final year project topics and materials

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page .................................................................. i

Approval page ............................................................ ii

Dedication.................................................................. iii

Acknowledgements...................................................... iv

Table of contents........................................................ vii

Abstract ..................................................................... x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study......................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the study.......................................... 4

1.3 Objectives of the study  ........................................ 6

1.4 Significance of the study ....................................... 8

1.5 Research questions ............................................... 9

1.6 Research hypotheses ............................................ 10

1.7 Definitions of terms .............................................. 11

1.8 Assumptions of the study ...................................... 13

1.9 Limitation of the study .......................................... 14

     References ............................................................ 16

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Sources of literature............................................... 18

2.2 Review of the literature ......................................... 18

2.3 Theoretical framework........................................... 31

2.4 Summary of the literature reviewed ....................... 32

     References ............................................................ 34

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 The research design  ............................................. 37

3.2 Area of the study .................................................. 37

3.3 Population of the study ......................................... 38

3.4 Research sample and sampling techniques  ............ 38

3.5 Instrument used for data collection ....................... 40

3.6 Data collection ..................................................... 41

3.7 Data analysis ........................................................ 41

   References .............................................................. 42

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.1 Data presentation and analysis.............................. 43

4.2 Hypothesis testing ................................................ 50

4.3 Discussion of findings ............................................ 54

      References............................................................ 59

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON FURTHER STUDIES.

5.1 Summary .............................................................. 60

5.2 Conclusion ............................................................ 61

5.3 Recommendations on further studies ..................... 62

     Bibliography........................................................... 64

    Appendix ................................................................ 68

    Questionnaire.......................................................... 69

ABSTRACT

In several quarters, there have been allegation making round, that state governments use their state Broadcast media as propaganda machinery. The focus is to investigate such allegation using Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) radio/TV as a case study. The study was based on critical theory by staurt Hall. The theory views the means by which the “haves of society gain the willing support of the “have nots” to maintain the status quo. The study uses empirical method observing the five chapters structural arrangement, with each chapter assigned a specific role to play for the overall success of producing a reliable result. The researcher consulted relevant literature to raise secondary data while survey method was used to generate primary data for analysis. The data generated using questionnaire techniques were tested using chi-share goodness of fit test formular. Data were presented in tables and extensively discussed to enable the researcher draw his conclusion and make some recommendations. The researcher though did not find Enugu state government using it’s broadcast outfits as propaganda machinery, but strongly recommends that the management of the broadcast stations should overhaul it’s programmes in order to drop those perceived by the media audiences as sycophantic, wherein presenters use them to sing praises for the state government unnecessarily.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Broadcasting, according to Robert White (1999:485) was introduced as a form of military communication in the 1920’s, the apogee of nationalism and government propaganda. Dominick (1990:175) one of the striking facts about broadcasting is that it was invented by young people for example, Marconi who developed wireless transmitter was only twenty-three when he did that and Reginald Fessenden made his first radiophone broadcast when he was thirty-four. But, can the adult misuse or abuse broadcasting media because it was the brainchild of the young people? So it could be misused by the powers that be. Quoting Aiyetan (2002) Galadima (2003:260) “public office holders believe they can do anything and get away with it as long as they can control media, or get a good journalist to do the dirty job of lying with facts”.

Odumegwu Ojukwu, also observed thus:

When a public office holder does something outlandish,the media sing his praises instead of  condemning him than concentrating on more important national or state issues. (cited by Gdadima, 2003: 261)

In a vehement support of Ojukwu’s Observation, Ternakur (2003:236) Citing Nwankwo (1987), describes the Nigerian mass media as “government said” media is not out of place. Government reflects the will and interests of the class that controls the existing mode of production, power bloc and political machinery in their media outfits.

Neither the government nor their media workers ever agree that they misuse the media. Every journalist disassociates himself or herself from the term “propaganda”. But Casey (1960:232) “the problem every media of communication faces is separating news from propaganda”. Under a free system, one can distinguish between journalist and a propagandist. Both are interested informers. But, journalists seek news and serve the producers of news and not the consumers of news. In the Nigerian government - owned media, journalists are propagandists. They use all known propaganda devices to achieve the aim of their pay-masters.

        According to Junhao Hong, (1997:223), “Chinese government uses broadcast media to conduct propaganda campaigns”. The question is, is propaganda bad? In answer to this question, Ebeze (2003: 219) “Propaganda is not composed of lies and tell stories. It operates with many different kinds of truth, half-truths, limited-truths and truth out of context.”      

        The author quoted Braque (1999) “modern propaganda introduces new dimensions which tend towards education and enlightenment.

        Broadcasting media started in Nigeria in the 1930s. Ebo (1994:43) by 1936, radio made its debut when the first Radio Distribution Service through rediffusion sets became operational in Lagos, Nigeria. But, what is today known as Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) was first opened on October 1, 1960 when it was called Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (ENBC). Having operated for forty-eight years now, it will be proper for a study of this nature in order to ascertain from an independent source whether government has used it as propaganda machinery or other wise. 

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

        All over the world, especially third world countries with less degree of free press, government has manipulated the masses using broadcasting media. Broadcasting is volatile and its potentials are unending satisfaction, as in print media. It has great potentials in information dissemination, education enlightenment, political socialization, and socio-cultural orientation. Most people form their opinions based on what they learned from the mass media. Regrettably, observed schramm (1971), quoted by Ebeze (200:221)

Forming an opinion becomes more difficult when a person does not have access to adequate information ……… this information will help individual to form an opinion.

When the masses are disinformed, or uninformed due to excessive censorship or punitive control measures of state owned media by the government, the public might react and take law into their hands. For instance, between 2000 and 2002, there were instances when aggrieved media audiences in Anambra, Imo and Abia states resorted to jungle justice by invading and attacking Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Awka, Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Oweri, and Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) Umuahia. The attacks on the broadcasting media stations were as a result of unprofessional reportage of election news. The three mentioned broadcast stations are not