ABSTRACT

This research was designed to assess the impact of the media in checking economic crime in Nigeria. This study specifically examined how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through the media (Thisday and Sun newspapers) arrested and persecuted individuals found wanting in money laundering, fraud etc. The researcher used content analysis research method. This method facilitated a proper measurement on the content categories of the newspapers mentioned above on their reportage on economic and financial crime. These content categories includes news, features, Editorial, front page and inside page. The unit of analysis includes frequency, prominence, depth of coverage and direction. Equally data was sourced and collected from relevant texts, journals, and EFCC Act 2004. The major findings of the study show that newspapers were very powerful tool in the assessment and checkmating of financial and economic crime in Nigeria between 2009 to 2010. 

PROPOSAL

Assessing the Impact of the Media in Checking Economic Crime (A Case Study of EFCC Activities). This study is aimed at the impact the media has made in checking economic crime which has brought to the activities of EFCC in Nigeria. In selecting the medium to use, Thisday and Sun newspaper strategy is being adopted (i.e. the print media). The bases on which this study has is to determine how adequately these newspapers covered the EFCC activities between 2009 and 2010. The research will contain content analysis research method in carrying out the study. Three hypotheses will be formulated for the study.

The hypotheses both have null and alternative hypotheses. The newspaper industry is a specialized industry. It has a unique pattern of reporting based on inverted pyramid style. More national papers are reckoned with professional approaches to news gathering and reporting. There has always been strict compliance to the pattern of reporting in other to conform with the international standard in reportorial style. Any act of deviation from this style is a professional blunder.

From the foregoing assessment method put in place by the researcher, it will truly ascertain in the researcher’s appraisal work if the media has really help in its impact in checking and reporting economic crime.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page  i

Approval Page  ii

Dedication  iii

Abstract  iv

Acknowledgements v

Table of Contents  vi

List of Tables  viii

Proposal

CHAPTER   ONE

INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Background of the Study  2

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem  6

1.3 Objectives of the Study 7

1.4 Significance of the Study 8

1.5 Research Questions  9

1.6 Research Hypotheses 10

1.7 Theoretical Framework  11

1.8 Scope of the Study 13

1.9 Limitation of the Study  13

1.10 Definition of Terms  13

References  17

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 

2.1 Source of Literature  18

2.2 Review of Relevant Literature  18

2.3 Summary of Literature 30

References 32

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY 

3.1 Research Design  33

3.2 Area of Study  35

3.3 Research Population  35

3.4 Research Sample  36

3.5 Sampling Technique  37

3.6 Instrument of Data Collection  38

3.7 Method of Data Collection  39

3.8 Method of Data Analysis  39

3.9 Expected Results  40

CHAPTER FIVE

PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS 

4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis  41

4.2 Analysis of Research Questions  46

4.3 Discussion of Results     47

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 

5.1 Summary  50

5.2 Conclusion 53  

5.3 Recommendations 54

Bibliography 56

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Population/Sample Table  35

Table 2: Extent of covering of news items  41

Table 3: Content categories of stories covered by the selected newspaper  42

Table 4: Nature of Story 43

Table 5: Direction of Stories  44

Table 6: Placement of news of both newspapers  45