AUDIENCE PERCEPTION ON THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN REDUCTION OF MIGRATION: A CASE STUDY OF N.T.A.
Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The coverage of migration has always been a complex issue for the media and in this era of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) the coverage of illegal migrants activities has become an even greater concern. Undoubtedly, the global nature of our new communication technologies has brought about easy and quick access to information. Both peace lovers and perpetrators of evil activities are caught in this inevitable wed of information packaging and dissemination (Willis, 2010).
Addeleke (2004) commenting on the worrisome nature of immigrants globally has this to say: since we live in a world of illegal migrants, strangers, strife, violence and wars. Despite the untiring effort of individuals, groups, organizations and countries all over the world to promote peaceful co-existence among men and women, our generation is still being threatened by the ravage of mass exodus of illegal miscreants, crime. Indeed, the phenomenon of terrorism and crime today are something that are most disturbing and calls for renewed counter terrorism and counter criminal approaches (Uche, 2004).
With a population of more than 150million and being Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria still continues to experience high internal and external migration due to the size of her population, her harsh economic climate, porous borders etc Nigeria is burdened with corruption and endemic poverty with nearly 70 percent of her population living below the poverty line (NBS: 2010). Scarce employment opportunities, corruption and poverty force thousands of Nigerians to emigrate every year in search of better quality life. Illegal migration is fast on the increase and is largely facilitated by forgery of passports, visas, false asylum claims, bogus marriages under false pretense, human smuggling, and human trafficking and a host of other avenues.
Since the beginning of creation, humans have always involved themselves in movement activities. This has been a major feature in the history of Africa and the entire globe generally (Ajia,2004). Migration cannot be inevitable from the history of the story of man, families, villages and nation-state.
Also, the rate of internal migration in Nigeria is skyrocketing as there has been high rate of inter-state migration by young able bodied men in search of better opportunities and greener pastures. Some destination centers are Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Edo, Calabar, Abuja etc. This has led to a great boost in the economic activities in these destination centers and retardation in the economic activities in the source centers especially the rural areas. This inevitably leads to uneven development and a situation known as Economic Dualism. Development in Nigeria has greatly been affected by the rise in irregular migration. This is because the bulk of irregular migration in Nigeria occurs among youth age 18-35, which is the most productive age of human life and this is largely driven by economic incentives. A high youth unemployment rate of 61.1 percent and the rising cost of living are the major factors contributing to the high migration levels among these groups (White, David & Manning, 2004).
The government of Nigeria has continued to give more and even more attention to migration management as evidenced by the additional responsibility given to the National Commission For refugees (NCFR) in 2009 to oversee issues relating to migration and IDPs, the ongoing dialogue with the European Union, and the recent appointment of a senior adviser to the president on Diaspora affairs. Also, Nigeria has taken a leading role in the fight against irregular migration becoming the first African country to enact the anti-human trafficking legislation-The trafficking in person prohibition and administration act (Ake, 2002).
Even with all these measures in combating the high rate of migration (both internal and external), financial, legal and political shortcomings have impeded effective control Migration as a global phenomenon has no acceptable definition. Most definitions use time and space criteria and those which are included in migration process are generally considered to be at least semi-permanent and to take place across definite geographical area. Migration can be defined as the movement of people, goods and services within or across national boundaries. UN defined migration as people moving for various reasons to countries other than their usual residence, for a period of at least twelve months so that the country of destination effectively becomes the new country of usual residence. According to the UN, migration is generally consensual, although it includes movement prompted by a force of socio-economic or political circumstance. The international convention for the protection of the right of all migrant workers and members of the families, 1990 defined the term “migrant” as a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity of which he or she is not a national.
However, a standard definition of migration was given by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM defined migration as the movement of person or group of persons, either across international border or within a state. It is a population movement, encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever is length, composition or causes. Furthermore, the problems encountered in the definition of migration are also reflected in the classification of its various types. This is obvious because unless there is a precise and universally accepted definition of the term migration, it may not be possible to identify the various types of population movements. Migration differs on the basis of duration, distance and organization and this makes classification into mutually exclusive categories rather difficult. This however, has made many writers to simply classify migration as either internal or external (Akinfeleye, 2005).
