UYO RESIDENTS’ VIEW OF NEWSPAPER REPORT OF ECOLOGICAL NEWS IN SOUTH SOUTH NIGERIA (JULY-DECEMBER 2016)
ABSTRACT
The study focused on Uyo residents’ view of newspaper report of ecological news in South South Nigeria from July to December, 2016. The study’s delimitation was Uyo metropolis. The study’s design was the survey method. The study’s population way 554 090 based on 2006 census, and the study’s sample was 374 obtained from the study’s population through Yaro Yamani statistical tool. The study’s tool was the questionnaire in which copies were administered to the prospective respondents. Study’s findings revealed that most ecological news besides waste management was not adequately covered by the two newspapers under review within the period and objectively was not observed by the dailies involved. Based on these findings the study recommended that Nigerian dailies should reach to its audience on ecological news through conservation education, then, Nigerian dailies should be involved in sensitization processes in ecological news, then accurate and high quality of ecological news should be released always by the Nigerian newspapers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page – – – – – – – – – i
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement to the Problem – – – – – 4
1.3 Objective to the Study – – – – – – 5
1.4 Research Questions – – – – – – – 6
1.5 Significance to the Study – – – – – – 7
1.6 Delimitation of Study – – – – – – 7
1.7 Limitation of Study – – – – – – 8
1.8 Definition of Terms – – – – – – – 8
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 10
2.2 Review of Concepts – – – – – – – 10
2.3 Review of Studies – – – – – – – 17
2.4 Theoretical Framework – – – – – – 22
CHAPTERTHREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 27
3.2 Research Design – – – – – – – 27
3.3 Population to the Study – – – – – – 27
3.4 Sampling Size and Sampling Technique – – – 28
3.5 Description of Research Instrument – – – – 29
3.7 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument – – – 29
3.7 Method of Data Collection – – – – – 30
3.8 Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – 30
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
4.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 31
4.2 Presentation of Data – – – – – – 31
4.3 Discussion of Findings – – – – – – 44
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 47
5.2 Summary – – – – – – – – – 47
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 48
5.4 Recommendation – – – – – – – 49
References
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Most Nigeria dailies have been involved in special issues on ecological hazards. This has been done in form of newspaper report of ecological news. For instance, dailies newspapers such as The Guardian, The Vanguard, The Telegraph just a few to mention have been concerned with the country’s ecological degradation. The media perspective reflects a structure of ecological development and at the same time the media when skillfully applied could be an agent of development. Through report, the newspaper focus about ecological awareness and how to deal the preservation of nature that touches some areas of environments such as: planting trees and transforming such environment to a living and conducive place for human beings. The media report particular issues influences and to shape public awareness and debate. The media believed to be at the vanguard of societal emancipation by reaching to the audience with ease and extensively on ecological issues. Also, the newspapers geared towards driving and making government stakeholders to be more proactive to media publications.
The media play a crucial role in information dissemination of members of the society in which it operate. Going by this study’s context, the print media affects us in many ways, a key player in ecological communication and a communicator of values and norms. The media as the fourth estate of the realm is saddled with the responsibility of upholding and advancing the ecological news because the media is viewed as a defender of public interest and a watchdog on ecological issues in which human beings are also affected. Since then, journalism is seen as truly an estate of the realm, more articulate and more powerful than other estates. Interestingly enough, if the press is allowed to perform its primary function unhindered that is, free of censorship, the press will obviously perform maximally in informing the public on the issues considered critical and germane to the societal development, articulate public views objectively guide and act as check on government, individuals, stakeholders and agencies. The slogan the media as the fourth estate of the realm is what links the press to the society through an ideological resonance.
As part of the perceived role of the mass media, the press or mass media are obliged to present ideas and information that will enlighten and widen the horizons of the citizens to prepare the citizens to take independent and rational decisions for define views. Besides, another important of the media is that the media is obliged to provide reasoned s independent information to the citizens while carrying out watchdog roles. It is against this background that this study wants to examine Uyo residents’ view of newspaper report of ecological news in south South Nigeria from July to December, 2016.
Tagbo (2010:22) after a study found that apart from being disposable beat ecological news report in relatively new subject in African media. This includes dissemination of information on green issues in the nation and in the global scene.
Empirical data from Tagbo also shows that the Nigerian main media have not been doing well in the report of ecological and to the health of people. Lack of understanding of the issue of climate makes it difficult to most African journalists to do a good job of reporting it. Also Tagbo (2010:43) observes that climate change has become a strong development issues but has been over showed by the pressing issues to which are more visible to the public. There is a vital consensus on the report of climate change issues from the Nigerian editors.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It is not clear if the Nigerian newspapers see themselves as partners in progress with the report of ecological news and not a mere watch dog. Today, Nigerians have had cause to complain bitterly on the ecological degradation that affects most areas in which many of them are presiding.
To be a progressive, nation therefore, there is the need for interaction between the ecological sectors and the media where the media are expected to be not only a watchdog but also performing their correlation duty with the intention of leveraging and salvaging the ecological sector by monitoring safe ecological policy implementation, publishing ecological news and program and by bringing to the public knowledge of what goes on in the ecological sector.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The study is set to achieve among others, the following
Objectives in order to;
- Find out the extent to which Uyo residents have been addicted to newspapers’ reading on ecological news in South South Nigeria from July to December 2016;
- Find out from Uyo residents within period under review types of ecological news they prefer most;
- Assess their responses on the quality of newspapers report of ecological news in South South Nigeria July-December 2016;
- Ascertain Uyo residents’ view in general of newspapers report of ecological news in South South Nigeria July to December 2016
1.4 Research Question
The following questions shall guide the researcher in this study:
