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PROMINENCE AND ODDITY IN MASS MEDIA
REPORTAGE: A CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF RADIO RIVERS
BY
UWALAKA TEMPLE
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ABSTRACT
This study set out to determine “Oddity and Prominence: A Correlative Analysis of Radio Rivers”. The main objectives of the study were to ascertain the response of audience on how a news item should be and to evaluate the combination of oddity and prominence in press reportage and to ascertain the news value used more by radio Rivers. 200 copies of questionnaires were used as instrument for data gathering. Data for the study comprised of one hundred and sixty respondents in Port Harcourt. Purposive sampling method was used. Some of the findings revealed oddity sustains the interest of the audience than prominence, it was further revealed that Radio Rivers made use of prominence than oddity in their news report. It was therefore recommended that news outlets and stations should use oddity in their news report and for Radio Rivers to use oddity in their news report.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 7
1.1.1 Brief History of Radio Rivers II FM Stereo
Port Harcourt 8
1.2 Statement of the Problem 10
1.3 Objective of the Study 11
1.4 Research Questions 12
1.5 Significance of the Study 12
1.6 Theoretical Framework 13
1.7 Limitation of the Study 13
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms 14
CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Review of Development Communication 16
2.2 Review of Investigative Journalism in a Democracy 24
2.2.1 Democracy and Investigative Journalism 29
2.3 News as a Commodity 33
2.3.1 News Branding and Determinants of
News Coverage 36
CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction 43
3.1 Research Design 44
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3.2 Sampling Procedure 45
3.3 Data Collection Method 45
3.4 Data Analysis Technique 46
CHAPTER FOUR – PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 Presentation of Data 47
CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings 58
5.2 Conclusion 61
5.3 Recommendations 62
Bibliography 63
Appendix 64
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Responds Rate 47
Table 4.2: Age Distribution of Respondents 48
Table 4.3: Sex Distribution of Respondents 48
Table 4.4: Qualification Distribution of Respondents 49
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Table 4.5: Respondents Response on Listening 50
Table 4.6: Respondents Response to why they
Listen/do not Listen to Radio Rivers 50
Table 4.7: Respondents Response on News Values
Importance 51
Table 4.8: Respondents Response to Radio Rivers
Style on the News Value 52
Table 4.9: Respondents Response on the Mass Communication Maxim “When Dog bite Man
it is not News, When Man Bite Dog it is News” 53
Table 4.10: Respondents Response on Preference
of Prominence in News Reportage 53
Table 4.11: Respondents Response on Advice to
Radio Rivers for Preference to Prominence 54
Table 4.12: Respondents Response to the Beaten
of the Governor 55
Table 4.13: Respondents Opinion on Table 4.12 56
Table 4.14: Respondents Radio Rivers Listening
Frequency 56
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The presentation of news by the mass media constitutes
one of the functions of information and education capture by
Lasswell (1964) as the surveillance of the environment. The
mass media wise up the people with the provision of
information through the presentation of news. But what really
is news?
So many attempts have been made at arriving at an
agreeable definition of news without success. This
disagreement is not only professionally oriented but also has
ideological undertone.
The first world countries see news as conflict. The second
world countries see news as advancement in Marxist ideology
while the third world counties will look at it from the point of
view of development oriented projects.
However, irrespective of one’s ideological orientation,
some essential characteristics of news have been made
manifest. For example, news is said to be what happened to
who, when, where, why and how. It is also agreed that news is
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the account of an event and not the event itself. Below are
some workable definitions of news gathered by Okon (2001:
176):
News is any accurate fact/idea that will interest a large
number of people.
News is anything timely that is slated by the news staff
because it is of interest or significance to their readers or
it can be made so.
News is an accurate, unbiased account of the significant
facts of a timely happening that is of interest to the
readers of the newspaper that prints the account.
News is an account of an event that a newspaper prints,
believing that by so doing it will make profits.
News is the report of current ideas, events or situations
that interest news consumers and profits those who own
the newspaper, magazine, radio/T.V stations or other
medium of mass communication.
But Okoye (1998: 10) defined it as “the timely account of
an interesting event which the public must know because it is
important as it helps them to live their lives meaningfully”.
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Varying as these definitions of news may be, they say
basically the same thing. To be news, an event must interest
the readers and must be timely. These definitions are
supported and framed to capture the important attributes of
news, otherwise known as NEWS VALUES. The famous news
values are as follows:
Timeliness: - Facts must be fresh. In the past, the reader was
satisfied with one old news because his whole existence moved
on a slow pace. Then news moved slowly over the ocean waves
but now it moves fast over the airwaves. So great has been the
speeding up process that radio and television newscasters can
fulfill a news function by bringing the reports and pictures
directly from an event occurs. The increased speed by which
news is now transmitted has increased the zeal of everybody in
the communication business to obtain and stress “latest
development first”.
The rule is always to bring a story up to date as much as
possible before going to the press or going on air, and if at all
to avoid using “yesterday’s news” except in early morning
reports. As far as the media are concerned, the broadcast
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media have an advantage over the print media. As the say goes,
“the broadcast media tell what news is first but they cannot
always tell what it means. To meet the challenge of the
broadcast media, the print media engage in interpretative
writing that is giving the news behind the news.
Proximity: - Distance between a news item’s place of
occurrence and the place of publication determines its degree
of the readers appeal and limits the reader’s/listener’s interest.
The local news item published or aired at its place of
occurrence makes a first claim of the readers or listeners.
Proximity/newness of events increases the readers curiosity
concerning them.
Familiarity of places and persons involved in local stories
constitute additional factors that stimulate interest. The
reader’s interest in an item tends to decrease in direct
proportion to increase in distance between its place of
occurrence and its place of publication.
Besides geographic proximity, there is also proximity of
interest. An account of students’ interest in South Africa or
workers strike in Ethiopia will have wider readership among
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students and workers in Nigeria despite the geographical
distance. This is so because they have identical interest.
Prominence: - All men may be created equal but some are
more equal and more news worthy than others. This may be
because of the position they hold, their entertainment value or
because they behave so unusual.
A high position gives added important to news
concerning the person who occupies that position. People who
have achieved greatness attract readers’ interest, the famous
and the infamous exercise special appeal to the public.
