THE
ROLE OF THE PRESS IN A DEMOCRACY
(THE PRESS IN PERSPECTIVE)
ABSTRACT
The study
deals with the analysis of the role of
the Nigerian press in the democratic struggle in Nigeria. The research method used
was the survey method, with the questionnaires and interview as the method for data collection. The study kicks
off from the definition of democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people, including brief
definition of some features of democracy like popular sovereignty, popular
consultation and periodical elections. Using constentical questionnaires given
to eight (80) respondents, the study
analyzer the press and its revolution
and power a growth and development of the Nigerian press in democracy.
Respondents are polled in four categories: Lectures layers politicians and
general citizens . Analyses of their
responses show that the press is essential for provide my owners for the
participation of all members of the society in decision making. As a
recommendation the press is urged to put up expensive and effective machinery
to cover the nation as a whole and not just the cities and their aliclist
inhabitants the press was also
admonished to work towards national cohesion and to d this it should consciously purse the goal of
getting Nigerian to think and reason as Nigerian rather than alongside the
dividends of ethnicity the findings are
1.
That the Nigeria press
has so for performed its role of adducting and people on the need to make wise
choice from competing alternatives during elections.
2.
That the role of the press in promoting and
entrenching sustainable and effective
democracy is very essential.
3.
That the Nigerian press has
fearlessly and responsibly performed its roles of not only informing people to
make wise choices, but also safeguarding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page II
Certification III
Dedication IV
Acknowledgement V
Abstract VII
Table of contents VIII
List of tables and figures XI
CHAPTER
ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1
Statement of problem 7
Rationale and Purpose of the study 9
Significance of the study 11
Research Questions 12
Research Hypothesis 13
Definitions of terms 14
Limitation of the study 15
CHAPTER
TWO:
LITERATURE
REVIEW 16
Press its Revolution and power growth
and
development of Nigeria press Expected Roes of
press in Democracy Philosophies or Typologies concept of freedom of press in
democracy 31
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY METHOD 37
Sampling Procedure 38
Data Collection Instrument 39
Data collection method 40
Data Analysis 40
CHAPTER
FOUR:
DATA
ANALYSIS AND FINDING 42
CHAPTER
FIVE:
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Findings 53
Suggestion
Recommendation and 54
Bibliography 57
Questionnaire 60
LIST OF TABLE
TABLE 1 : The respondents view of the press roles in Nigeria
democracy .
TABLE 11 : Respondents rating of the
press roles in Nigeria
democracy so far.
TABLE 111: The respondents” view of the major roles o the press in
Nigerian Democracy
TABLE 1V: . How far has the
press performed it roles.
TABLE
V: respondents view on
whether Nigerian press is free to
perform its roles.
TABLE V1: The threat to press freedom in Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACGROUND OF THE STUDY
Democracy in its simplest definition means government of the people,
of the people and for the people. It its often referred to as government of
popular participation, even though sound schools of thought will argue that democracy in the contemporary society
cannot accommodate every member of a society, what can be possible is representative
participation.
However, in its original form and as practiced in ancient Greek city stated
and approximated of New England town meetings
and swiss contions, Democracy simply means full participation of all citizens
in the daily routine of administration of community affairs. Literally however,
democracy means government of the
people, by the people and for the
people. This is derivative from two Greek word that make up the word “Democracy” which literally means people
to be ruled.
Yet. Some western political theorists
for example, kotler how holds the view that democracy is only a system of
government that guarantees direct maximum popular control over the decision.
From the foregoing, it is clear that
democracy as the ancient Greek developed it entails the participation of every member of a
society. Meanwhile, the participation
will be difficult to obtain or guarantee in modern societies or state, in its purest
form. What could be obtained is therefore representation. To this
and Robert Dahl and others, believe that is safe only in the hands of
popularly elected elite whose powers are limited and who can be removed while
in the officer by the people whenever their wishes are not being not. Thus, the
focus of the thesis is on effective popular control over the elected representative of the people as
opposed to direct participation, which is in modern control, neither desirable
nor attainable. Invariably, what we call democracy today is representative
government. If means that the citizens should choose those they feel could
represent their interest and government on their behalf according to the
principles of majority rule. In other words, the philosophical basis of
representative government is the idea of popular sovereignty.
Essentially
whatever may be the difference is important to note that ideal democracy,
guarantees the government that will be in the interest of the people. The
government that will be responsive to popular wishes and guarantee that every
citizen must have some share in the decision –making process either by way of
directs participation, by way of electing the decision makes and popular
control.