Atsen (2001) offers the simplest juxtaposition between these two classes of migration by defining internal migration as the population movement from one location to another but within the same geographical boundaries, while international migration (also known as external migration) is the population movement across territorial boundaries. Furthermore, writers on migration are also suggesting that the relative importance of the different types of migration depends on the level of development concerned as well as the physical environment. Edoga-Ugwuaja,(2004) suggested that in a developing country, rural-urban migration may be dominant while in a developed country, daily commuting to work and urban to urban movement may be more dominant.
Adebayo (2000) also supported this view but added that the relative importance of the types of migration do not only depend on the level of development of the country but also on time. According to him, in recent decades, international migration has become relatively more common than internal migration especially in developing countries like Nigeria. In the context of Africa, Audu, (2000) presented a typology in which time and space provided the primary factors used. He identified according to time the following grouping of migration; daily, periodic, seasonal, long-term, irregular, permanent, and according to space, rural-urban, rural-rural, urban-rural, urban-urban.
Critically, the positive and negative effects of the many messages the mass media send out about illegal migrants and terrorism on daily basis to audience are not often given top priority. What seems to matter to mass media practitioners is to write or broadcast the latest happenings under the philosophy that the people have the right to know what is happening within and outside their environment. A critical element of a country’s anticorruption program is an effective media practice. The media has a dual role to play: it not only raises public awareness about corruption, its causes, consequences and possible remedies but also investigates and reports incidences of corruption aiding other oversight (and prosecutorial) bodies. The persistence of Transparency International (2002) in setting Nigeria among the bottom five nations in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) since 1995 is an indication that media ha s not performed this role effectively.
The role of the media is critical in promoting good governance and controlling the news content. It not only raises public awareness about illegal immigrants, its causes, consequences and possible remedies but also investigates and reports incidences of mass exodus of illegal imigrants. The effectiveness of the media, in turn, depends on access to information and freedom of expression, as well as a professional and ethical cadre of investigative journalists (Nwagwugwu, Ayomola and Oluranti, 2015).
Ayoola (2008) opined that if democracy is to survive and be a fruitful concept, the role of the media in sustaining it through anti-corruption crusade could not be overemphasized. He stated further that certain issues must be placed at the forefront of such endeavour. Primary of these is the proper understanding of the concept of democracy by all, and the nature o f the media practice that can nurture democracy and create favourable environment for it to thrive . He further noted that the immediate challenges before the media right now was to crave for a conducive environment for democracy to take root and become sustainable through the enthronement of a culture of freedom of speech and freedom of expression; government accountability an d qualitative civil society indirect participation in governance.
The fight against illegal migrant in Nigeria one must acknowledge, is one of the most daunting and challenging task to embark on, but with political will and commitment by her leaders and the right attitude by all Nigerians there is no doubt that someday, the Transparency International will in her report rank Nigeria as one of the least corrupt countries in the world (Ameh, 2007).
Looking at this stance of the media practitioners closely one is provoked to ask these questions. How are the mass media practitioners or gatekeepers sure that what the “global public” wants is given to it in terms of information distribution? How are they sure that their audiences like the way and manner criminal and terrorism activities are enthroned on the media podium of Agenda – Setting theory? How often do mass media practitioners applaud or celebrate on daily basis promoters of universal peace, and remarkable meaningful developments, especially in the less developed nations of the world?
1.2 Statement of Problem
Migration policies and strategies are confronted with series of problems. These challenges are highlighted below lack of appropriate indicators and quality data: A major obstacle to the improved coordination of migration and development plans is the lack of appropriate indicators and quality data to measure the migration and development nexus. Inadequate Capacities and Coordination of Ministries. Although the Labour Migration Desk and the Diaspora Desk have been created, they lack the appropriate human resources and operational capacity to collect, analyse and publish policy-relevant data and information. Much relevant data on migration and development are scattered between various countries and different actors within countries, making it difficult for policymakers to identify the data most relevant for policy development.
Mass media has been a useful tool in educating, enlighten and disseminating crime information. The following are some of the highlighted problems. Poor security engulfing the country general has made journalists coward. Poor constitutional backup for journalists in covering crime stories especially in court. No adequate training and seminar on crime for journalists. There is problem of inadequate information about various crimes and its perpetrators. Government amnesty programmes and other negotiations with terrorists and militants serve as encouragement for criminal (West, 2016).