Human Interest: Intimate glimpses in the lives of others
touch the readers’ emotion. Stories that lack significance could
became news stories because of their so-called human-interest
values. Man possesses natural sympathies for other beings
like himself. As he reads/listen to the joys or sorrows of others,
they tend to become his own. When tsunami destroyed homes
and lives in Asian and North African countries, there is little
likelihood of our being affected directly except, perhaps, we are
asked to contribute to the Red Cross Relief Fund; but we are
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interested in learning of such ‘Acts of God’ because human
beings like ourselves are involved.
Oddity: This is the report of something that is unusual. This
will be determined by the mass media one is dealing with.
Some media deal with serious matters while some are light
hearted media.
Conflict: We have verbal conflict, or physical conflict.
Incidents that generate conflicts make news. Former Vice
President, Atiku Abubakar in a clash with former President
Olusegun Obasanjo over tenure elongation. ASUU in a face-off
with the federal government. It can also be physical like in
terms of rebellion, wars, etc and finally
Consequence: Items that represent vast figures or deal with
activities of masses of people have appeal because of the
magnitude of those involved in the event. Items sometimes give
rise to thoughts, not because of the items itself but because of
its probable consequence or its significance. These news
values bring to the fore the problem and editor face
determining what is news or not and the dilemma they face in
pegging their news on prominence or oddity.
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1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
There is a saying that when a dog bites a man it is not news, but when a man bites a dog, it is news.
Events involving news makers are giving more attention
in the news media – Okoye (1998: 122).
These two quotations aptly captured the two news values
of oddity and prominence. Some editor places premium on the
WHO element, whereas, others most especially from the
developed Western countries like Britain places importance on
“what” element. This two news values excluding the rest has
been generating controversies as to which one of them is or
should always in be use.
Scholars have always been in logger heads over what is
‘news’ putting into consideration the news values that they
use. While some say oddity, others called prominence. In some
quarters, news is said to be a commodity that has a marketing
value, a product which can be demanded and supplied.
Udoakah (2001) posited that: The print media package can sell
news in particular forms known as newspapers and magazines.
The electronic media news is also sold even though their
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consumers are seen not to be paying for it. Its price is prepaid
or would eventually be paid by advertisers.
He went further to state that the mass media news is
demanded, points to its utility value or ability to satisfy certain
human needs, and its exchange value.
The fulcrum of this work therefore, is to evaluate and
determine audience response to oddity and prominence in
press reportage, the study attempt to analyse how Radio
Rivers news report is presented if oddity or prominence is used.
Audience in Port Harcourt is the peripheral domain of this
research.
1.1.1 Brief History of Radio Rivers II FM Stereo Port
Harcourt
Radio Rivers is a wholly government owned radio station.
It is own by the Rivers State Government. The instrument that
brought the station is the “Rivers State of Nigeria Broadcasting
Corporation Edit No 11 of 1971.
Radio Rivers was established to aid Rivers State
Government have a medium of mass communication that
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would guard against unlawful infringement of the liberties and
rights of the individuals.
The station has the following departments viz:
News and current affairs
Commercial
Engineering
Programmes
Traffic
Security and
Administration
The station’s major raw material is the ‘newscast’. The
station is funded by the State Government through grants etc.
and internally generated revenue. This is generated through
advertisement, commercial job.
The advertisement rate is determined by area of coverage
(listenership). But the station has made an effort to attract
advertisers through the reduction of low advertisement rate,
sending out of advertisement personnel etc.
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The vision of the station is to operate as a fully
commercial outfit and to inform the people on government
policies.
Some of the general managers that have been in the
station are: Ekiye Morris, Mr. Omodu Morgan, Tadore M. etc.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
As the controversy over which news values between
oddity and prominence should be used, it is certain that
prominence plays an important role in the news industries. It
helps the reporter to peg his story on what happen or what is
said by WHO (source). The people tend to concentrate when it
is a news item that concerns a very important person in the
society. Oddity is the unusualness of the act. This makes it
news.
Whichever way one looks at it, one thing seems obvious –
oddity and prominence aid or are important to news delivering.
However, the extent and way of combining the two for
maximum delivery is yet to be empirically determined. For
oddity makes news credible and aid the followership.
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Moreover, a big or prominent man can himself involve in
what is bizarre, then oddity and prominence appear in one
story.
What are the strategies do Radio Rivers present their
news, during news casting, how do they use prominence or do
they use prominence and oddity at the same time and do they
neglect oddity in their news presentation. This research will
attempt to provide valid answers to these questions.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
1. To know audience response on the use of prominence
in reporting
2. To evaluate the combination of oddity and prominence
in press reportage.
3. To ascertain the news value used more by Radio Rivers.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
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As a basis upon which this study is conducted, the
following research questions are relevant:
1. How does the audience respond to oddity as a news
value?
2. How does audience respond to the issue of prominence
in news reporting?
3. How can the press combine oddity and prominence in
news reporting?
4. Which news value is used more by Radio Rivers?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study when completed will be beneficial to Radio
Rivers 99.1FM, and other news programmers.
Radio Rivers will be able to know that their audience
thinks of their news coverage. They will know how effective the
style they are adopting is and will adjust where necessary.
More so, this study will give news programmers the
insight of what their audience want from them as it relate to
prominence and oddity of news items. The general public will
learn a lot from this study.
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Finally, it would be of great importance to researchers
wishing to carry out research on similar topics.
1.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The mass communication theory that is suited for this
study is the Uses and Gratification Theory. This theory was
propounded by Katz in 1970 and it is concerned with how
people use media for the gratification of their needs. It
propounds the fact that people choose what they want to see
or read and the different media compete to satisfy each
individual’s need.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The constraints of this study as in most academic
research of this nature has to do with time factor, financial
constraints and finally, sources of information in order to
carry out this study. This study is also restricted to residents
of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.
1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
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Some terms used here required classification as to their
contextual meanings:
Prominence: - This is a news value that places premium on
the person that did or says something because such person is
seen as news makers. The person may be seen as a very
important person (VIP), professional, government personnel,
etc. What such people said in a programme may be given a
headline position in news presentation.