Indeed, democracy must hold certain
common promises that makes it 50 attractive to all who profess or aspire to
practices it. In its quality, shunning all forms of class differences. In
its economic sense, it attempts to level
inequalities in wealth. And in total and political sense, it aims basically at
securing the consent of the governed, protecting his human personality and
achieving the well.
If it is
agreed that these are the goals of democracy, to how than can a governmental
system achieve the goal ? Or if any goal system claim to level itself as
democratic, what features do are look for a system. Perhaps, an answer to these
questions would help in quintessence of democracy.
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF DEMOCARCY
POPUAR SOVEREIGNITY: For a
democratic system of government, it is necessary that sovereign power resides
in the people. If the ultimate command
of fill and exclusive legal power, command of fully and exclusive legal power,
what we have is autocracy or dictatorship and if it is on the hands of a few
people , we have oligarchy, aristocracy and not democracy.
EQUAL OPPORTNITY FOR ALL: This
implies that the equal access of all members of the society to the political
decision making process must be guarantee. It also requires economic
independence and job security. More importantly, it means one man, each vote
weighted equally with another. Every individual must not only have the right to
vote but also the right to be voted for in any election.
AVAILABILITY OF CHOICE BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE
In democratic setting it is compulsory opportunity to choose from
competing alternative, political to complement the peoples right to political
equation, genie alternative policy programmes must be presented to the people
at elections to enable them make real choices. This is than achieved by
organizing the political elite into factions or parties with different
political prgrammes.
REGULAR PERIODICAL ELECTIONS: This has dual advantages of providing an orderly changes of
government and of providing a channel for the
expression of the citizens wishes at regular intervals. The people can
therefore be fee to make a reasonably choice out of competing alternative
political ideals and leaders.
POPULAR CONSULTATION: Popular
consultation is also a way of sounding the wishes as regards to what policies
they want to adopt. After identifying the wishes, the ruling elite must ensure
that the wishes are translated into public policies decisions is the
satisfaction of the people. The kind of two way communication envisaged have
requires a public that is reasonably in formed on civil matter and adequate and
open channel of communication, an intelligent and independent press, and freedom of association and
discussion,
It is under this situation that the
citizens can contribute to the decision making process, through public
opinioned in speech or writing in associations, group or public meetings praise
or blame the government and criticize policies with suggestion for other lines
of action without hindrance.
WELL INFORMED ELECTORATE: Although
the previous discussed features has identified the essence of communication in
democracy it is still necessary to isolate it as an important different
characteristics of democracy. Essentially, the idea of democracy thrives better
where the voters are literate and well
informed this view is not heold so as to
equate democracy people with educated people. This is more practicable in the
modern societies where every issue is given wide publicity on radio, Tv and the
press.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
It is now clear that democracy is a philosophy that is based on the
a aforementioned principles and features. It has the capability to ensure
popular participation, freedom of political action and to draw upon the talents
of the greatest number of members of a polity for the promotion and
satisfaction of common interests. Basically, inclusion in power means collusion
in its benefit.
However, the principles and the
benefits of democracy cannot be attained and have not being attained any where
in the world without the power and roles of the press. In other worlds, the role
of the press in democracy cannot be overemphasized. It is observable that are
interviewer with communication. Any attempt to promote democracy must start
with the education of the people, so
that they can appreciate the choices be fore then and acquire the ability and character to be have rationally
and participate actively in the process of governance. Without education,
people cannot understand the essence of democracy and general issue of public
interest and in such a situation, it would be presumptions to expect the people to exercise independent
judgement or tolerate others point of view and political choice or decision.
This is where the press comes into democracy and that is why democracy cannot
be separated from the press.
Democracy involves a responsibly a responsibly understanding of rights and
obligations by the people, in every situation and also involves the appreciation of the nature and dimensions of
issues to be decided. The understanding and appreciation process are done by
the press in any democratic setting. But the ability of the press to functions
in broadcasting the base of information showing and in democratizing public
established particularly in Nigeria.
In other needs, it is already
established that, the press has a profound effect on the thinking of the
people, of least. Barnard. Cohen has said that the press may not be successful much of time in telling people
what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its reads what to
think about” but the question of how the Nigeria, press have been able to show
the civil society the light to follow towards a proper functioning democracy
still remains unanswered empirically.