In a study on the role of mass media in crime reduction, Sobowale (2001) concluded that there were no appreciable means by which mass media have been used to reduced crime rate in the city. He however accepted that government owned mass media are non proactive enough in crime rate unlike the privately owned ones that are more of profit oriented where its owner’s interests are concerned. Undeniably, Nigeria has political and economic problems, but the rapidly changing conditions of the world of which Nigeria is a part make it imperative that the future of the media should be planned now with vision and enlightenment to exploit their potential for establishing freedom and stability (Allen, & D’Alessio, 2010).
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of study is to determine the audience perception on the role of media in reduction of migration: A case study of N.T.A.
Other specific objectives will include the following:
- To examine if mass media’s programme will influence objectivity of news content on reduction of migration report in Nigeria.
- To examine if mass media programme will influence public perception towards reduction of migration reduction in Nigeria.
- To ascertain if mass media programme will influence public attitude towards crime in Nigeria.
- To know if mass media programme will influence proactiveness of law enforcement agencies towards reduction of migration rate in Nigeria.
- To ascertain if mass media programme will influence discipline on the public towards reduction of migration in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
The previous studies and theoretical conceptions lead to the main research question of this study.
- Will mass media’s programme influence objectivity of news content on reduction of migration report in Nigeria?
- Will mass media programme influence public perception towards reduction of migration in Nigeria?
- Will mass media programme influence public attitude towards reduction of migration in Nigeria?
- Will mass media programme influence proactiveness of law enforcement agencies towards reduction of migration rate in Nigeria?
- Will mass media programme influence discipline on the public towards reduction of migration in Nigeria?
1.5 Relevant of Research Hypothesis
The following are the research hypotheses:
- Mass media’s programme will not have significant influence on objectivity of news content of reduction of migration report in Nigeria.
- Mass media programme will not have significant influence on public perception towards reduction of migration reduction in Nigeria.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study is limited to audience perception on the role of media in reduction of migration: A case study of N.T.A. Although, the audience perception on the role of media in reduction of migration: A case study of N.T.A, using selected audience, viewers and mass media.
However, this cannot be effectively examined without considering the demographic factor of the staffs and sample number of media houses under study, who will in turn respond to the questionnaire of this study. Experience, education background, professional training, age, sex e.t.c must also be considered before the distribution of research instruments.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
The study will benefit the media houses by awaken them their responsibility in cubing crime. While undergraduates and graduates of many disciplines especially mass communication will get prepared for the challenges ahead of them.
1.8 Significance of the Study
The study will benefit the media practitioners and mass communication students on the audience perception on the role of media in reduction of migration: A case study of N.T.A.
The study will assist the television media practitioners to know its role in enhancing crime rate in Nigeria and the success or failure of media industries.
Other beneficial of the study is the media owners, who will know how their action and reaction is crippling the success and public credibility of the media outfit.
Future researchers will find this work very interesting to use as a reference material for their new work and see what previous researchers have done.
Government agencies that are saddles with the responsibility to ensure fairness and media consistency will also see the need to come up will new law that will reduce ownership influence especially in this democratic era so that the public will come to trust such medium.
The study will be of benefit to the government, political analysts, budgets analysts and other stakeholders as regards issues relating to role of mass media in crime reduction.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
Mass Media: This means a diversified media technologies that are intended to reach a large audience by mass communication, i.e. television, radio, internet and so on.
Crime: This denotes an unlawful act punishable by a state. The term “crime” does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition, though statutory definitions have been provided for certain purposes.
Objective news: This is known as the news that is undistorted by personal prejudice. It is news that is fair, accurate, and factual.
News: All types of news can be divided into two: Straight news, which is usually superficial and largely un-interpretive while the second type, is in-depth or interpretive news.
Impact: Thisis synonimous to the role or effect something has on something.
Gate Keeping: Any person or formally organized group directly involved in relaying or disseminating information from one individual to another mass medium. Mass media audience perception of gate keepers incapability to limit information, removal of unwanted areas of the news story and to widen paid stories in the broadcast media.
Broadcast Media: They are very potent mass media which combine audio, visual and motion in translation of news and programmes owned, control and finance by an individual or group of individuals examples are Unique FM Lagos and Gallax TV, Lagos.
Actuality: A situation where the sound on the television is the actual person being shown or the actual remarks of the person making a remark.
Objectivity: This is the belief or trust which public have on the contents of the broadcast media. It also means not being influenced by personal feelings, ideas, or bias. A state of being influenced by personal feelings or bias.
Get the Complete Project
This is a premium project material and the complete research project plus questionnaires and references can be gotten at an affordable rate of N3,000 for Nigerian clients and $15 for International clients.