Oddity: - This is another news values that believes in the
unusualness of the news story. It is depicted with the
communication maxim, “when a dog bites a man it is no news,
but when a man bites a dog it becomes news” what this means
is that a dog bites a man normal occurrence but not a man
biting a dog. It is totally annihilating and bizarre. That is when
we talk of oddity.
Mass Media: - This is the various mass communication
instruments like the newspaper, magazines, television and
radio. But mass communication and mass media will be used
interchangeably in this work and even press. They are the
process of transmitting information, ideas, and attitudes to
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many people usually through a machine. It is a message
communicated through a mass medium to a large number
people.
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter will critically review the related literature of
previous scholars which will enhance thorough investigation of
the topic under research. The chapter is divided into three, the
first part will review development communication as it relates
to prominence in news coverage, the second part will review
investigative journalism in a democracy as it relates to oddity
in news coverage and finally, the third will look at news as a
commodity, news branding and determinants of news coverage
and news marketing and news consumers.
2.1 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION
In addition to the classical philosophies or theories of the
press, one of the two additional theories propounded recently,
is the development media theory. The theory emerged in the
1980s to fill the gap between the developed and the developing
countries, even though the mass media in these countries
were operating according to some of the principles of the
classical theories. Consequently, there arose the need for an
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alternative theory that could appropriately explain the media
situation of the developing countries. Thus, like the libertarian
and social responsibility theories, the development media
theory emerged as a reaction against the perceived
inadequacies of earlier theoretical formulations.
The development media theory is an offspring of
authoritarianism in terms of government expectations and
control of the press. The fundamental purpose of the theory is
to use the press to serve the general good of a nation by
making the mass media function as a government instruments
for achieving economic growth, political stability, national
sovereignty, cultural development etc. This is why it is peculiar
to developing countries where the need to achieve all these
goals are very urgent, Okunna (1994). According to Dennis
McQuail (1983: 79) “some common conditions of developing
countries limited the application of other theories and so
another media theory has been developed for the developing
countries of Asia and Africa – this is the development theory of
press”. Building on this, Kunczick (1995: 36) as cited in Okon
G.B (2001) has also noted that western models of journalism
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are seen as not transferable to developing countries. According
to him:
The term “developmental theory” first cropped
up around 1967 to define a notion of
journalism according to which reporting
events of national and international
significance should be constructive in the
sense that it contributes positively to the
development of the country concerned.
But Amadi (2006:2) did not agree with these assertions.
Amadi in his book “critical issues in Nigerian mass media”
looked at development communication as a “masquerade”. He
has this to say about other scholars researching and believing
in development communication:
I have a very strong feeling that many of the
books about these concepts contained and/or
my reading of their offerings present them as
brimming with shallowness and naivety akin
to deliberate attempt by their authors to veil
what development communication should be.
He went further to demonstrate what he is trying to put
across by analyzing “indices of development” of Ghana and a
hypothetical Rumbia nation.
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Despite ideological, political, cultural and other
differences which divide the countries of the developing world,
one feature that has continued to unite them is the extremely
low level of economic development in comparison to the
developed countries. The much vaunted notion of the global
village has obviously not had much impact in the economic
sphere, as globalization has continued to worsen the disparity
between the ‘have not’ countries of the third world and the
‘haves’ in the developed world. For examples as the economic
fortunes of countries like the U.S and U.K are improving,
except for recent global financial meltdown, countries in Africa
are becoming poorer. The 1997 Human Development Report
shows that wages have fallen in the sub-Saharan region of
Africa by 50 and 60 percent. Since the beginning of the 1980s
unemployment has continued to rise unabated, and the people
generally are getting poorer.
In the face of this desperate situation, the need for
national development has become truly urgent and overriding
in developing countries, and all available resources are
expected to be used to achieve this goal. It is these peculiar
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circumstances that have shaped the principles of the
development media theory.
Consequently, the purpose and role of the press are
viewed differently in this theory from the way they are seen in
the classical theories.
The development media theory accepts that economic
development and nation building should take precedence over
freedoms of the press and individuals. In addition, the theory
advocates that the people should assist the government in the
task of nation-building, and that the government could control
the media as well as the journalists to achieve these goals.
This notion has also been reinforced by Sussman (1978:
115) who pointed out that many developing States are too
fragile, to deficient in literacy and established institutions and
their people more loyal to racial, religious, or tribal
communities than to the new concept of statehood to risk the
controversy and confrontation produced by the full exercise of
personal freedom.
Based on the foregoing, the media are basically used to
highlight efforts being made by the communities in building
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health centres, feeder roads, civic centres etc. They are also
used to focus attention on government efforts in the area of
provision of basic amenities. A more pragmatic view of the
theory was given by Vilanilam (1979: 33) when he opined that
development theory is centred around “journalism relating to
the projects and programmes launched in an economically
backward country to provide certain minimum living
standards to its people”.
Noral Quebral (1973:25) described developmental theory
as the “art and science of human communication applied to
the speedy transformation of a country from poverty to a
dynamic state of economic growth that makes possible greater
economic growth and the larger fulfillment of the human
potential”.
The development theory of the press posits that the
media are used by government to mobilize the populace for
economic, political social development. According to Okon G.B
(2001) “unfortunately, developmental theory in practice often
slips into outright corruption and complaint conformity”. Some
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of the fundamental tenets of the theory are given by McQuail
(1987: 121) as follows:
Media should accept and carry out positive development
tasks in line with nationally established policy;
Freedom of the press should be open to restriction
according to economic priorities and developmental
needs of the society;
Media should give priority in news information to link
with other developing countries which are close
geographically, culturally or politically;
In the interest of development ends, the state has a right
to intervene in, or restrict media organizations, and
devices of censorship, subsidy and direct control can be
justified.
Journalists and other media workers have
responsibilities as well as freedoms in their information
gathering and dissemination taste.
In this theory, it is assumed that the mass media and
other forms of communication have the power to positively
influence the development process. This is why both the
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concepts of development journalism and development
communication have become very vital in communication in
the third world countries.
Edeani (1993: 126) explains that development communication:
denotes the employment of all forms of
communication, and not only the mass media,
in the promotion of national development
efforts.