Therefore, this study is set out to find out what really the roles the Nigerian press in particular
has performed in entrenching and sustaining democracy in Nigeria. The study
shall this endeaour to find out how much effort has been made by the Nigerian
press to strengthen the resoling of those forces and institutions that are
designed or oriented towards the sustenance of democracy.
1.3 RATIONALE AND PURPOSE FOR
THE STUDY
The Nigerian press has been
criticized for subverting the course of democracy rather than furthering it.
Take for example accusation against certain section of the press often referred
to as Lagos /
Badin axis as promoting sectioned interest rather than n than national.
Nigerian Tribunal which is owned by chief Obafemi Awolowo clan has been
variously accrued of contributing to the fall of the second republic as its
consist. Tent criticism of Alhaji Shehu shagari government led to military
intervention of December
31, 1973.
Equally, the role of the Nigerian
press under the military, especially after month of the annulment the June 12, 1993 presidential
election has come under criticism by those in government. Although the press
was in the vanguard of agitation for democratic rules, many continued to accuse
the press as playing a sub-versive role in the country.
The purpose of the study is therefore
to find out the contributions of the press, particularly the Nigeria press
in the development, entrenchment and sustenance of democracy. What are the
roles of the press in democracy in generad and how has the Nigerian press fore
in performing the roles are the major knowledge the study intends to find out.
In finding out all these, these study
shall also analyze the legal and other constraint on the expected roles of
Nigerian press in democracy struggle.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study shall be of immense benefit to the society as a whole. It
will be beneficial particularly to the Nigerian furnish, by affording the
knowledge of how they have fared since independence on the enthronement and
sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
The study shall let then know the true position in the democracy struggle in Nigeria and
shall let then know how well or otherwise they
have performed their expected roles in the democracy struggle. The study
hall open up to the journalism the constant hazards and obstacle that have
impended or hinder the performance of their roles in enthronement of democracy
in Nigeria and shall give break light on how to remove the constraints.
Another major benefactor and its
officials. It would also afford these group of people the knowledge of how they
have helped or hindered the press in
performing its expected roles in democratic struggle. There by, the study shall
be a source of aspiration for change in their attitude towards press and their
roles in a democratic dispensation.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In order to achieve that purpose of study, the following questions
shall be answered by the study.
1.
What are the roles of the press
on democracy.
2.
How has the Nigeria press
few in the performance of its expected
roles democratic struggle.
3.
Has the Nigerian press
monitored the events nation wide and beyond, to reflect sufficient concern for
democratic processes and values in their assignment ?
4.
Are Nigerian press socially
responsible or not in their attempt to enthrone and sustain democracy in Nigeria ?
5.
Has Nigerian press performed
well in informing the Nigerian populace and providing useful fore for
discussion and debate on all aspects of national and human existence ?
6.
What are the constants of the Nigeria press
in performing its roles for democratic enthronement ?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H 1 – The
role of the press in any democracy is very essential.
H0 – The role
of the press in any democracy is not very
essential.
H2 – The Nigeria press
has not performed effective and positive roles in Nigerian democracy.
H0 – The
Nigerian press has not performed effective and positive roles in Nigeria
democracy.
H3 – The
Nigerian press has fore most in the
roles of informing and educating people in order to make a wise choice in
election.
H0 – The
Nigerian press has not fore most in the roles of informing and educating people
in order to make a wise choice in election.
H4 –Nigeria press
is completely free to perform its roles.
H0 – Nigerian
press is not completely free to perform its roles.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
DEMOCRACY
CONCEPTUAL – Democracy has
to do with a country with government which encourages and shows rights of
citizenship such as freedom of speech, religion, opinion and association, the
assertion of the rule of law majority
rule, accompanied by respect for the rights of minorities.
OPERTIONAL :- Democracy is the type of government, which ensure popular
participation, freedom of political action and draw upon talents of the greatest number of members of a polity for
the promotion and satisfaction of common interests particularly in Nigerian
polity.
PRESS
CONCEPTUAL – Press refers to pointed periodicals the
newspaper generally
and journalist.
OPERATIONAL –
Press how reefers to the different mass
Media including
mass, media practitioners
In Nigeria whose
job is dissemination of
Information and
educating the people on the
Need for democracy
and its values among the
people.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study is hinted by time
and financial constraint couple with the ethnic rivaling and religious wars in
the country.
However, a more comprehensive study
will involve large sampled size can be embark upon to expand the frontier of
knowledge.