global Concord Newspaper?
- Which of the methods were used in gathering information for the reports as indicated in the content of the stories?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study is important because it will highlight more on press coverage of Govenror Udom’s Emmanuel administration thereby attracting more researches.
The study shall also be useful because it will act as reference materials to students of the department of mass commucnaiton Uyo City Polytechnic, also, print experts, management of the punch and the global concord newspapers as well as readers shall benefit from the study.
1.6 Delimitation of the Study
The study focuses on the punch and the Global Concord Newspapers in the coverage of Governor Udom’s Emmanuel administration.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Several constraints were encountered by the researchers. These were in the areas of finance and time. The researcher was constrained by lack of fund. as such, movement to the resources units could not be completed as it could have been. Then, the researcher was preoccupied by scholarly activities such as class attendance and assignment.