It can be seen from this definition that “development
communication” has a sub set which is “development
journalism”. He further informed us that development
journalism is “the kind of journalism which pays sustained
attention to the coverage of ideas, policies, programmes,
activities and events dealing with the improvement of the
people’s life”.
But the press and government have ‘killed’ this vision,
the press have become the trumpet of the government. Some
wrong doings which are to be uncovered are ‘killed’ by the
mass media. For instance, in 1987, the Military Governor of
Cross River State was chased in a village he went to
commission fake electricity. The press refused to cover the
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story. In Rivers State for example, the press did not cover the
commissioning of the Omoku Gas Turbine but there are
allegations that the then president called it a sham project.
Sequel to the press becoming the trumpet of the
government, they place premium on the prominence of the
news values but the odd part of it are concealed.
2.2 REVIEW OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN A
DEMOCRACY
Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria has it that:
The press, radio, television and other
agencies of the mass media shall at all times
be free to uphold the fundamental objectives
contained in this chapter and uphold the
“responsibility and accountability” of the
government to the people.
We believe that the “free” there represent a democratic
society; the “responsibility and accountability of the
government to the people” is concerned with investigative
journalism. What is investigative journalism?
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Journalism is the software of the mass information media.
It is an activity which has no bounds, and which makes the
journalist relevant in all fields of human endeavour.
Journalism is the gathering, processing and dissemination of
information through the mass media (Udoakah, 1998). There
is hardly any field which is not reported by the journalist –
from business, the arts, humanities and technology, to natural
and applied science – indeed, there have been growing
specialties in journalism such as politics, health, science and
technology, agriculture, religion, aviation, economics, maritime
etc.
Journalism has been well known as an enterprise in a
hurry. But when a lot of time is spent, seeking facts about a
situation or an event, especially those facts that might be
deliberately concealed, this enterprise comes to be qualified by
the adjective “investigative”. He we have investigative
journalism. Investigative journalism provides exclusive and
detailed information on the subject being reported. It is digging
hard and long enough to unravel the facts and mystery
surrounding an event or a situation. It is energy sapping,
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money and time consuming, and risk taking. Anderson and
Benjaminson (1976) cited in Udoakah (2001) described
investigative journalism as the:
Uncovering of concealed information,
painstaking, careful, logical and complete.
Good lawyers do it in preparation for trial.
Archeologists do it in analyzing the past.
The reporter handling an investigation will have to make
all the necessary contacts and consult all the materials and
sources needed for the success of the project, Udoakah (2001).
Investigative journalism involves research. The term
research comes from a French word “recherché”, meaning to
investigate something thoroughly, to search for information, to
try to find out something that is of interest.
Democracy and its concomitant public interests and the
right to know combine to set the tone for investigative
journalism. The claims by governments in democracies to
represent the desires of their people, and to obedience of the
laws of their countries place a higher responsibility on them
and put them in the position of role models. Furthermore,
these claims form the basis of the citizens surrendering their
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individual powers through the polls to the government; thus
making that government a trustee. Interesting, rather than the
trusteeship position given to the government sending citizens
to sleep, it keeps them awake. They want to know what is
happening to their country and their welfare. The citizens’
attitude is quite in order because it has become common
knowledge that governments, the world over do not want their
citizens to know everything they do. If there is any business in
which the principle of the iceberg applies, it is the business of
governance.
As Ernest Hemingway explained in the “Paris Review” in
1958 (Hoffmann), for an iceberg, “there is seven – eights of it
under water for very part that shows …” one does not really
expect the governments to tell the citizens everything they do
because actions, though rational, may not favour everybody.
The problem is that one is not really sure that everything not
made known to the citizens is in the public interest. Some of
those things may border on corruption. This is where it
becomes necessary to employ a public interest broker to sort
out matters.
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From history, the press has stood out as that public
interest broker with occasional support from the electronic
media. These media bring information to the public when the
government seeks publicity, when the government does not
want publicity but can take a little bit, when the government
does not want publicity at all, and when the government is
neutral.
In fact, governments make available information as much
as possible while maintaining the secrecy they believe is
necessary for their functioning. It takes discerning eyes to see
through which of the secrets are in the public interest and
which one is not. And it is possible for many lay claims to
such insights. Wainwright (1972) cites Udoakah as having
identified three writers of news of our generation. These are, in
inverse order of worldly consideration, as follows:
The reporter who writes what he sees;
the interpretative reporter who writes what he sees and
what he construes to be its meaning; and
the expert who writes what he construes to be the
meaning of what he has not seen.
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Surely, the third type of news writer on Udoakah’s list is
the least qualified for investigative journalism. The first two
could qualify, with a little more training. Investigative
journalism/reporting, Williams (1978) cited Udoakah, notes,
carries a sterner responsibility than the daily news, as the
reporter is responsible for the truth of every word in the story.
He observes that many journalists think that investigative
reporting is getting a tip, surrounding it with a circumstantial
evidence, and dashing off a sensational story which they think
will blow the lid off the town. Unfortunately, this is not so.
Rather, it is an intellectual process, requiring a disciplined
mind.
2.2.1 Democracy and Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism involves a lot of frustration,
tedious digging, loneliness, blind alleys, and hostility from key
subjects (Williams, 1978). But it has thrived till today,
meaning that it enjoys public support. Investigative reporting
unmasks the corrupt, uncovers the fraudulent. Majority of
projects in investigative journalism concern the doings of
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public officials, politicians, public corporations, shanties etc.
So, the reporter must be intellectually alert, know the
community for which he is reporting – what the readership
needs and wants to know (Mencher, 1984); know the climates
of opinion, and social, economic and political trends
(MacDougall, 1977). Investigative reporting means knowing
where to get the information required in the most efficient and
economical way (Hoffmann 1979). All these suggest that there
are times when the political, moral or economic conditions in
some countries may not favour investigative reporting.
Embarking on it at such times would mean swimming against
the tide says Udoakah.
