THE PERCEPTION OF NETWORK NEWS AMONG LAGOS RESIDENTS
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CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background to the study
Since the need for communication and information is fundamental to human nature, humans have always developed ways to meet this need. Since no man can live in isolation from others, it is thought that no human community can function properly if there is no interchange of ideas, experiences, information, etc. among the members of the society.
The early forms of interpersonal, group, and trade media all had the advantage of being simple to use and not requiring sophisticated technology. Due to the limitations of not being able to reach or expose oneself to a large audience at any given time, mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the telegraph (point-to-point communication) were developed. More recently, the Internet and ICT have contributed to the expansion of mass communication (Adeniran, 2015).
However, because people are naturally curious about what is going on in the world, news is one of the main reasons newspapers, radio stations, and television networks exist. Dedicated and experienced journalists and technological specialists who operate the distribution device display this in a more realistic manner on television, an audio-visual medium that conveys information to the public more effectively than other methods.
In the meantime, one’s perception of what constitutes news greatly influences the news. Around the planet, thousands of events are happening at once at any given time. “Many killed in multiple bomb attacks in Yola”, “Serve Nigerians, not my husband, Aishat tells Buhari’s aides,” “Winners pastor kidnapped during prayers in Calabar,” “Buhari wins 2015 election, Jonathan concede defeat, and so on are potential news. However, they do not become news until some reporters give an account of them and presented them through the broadcasting media. In other words, news is the account of an event, not the event itself.
Thus, Ewuola (2014) defines news as a timely and factual account of an event that is of public interest or significance. News is packaged information about new events happening somewhere else. It is not an overstatement that news at night was dominated and monopolized by the NTA until when privatization of broadcasting media by Decree 38 of 1992 during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime paved the way for the proliferation of private broadcasting media (radio and television) and as a result, the state and federal monopoly and hegemony was truncated because they started competing heavily for the same available audience lead to blocking programming strategy among the stations meaning that news at night are purposively schedule to gain audience attention as over 7 national channels airs their major news at night between 8-10 pm.
According to Olayinka (2015), people’s exposure to television shows is based on their satisfaction with satisfying their information needs as well as their personal preferences. Some individuals enjoy sports, thus they watch sports programs; the same is true for news, etc.
Media ownership is another element that influences people’s preferred media because the owner has a say over what is published in the media, and this might drive certain people away from a particular station or medium. For example, many people have lost faith in the NTA and AIT because to the trust breach that occurred after Real Buhari was aired on them during the 2015 election campaign.
People’s social backgrounds also play a significant role in determining news and program ratings, perceptions, and preferences. While those with less privilege may only watch NTA in their state, wealthy individuals may have access to multiple news channels by watching cable TV through StarTimes and other platforms. Education: A few media shows are made for the literate, or those who can follow a particular language. News at Nine and Night, for example, are made in English to appeal to a wide range of viewers. Political affiliate: Since politics has a greater influence on our daily lives in today’s culture, many PDP members, for example, may find it offensive to watch NTA since they think the network won’t feature positive news about their party or be able to portray the current administration in an unfavorable light.
Other dictating factors include but are not limited to ethnicity, locations of the people, media contents, and media language. Some of the rival news at night stations are: Channels News = 10 pm, AIT NEWS HOUR= 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm, AIT NEWS HOUR= 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm, TVC =10 pm and STV = 10 pm It is against this background that the research examines audience perception of the NTA network news among Lagos residents among the array of stations offering news at night.
1.2 Problem statement
Much research into television viewership deals with the effects of particular genres on the audience (e.g. Influence of violent programs on adolescent social behavior, the influence of who wants to be a millionaire on students’ academic performance, etc). Results have been well documented in the popular literature (Anastasia, 2012). A less widely known area of research involves determining reasons for viewership or perception of a particular genre or specific show. Research in this area falls under the heading of selective exposure to television (or more generally selective exposure to communication) i.e. what (programmes) and why (reasons) or perception of audience over certain programmes if compared to the one offered by the rival stations.
Some of the factors responsible for people’s certain perceptions and preferences could be attributed to personal preference and gratification in meeting their information needs, media ownership structure, source credibility because the source is the medium, social background, level of education and exposure, religion and political affiliates, ethnicity, locations of the people, media contents and media language among others.
Also, privatization of broadcasting media by Decree 38 of 1992 during General Ibrahim Babangida regime has paved way for the proliferation of private broadcasting media (radio and television) and as a result, the state and federal monopoly and hegemony was truncated because they started competing heavily for the same available audience lead to blocking programming strategy among the stations meaning that news at night are purposively schedule to gain audience attention as over 7 national channels airs their major news at night between 9-10 pm.
Digitalization of the broadcast media is another factor because on the cable television like DSTV, StarTimes, GoTv, Consat etc. There are lots of news channels from Nigeria, Africa and world that compete with the NTA news at night today compared to the past.
Other factor competing with the news at night is the internet penetration particularly social media and news blogs where people particularly youth relied heavily for news and other information this which has brought decline not only in the number of hardcopy newspapers sold daily but has also cause decline in the number of television news consumers in the recent times.
It is against this background that the research examines the perception of NTA network news at night by the Lagos residents among the array of channels available and to proof the claim of the NTA and the largest television network in Africa.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
- To examine the extent at which audience in Lagos are watching NTA news at 9 pm.
- To examine whether Lagos prefer NTA news at night to others like channels news, STV, TVC etc
1.4 Research Questions
- To what extent are audience in Lagos watching NTA news at 9 pm?
- To what extent are residents of Lagos preferred NTA news at Night to other stations like Channels, STV, TVC?
1.5 Significance of the Study
- The study will help to provide adequate insight to meet the changing demands in the dynamic news media environment of our society hereby helping media managers to make better decisions, planning, and strategies in news gathering, writing, and packaging.
- The study will assist media practitioners to know that its role can make and kill the media industry.
- Another benefit of the study are media owners will know how their action and reaction can cripple the success and public credibility of their media outfit in the case of the AIT and NTA etc during the 2015 electioneering
- Government agencies that are saddled with the responsibility to ensure fairness and media consistency will also see the need to come up with new laws and policies that will reduce ownership influence and other abuse of the media especially in this democratic era so that the public will come to trust such medium since the medium is the message.
- Students and researchers will find this work very interesting to use as reference material for their new research while it will add to the bulk of empirical research available to mass communication, media, and journalism students.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This research which examines audience perception of the NTA network news at Night has been narrowed in scope to the audience in Lagos because of the proximity, convenience, time, fund, materials, and other logistics since it will not only be difficult but impossible to study all the broadcast audience in Nigeria. Hence, the demography of respondents such as age, sex, education, marital status, occupation, and others will be studied before the administration of the research tool to the selected respondents to know if any of this influences their media of preference.
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