CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
This research work studies the mass media’s contributions
to the political values of openness and democratic accountability that go by
the name of ‘transparency’. In fact, the metaphor of transparency encompasses
three separate political virtues, which often work together but are
analytically distinct. The first kind of transparency is informational
transparency, knowledge about government actors and decisions and access to
government information. Informational transparency can be furthered by
requiring public statements of the reasons for government action, or requiring
disclosure of information the government has collected. A second type of transparency
is participatory transparency, the ability to participate in political
decisions either through fair representation or direct participation. A third
kind of transparency is accountability transparency: the ability to hold
government officials accountable either to the legal system or to public
opinion where they violate the law or when they act in ways that adversely
affect people’s interest.
In theory, at least, mass media can make the political
system more transparent in all three respects: mass media can help people
understand the operations of government, participate in political decisions,
and hold government officials accountable. In practice, however, its effect are
often quite different. In the age of mass media, democratic governments and politicians
may find it useful to stimulate the political virtues of transparency does not serve the underlying political values that motivate the
metaphor of transparency. Instead, it is a transparency that observes and
obfuscates, that frustrates accountability and hides important information in a
mass of manufacturing political realities. It is a form of transparency that is
not transparent at all.
This paper analyses the watchdog role played by the media
in the coverage of human rights issues in Nigeria. It discusses the role of the
media in the transition period between 1988 and 1999, as well as their
championing of a cleaner and healthier polity in expressing highly placed state
officials who got into office through fake credentials or by making bogus
claims. Case studies of the media in this respect include the disgrace from
office of Alhaji Salisu Buhari, former speaker of the house of representative
as well as the fall of Senator Chuba Okadigbo, former senate president, who was
impeached in the wake of allegations of corruption and misappropriation of
funds. To get to grips with the role of the media in the national
controversies, the editorial content of the publications, which championed
these struggles were identified and collated. These were complimented where
possible, by interviews with some of the editorial personnel involved in these
episodes.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS
In democracy, the mass media are the watchdog of the
people. The citizens are usually mobilized and informed to create awareness on
the political culture.
Political culture refers to a system of politics in which
sovereignty is vested on the people rather than a small clique, or an
oligarchy, a political arrangement that places emphasis on the accountability
of polity where the rule of law, majority rule and constitutionalism is the
basic guiding principle.
Perhaps, it could be argued that the political crisis that
pervaded our recent past points to the fact that most of our people are
ignorant of an apathetic towards the country’s observe that
in Nigeria electioneering and voting pattern cannot be validated, in the voting
pattern of Nigerians and the possible estimation of the voter’s attitude
towards politics.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The level of political participation in Nigeria and Enugu
state in particular seems to be very low. Also, the political crisis occurring
in this country has equally been attributed to several factors. The purpose of
this study is to identify the reason or reasons that have contributed to this
low political participation in Nigeria politics.
In doing so, what usually comes to mind is to ask the
question what is the reason for the low political participation in Nigeria
politics and equally the causes of the constant political crisis? As usually,
it may be traced to several factors like low level of awareness and tribalism,
how can this awareness be obtained? This will lead us to this research topic.
Therefore, this study is intended to inquire into how
political participation in Nigeria politics and equally trace the genesis of
the political crisis that identifies the factors responsible and solution
sought.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
(I) To what extent do journalists select
and cover human rights stories?
(II) To what extent do journalists avoid bias or
distortion of human rights information?
(III) To
what extent does government influence the role of the mass media in reporting
human rights issues in the country?
(IV) What are the people’s attitudes to the role of mass media
in gate keeping and reporting of human rights issues?
Addressing
these questions, this report examines the news and reporting process and its
relations with human rights organizations. It assesses the difficulties of
communicating complex human right issues accurately and suggests ways in which
coverage of human rights could be improved.
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
It is expected that this study would be immense benefit to
the government, the mass media and the people of this country. This study will
highlight the importance of the mass media as a vehicle for political
mobilization in a transition era.
Through the mass media, especially the radio and
television in Nigeria might have a chance of having a viable political culture
and help to choose a leadership that will inculcate a viable and sustaining
democracy. This will also give us a society blessed with.
As right put by GORAN HEDEBRO-“communication
media can create a climate change by including a new valves.