Investigative journalism is one of the checks and
balances needed for the survival of democracies. Information
supplied to the public through this means helps the citizens to
make sensible judgment on social issues. Moreover, the
exposure of corrupt officials through investigative journalism
makes public officers to sit up in their positions. According to
Anderson and Benjaminson (1976):
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Generally, the corrupt do not fear the
judgment of history as much as they fear
exposure, prosecution, conviction and
disgrace. This is why they conceal their
activities.
Sometimes ago in Nigeria, “The News” and “Tell” magazines
carried out interesting investigations which led to the removal
of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim
Salisu Buhari, and the senate president, Mr. Evan Enwerem.
In July 1999, “The News” exposed Ibrahim Buhari’s fraudulent
claims in his bio-data, presented during the electoral
screening exercise that preceded the elections which returned
Nigeria to democratic rule. He had claimed that he was 36
years old and had a master’s degree in Business
Administration from the University of Toronto. The magazine
traced his date of birth to King’s College where he had his
secondary education, and also contacted the University of
Toronto for a confirmation of his claim to a master’s degree.
The outcome shocked the nation when proofs were published
that he was 29, not 36 years old, and had no degree from the
37
University of Toronto. Buhari resigned his position and was
handed to the police.
In the same month, “Tell” took on Evan Enwerem, the
senate president, on similar claims. It dug up court
proceedings and judgment, and contacted a Law School in
London concerning his qualification. The outcome of these
investigations pointed to discrepancies in Enwerem’s age
declaration and the school he attended and generated
controversies. Eventually, he was removed as the senate
president.
These were much like the Watergate scandal exposure by
the “Washington Post” in the United States in 1972 which led
to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
One interesting thing is that investigative journalism
correlates with oddity as a news value. This is that the result
of investigative reporting end up being bizarre and unusual-
oddity to the public that warrant the eventual resignation or
outright removal of those concerned. Is it not a man biting the
dog for him to claim that he is 36 years old when ordinarily,
he is 29 years old. What of claiming that one has a certificate
38
that one actually does not? It is bizarre, unusual and odd. It
satisfy oddity as a news source in all ramification unless for
the insane!
2.3 NEWS AS A COMMODITY
Mass media news, like other commodities, is an output
from a combination of factors of production namely, land,
labour, capital, and an entrepreneur. It is in demand and can
be offered for sale. The demand for, and the sale of, news
seems to be more obvious in the activities of news agencies,
whose business is to gather news from all the corners of the
world and sell to the print and electronic media. For instance,
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was established by Decree
19 of 1976 to, among other things:
… seek, obtain and otherwise receive through
subscriptions, payments, exchange or other
means, international, regional, local news
and news material, and news features;
… distribute news, news materials, and news
features to subscribers against payment
either in the form of fees or news exchange or
on such other terms as may be agreed.
39
The print media package can sell news in particular
forms known as newspapers and magazines. The electronic
media news is also sold even though their consumers are seen
not to be paying for it. Its price is pre-paid or would eventually
be paid by advertisers. That the mass media news is
demanded points to its utility value or ability to satisfy certain
human needs, and its exchange value. In other words, mass
media news is produced; it is demanded, because it satisfies
certain needs. The division of labour in the production of the
mass media news manifest in the different departments found
in a typical news organization, be it the print or electronic.
They include administration, editorial, composing graphics,
commercial or advertising, library, photographic, circulation
and transport. They all combine to produce the mass media
news.
Mass media news production relies on labour. There is
no technology in existence or insight for news gathering and
writing without human effort. Labour is needed for the
gathering and writing of news. In editing, typesetting, proof-
reading, page making and circulation, labour is required.
40
Labour is understood in this context as referring to any
human effort, manual or mental, skilled or unskilled, scientific
or artistic or technological use in the productive process that
attracts a wage or salary.
Emphasis on labour in mass media news production is
reflected in the emphasis on the salaries of reporters, editors,
cameramen, administrative, graphics, circulation commercial
and transport staff. Entry into the labour market of news
production is now regulated by the state through the press
council Decree, No. 85 of 1992. People are now licensed to
practice the art of mass media news production.
As in other industries which engage in the production of
commodities, there are industrial unions in news
organizations. They initiate and coordinate collective
bargaining though with little success in Nigeria, because the
conditions of service in the private media establishments
seemed to be consolidated until “The Guardian” staff
embarked on an Industrial action in September 2000.
41
2.3.1 News Branding and Determinants of News Coverage
There is no doubt, that news is a commodity going by the
preceding exposition. The proof continues in this section as a
look is taken at its branding. It may not have been obvious at
the beginning when news producers categorized news into
hard and soft news, that this was an introduction of branding
to the news business. What was obvious was the fact that it
was an effort to cater for the interests of the elites and masses.
That effort, too, brought about the classification of the
newspapers into the quality or standard and the ‘popular’ or
tabloid.
Hard news was made to be the product of the quality
newspaper meant to be read by people who wanted to develop
themselves. Issues on the public affairs, economic matters,
social problems, science and technology, education, health,
labour and region, qualified for the hard news status. It is the
kind of news that would exercise the mind in thinking before
appreciating what it is all about. With hard news, satisfaction,
is delayed as one has to reflect on the story before grasping its
gist.
42
On the other hand, soft news was made a feature of the
‘popular’ or tabloid newspapers. These are stories about crime
and segmenting corruption such as murder and scandal,
social events, accidents and disasters, sports and recreation.
They offer immediate satisfaction by making the readers
appreciate what the story is all about at a mere looking at the
headline. They explore human interest in the happenings in
society for audience empathy.
This news branding strategy is significant. It is an
attempt at segmenting news consumers and catering for their
particular needs. Even the electronic media are not left out.
They present local news, national news and world news. The
local news reflects the happenings around the area where the
station is located, whereas, national news covers the country
as a whole and the world news covers the continent and other
parts of the world.
News branding is similar to products branding by other
commodity producing companies. The brands represent taste
and class, quality and professions, industry and commerce.
Over the years; the two broad brands of hard and soft news
43
have led to multiplicity of brands, to reflect the facets of life
covered by news. Thus, nowadays, the brands have included
the following:
Economic and commercial news
Entertainment news
Environmental news
Political news
Religious news
Science and technology news
Social welfare news
Sport news
Although there are no researches to show the percentage
of the population that consumes these brands, they have been
developed and maintained by the different news organizations.
And there are people among the mass media news consumers
who would not miss a particular brand of the news, thus
suggesting the existence of the same phenomenon found in
other commodities branding – brand loyalty. This is a situation
in which consumers continuously avail themselves of a
44
particular type of product each time they need it (Bovee and
Arens, 1992).
The units in the news organizations responsible for these
news brands are known as specialist desks, and the brand
managers are called specialist reporters. These news brand
managers are people with reporting skills for, and a deep
knowledge of, the areas so developed as brands. Either
consciously or unconsciously, those who have developed news
brands seem to be attempting to satisfy Maslow’s Hierarchy of
needs, namely: physiological, safety, social esteem and self-
actualization. It is easy to notice that there are news brands
which carry information about food, drink and sex; some
provide information on physical, social and economic safety;
others highlight information about making and keeping
friendships, romance, affection in the family, church, places or
works, business and professional circles, and on how to get or
how people have been given a sense of belonging; still other
news branding bring to public knowledge, information on how
to acquire or how others have acquired self-respect and
recognition, status, prestige or success, while other brands
45
carry information on how people have attained self-fulfillment,
and on how to attain it.
News branding is indeed an attempt at satisfying the
different human needs, and it is at the heart of audience
segmentation. The desire by the members of the mass media
audience to meet their needs is likely to be, or has been the
driving force, behind the consumption of particular news
brands. And it may not be long before news brands would be
advertised and given the type of sales promotion which other
product brands, receiving today.
If news is a commodity, it is logical and natural that
certain economic principles must determine what news to
produce. Such principles include the cost-analysis and
making good use of scarce resources to achieve optimum goal.
In other words, the making of news from any event or
situation is influenced by the revenue that is likely to be
attracted to the news organization either in present or future.
This is so because the reporters and equipment to be assigned
to such events or situations cost money and are in limited
number. They are limited in number because of insufficient
46
capital resource or lack of commitment to improve on their
number.
Still, another factor that could influence the making of
news from any event is the security of both the reporter and
the news company. However, this depends on past experience
and the type of regime in power. In Nigeria, “The Guardian”
was touched during the regime of late Abacha because of the
way it was reporting the regime and the proprietor’s sour
relationship with the regime when they ceased to understand
each other. With news as a commodity the early maximum
“publish and be damned” seems to have been replaced with
publish and stay in business or publish and live to publish
tomorrow, says Udoakah (2001). Either way, it is business
thinking. No one wants to go out of business.
For the ardent of news from the point of view of
commodity, they look into the economic gains – profiteering
interest of a news item before publish such. Finally, a free flow
of mass media news has been seen as an important ingredient
of democracy. It seems to have overhauled the wheels of
democracy to the extent that the quantity and quality of news
48
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 INTRODUCTION
According to Ogolo (1996), research methodology
describes the procedures to be followed in realizing the goals
and objectives of this research. Ake (1979) also posited that
research methodology “is concerned with the gathering,
analyzing, measurement and the use of research data”. Ohaja
(2003) dittoed the above assertion when she stated “under the
‘methodology,’ the researcher presents the procedure he
intends to use for conducting the research”.
In the same vain, Okwandu (2004) stated that “the
research methodology should include each step of the
experiment in the order it will be carried out”. They include:
- Research design
- Sampling procedure
- Method of investigation and
- Data analysis technique
49
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
A research connotes the specification of methods and
procedures of acquiring the information needed to structure or
to solve problems. It is a programme that guides the
investigator in the process of collecting, analyzing and
interpreting observations. It allows influences concerning
causal relations and defines the domain.
The research design is a framework or plan that is used
as a guide in collecting and analyzing the data for a study.
Baridam (1995). This addresses the issues of how the study’s
subjects will be brought into the scope of the study and how
they will be employed within the research setting, to yield the
required data. This study adopts a survey research design.
According to Okwandu (2004: 15) survey research is an
investigation into certain things or, events that exist or occur
at the time of the research and connected with some problem
situation that is felt over a wide area by a large population.
This method is necessary to ascertain the audience response
to prominence and oddity in Radio Rivers News Coverage.
50
3.2 SAMPLING PROCEDURE
The study population comprises of the audience of Radio
Rivers in Port Harcourt. This study adopts a purposive
sampling technique. This is one of the three methods of non-
probability sampling.
According to Ohaja(2003), purposive sampling is used
when a researcher seeks certain characteristics in his/her
sampling elements and he/her wants to ensure that those
chosen have those characteristics. He/her therefore eliminates
other members of the population and work with those that
meet his requirements.
A total number of 200 copies of questionnaire were
administered, 180 copies were retrieved and 160 copies were
useable.
3.3 DATA COLLECTION METHOD
The questionnaire was used as data collection
instrument. This method was chosen to allow data collection
to be completed within the time frame allowed for the study
because personal interview would have been time consuming
51
and expensive. The questionnaire were personally
administered and retrieved after a week. This allowed time for
proper responses.
3.4 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE
Data were presented in frequency distribution tables and
followed by brief explanatory note. Data were analysed using
simple percentages. This was done by dividing the response
frequency by the total number of respondents and multiplying
the results by 100.
Mathematically, it is stated thus:
Percentage % = response frequency Total numbers of respondents x100
52
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter presents data questionnaire distributed as
primary sources data that are presented in frequency
distribution tables and followed by brief explanatory notes.
Data analysis involves the use of simple percentages and
conclusions are drawn in favour of the variable with the
highest percentage.
4.1 PRESENTATION OF DATA
Table 4.1: Response Rate
Questionnaire Number Percentage (%)
Total No. administered 200 100
Total No. retrieved 180 90
Total No. useable 160 80
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.1 above presented the response rate of the
questionnaire. Data shows that out of the total number
200(100%) of questionnaire administered, 180(90%)
questionnaire were retrieved and out of the 180 questionnaire
53
retrieved, 160(80%) were useable. This gave the researcher a
response rate of 80 percent to work with. Here, 160
questionnaire are now 100%.
Table 4.2: Age Distribution of Respondents
option Number Percentage (%)
18 – 30 40 25
31 – 50 100 62.5
51 and above 20 12.5
Total 160 100%
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.2 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
100(62.5%) were between the ages of 31 – 50, 40(25%)
respondents were between the ages of 18 – 30 whereas,
20(12.5%) were either 51 or above.
Table 4.3: Sex Distribution of Respondents
Option Number Percentage (%)
Male 120 75
Female 40 25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
54
Table 4.3 showed that out of the total number of
160(100%) respondents, 120(75%) respondents were male
while 40(25%) respondents were female.
Table 4.4: Qualification Distribution of Respondents
Option Number Percentage (%)
FSLC 20 12.5
SSC 50 31.25
Diploma and above 90 56.25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.4 showed that out of the total number of
160(100%) respondents, 20(12.5%) respondents have First
Schools Leaving Certificate (FSLC), 50(31.25%) respondents
have Senior School Certificate (SSC) and 90(56.25%)
respondents have degrees from institutions of higher learning.
55
Table 4.5: Respondents Response on Listening
Option Number Percentage (%)
Male 120 75
Female 40 25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.5 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
120(75%) respondents listen to Radio Rivers and 40(25%) do
not listen to Radio Rivers.
Table 4.6: Respondents Response to why they Listen/do
not Listen to Radio Rivers
Option Number Percentage
One line reportage 20 12.5
Only government officials make news 20 12.5
Who did what is more important 60 37.5
Credible news outlet - -
What happened more important - -
Propaganda tool of government 60 37.5
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
56
Table 4.6 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
20(12.5%) respondents believed that Radio Rivers engage in
one line reportage, 20(12.5%) respondents believed that only
government officials make news in Radio Rivers, 60(37.5%)
respondents said that who did what is more important in
Radio Rivers, 60(37.5%) believed that Radio Rivers is a
propaganda tool of the government, no respondent believed
that Radio Rivers is a credible news outlet and what happened
being more important in Radio Rivers.
Table 4.7: Respondents Response on News Values
Importance
Option Number Percentage (%)
Oddity 100 62.5
Prominence 60 37.5
Non of the above - -
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.7 above indicated that out of all 160(100%)
respondents, 100(62.5%) respondents believed that in news
57
value, oddity is more important to prominence, 60(37.5%)
respondents believed that prominence is more important to
oddity.
Table 4.8: Respondents Response to Radio Rivers Style on
the News Value
Option Number Percentage (%)
Oddity 30 18.75
Prominence 120 75
10 6.25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.8 indicated that out of all 160(100%) respondents,
30(18.75%) respondents believed that in Radio Rivers that
oddity is more important among the other news values,
120(75%) respondents believed that prominence is more
important among other news values and 10(6.25%)
respondents believed that other news values viz: conflict,
nearness, consequence etc are more important than
prominence and oddity.
58
Table 4.9: Respondents Response on the Mass
Communication Maxim “When Dog bite Man it is not News,
When Man Bite Dog it is News”
Option Number Percentage (%)
Yes 120 75
No 40 25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.9 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
120(75%) respondents believed and supported the mass
communication maxim, 40(25%) of the respondents do not
believed the maxim.
Table 4.10: Respondents Response on Preference of
Prominence in News Reportage
Option Number Percentage (%)
Yes 40 25
No 120 75
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
59
Table 4.10 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
40(25%) respondents prefer prominence only in news reports
and 120(75%) respondents do not prefer prominence only in
news reports.
Table 4.11: Respondents Response on Advice to Radio
Rivers for Preference to Prominence
Option Number Percentage (%)
Keep it up 10 6.25
Mix little oddity 20 12.5
More oddity 80 50
Stop this 50 31.25
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.11 showed that out of the total number of
160(100%) respondents, 10(6.25%) respondents wanted Radio
Rivers to keep up with prominence, 20(12.5%) respondents
wanted Radio Rivers to mix little oddity to the prominence,
80(50%) respondents wanted more oddity to little prominence
60
and 50(31.25%) respondents wanted Radio Rivers to abolish
prominence in their reportage.
Table 4.12: Respondents Response to the Beaten of the
Governor
Option Number Percentage (%)
Report the commissioning only 40 25
Do not report at all 10 6.25
Report objectively 110 68.75
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.12 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
40(25%) respondents prayed the radio station to report the
commissioning of the non-existent project only without
reporting the beaten of the governor by the people, 10(6.25%)
respondents wished that it should not be reported at all and
110 (68.75%) respondents prayed that the station report
objectively – by reporting the beating of the governor.
61
Table 4.13: Respondents Opinion on Table 4.12
Option Number Percentage (%)
Who 40 25
What 120 75
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
Table 4.13 showed that out of 160(100%) respondents,
40(25%) respondents believed that, the governor
commissioning a project is more important than the governor
being beaten and 120(75%) respondents opined that what
happened – the governor being beaten for pseudo project
commissioning is important than the commissioning a project.
Table 4.14: Respondents Radio Rivers Listening Frequency
Option Number Percentage (%)
Regularly 80 50
Most times 50 31.25
Sometimes 30 18.75
Total 160 100
Source: Survey Data, 2010.
62
Table 4.14 showed that out of 160(100%) respondent,
80(50%) respondents listen to Radio Rivers regularly,
50(31.25%) respondents listen to Radio Rivers most times
30(18.75%) respondents listen to Radio Rivers sometimes and
no respondent do not listen to Radio Rivers.
63
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presented a summary of findings from
primary research, drew conclusions from them, make
necessary recommendations. The researcher is looking at
oddity and prominence in news reportage of Radio Rivers.
5.1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
This study attempted to find out oddity and prominence:
a correlative analysis.
Data revealed that audience prefer an odd news item to
any other news value. Table 4.9 showed that 75 percent
respondents believed and supported the mass communication
maxim, that man bites dog is a better news to dog bites man.
This further showed that oddity is preferred by the
respondents.
Furthermore, the more absurd and odd a news item is,
the more interest it will generate. Table 4.7 showed that 62.5
percent respondents see oddity as the most important to any
other news value. Table 4.11 indicated that audience prefers
64
oddity. 80(16.75) percent respondents advised Radio Rivers to
include oddity in the news reportage. 68.75 percent
respondents wanted Radio Rivers to report that the governor
was beaten sequel to commissioning of a pseudo project in
table 4.12.
According to findings, 75 percent of the respondents
opined that what, “the beating of the governor” is more
important in table 4.13.
Data revealed that the audience do not like too much
prominence in news reportage. 75 percent of respondents in
table 4.10 do not prefer prominence as only a paltry of 25
percent respondents that like prominence in news reports.
37.5 percent of respondents in table 4.7 believed prominence
to be more important as against 62.5 of oddity. Audience do
not like prominence as they do with oddity. Table 4.11 showed
that 6.25 percent respondents advised Radio Rivers to keep on
with their (Radio Rivers) choice of prominence. This percent is
too infinisimal to 96.75 percent of those who advised otherwise.
Research showed that audience will prefer a mixture of
less prominence and more oddity. What happen and why it is
65
more important to the audience than miserable who say what.
Table 4.11 showed that only 10 percent respondents prefer
prominence, 50 percent respondents advised more oddity less
prominence, other areas of direct competition between oddity
and prominence showed audience to prefer oddity to
prominence.
According to findings, audience believed that prominence
is used more by Radio Rivers. Table 4.8 showed that 75
percent respondents believed that Radio Rivers use
prominence. No respondent believed that Radio Rivers is a
credible news outlet in table 4.6. Whereas, 37.5 saw Radio
Rivers as a proganada tool of government.
Data revealed that Radio Rivers is a popular news station
to the audience. 75 percent of respondents in table 4.5 listen
to Radio Rivers and in table 4.14, 50 percent respondents
listen to Radio Rivers regularly. A total of 90 percent
respondents has listened to Radio Rivers.
5.2 CONCLUSION
66
Based on the findings above, the following conclusions
were drawn:
Audience opined that oddity give them more to cheer and
give them the inspiration to listen to news. Study also showed
that oddity motivate the audience to crave for more news. This
means that the more odd or absurd a news item is, the more
interest it will generate.
Prominence is not liked by the audience and do not
contribute much to the sustenance of audience interest in
news item. This means that prominence plays a minimal role
to audience in news interest. It hardly arouse the interest of
the audience.
Finding showed also that the combination of oddity and
prominence will be tolerated though only in a ratio where
oddity is more.
Study also showed that Radio Rivers prefer prominence
to any other news value. This may not be unconnected to their
being a government radio station, which males them strive to
impress their boss in the government house.
67
Finally, Radio Rivers is popular among the people but
with bad image. This may be sequel to their affinity to
government. The station is seen as propaganda tool of
government.
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings in this study, some
recommendations were made and they are as follows:
- Since the most important problem identified is to know
the more important between oddity and prominence,
Radio stations and other news outlets should report their
news using oddity. This means that radio stations should
place oddity higher than any other news value since this
will increase or hold on to the audience. This will help the
news outlet to have increased listenership.
- Radio Rivers programmes and current affairs department,
and those who determine news must reduce prominence
and add oddity in other to hold on or increase their
listeners.
- Radio Rivers should report events objectively in order to
change the attitude of the people towards them.
68
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amadi, Fred (2006): Critical Issues in Nigerian Mass Media. Port Harcourt, Charles Worth.
Baridam, D.W. (1995): Research Methods on Administrative
Science. Port Harcourt Paragraphics. Hornby, A.S. Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary of Current
English; 6th Edition. Ogolo, M.B. (1996): Students Guide to Writing Research and
Project and Proposals. Port Harcourt, City Creeks Publishers.
Ohaja, E.U. (2003): Mass Communication Research and
Report Writing. Lagos, John Latterman Limited Publications.
Okon, G.B. (2001): Basic Dimension in Mass Communication.
Lagos: HDX Communications Limited. Okoye, Innocent (1998): Feature Writing: Theory and Practice.
Lagos, Mic Pac Ventures Ltd. Okunna, S.C. (1999): Introduction Mass Communication.
Enugu, New Generation Ventures Limited. Okwandu, G.A. (2004): Research Methods in Business and
Social Science. Owerri, Civincs Publishers. Udoakah, N. (2001): Issues in Media Practice. Port Harcourt;
Stirling-Horden Publishers.
69
Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Management Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
May, 2010. Dear Respondent,
REQUEST FOR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE I am an undergraduate student of the above named university, undertaking a study on “Oddity and Prominence: An Analysis of Radio Rivers Reportage”. Your response to the questionnaire will go a long way in helping me achieve the purpose of this study. I beg that you provide these responses honestly. This study is academic and so will be used strictly for that. Yours faithfully, UWALAKA TEMPLE
70
QUESTIONNAIRE
Please kindly read and complete each item sincerely and according. 1. Sex (a) Male (b) Female
2. How old are you?
(a) 18 – 30
(b) 31 – 50
(c) 51 and above
3. Educational qualification
(a) FSLC
(b) SSC
(c) Diploma and above
4. Do you listen to Radio Rivers?
(a) Yes (b) No
5. If Yes/No why?
(a) One line reportage
(b) Only government officials make news
(c) Who did what is more important
(d) Credible news outlet
(e) What happened more important
(f) Propaganda tool of government
71
6. In news values, oddity and prominence which is
important?
(a) Oddity
(b) Prominence
(c) None of the above
7. In radio Rivers, which of the news value is important?
(a) Oddity
(b) Prominence
(c) Others
8. “When dog bite man it is not news, when man bite dog it
is news” Do you believe this Mass Communication
maxim? (a) Yes (b) No
9. Do you prefer prominence only in news reports?
(a) Yes (b) No
10. What will you advise Radio Rivers if they prefer
prominence?
(a) Keep it up
(b) Mix little oddity
(c) More oddity
(d) Stop this
72
11. If the Governor was beaten by some villagers because the
villagers were against his commissioning of a non-
existence project in the village, what advise will you
render to Radio Rivers?
(a) Report the commissioning only
(b) Do not report
(c) Report objectively
12. In your opinion, from question 11, which news value is
more important?
(a) Who – the Governor commissioning a project
(b) What – the beaten of the Governor
13. How often do you listen to Radio Rivers?
(a) Regularly
(b) Most times
(c) Some times
(d) Do not listen
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