ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, a significant number of intellectuals, journalists, and businesspeople believe that government should not interfere with ownership and control of the mass media. The important point implicit in this viewpoint is the assumption that the pattern of ownership of the mass media is crucial in determining the strength or weakness of the press. This study surveys the constraints on journalistic practice in government- owned media in the south-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. "Government-owned media,"  as used in  this study, refers to newspapers in the six states that make up the geo-political zone which could be used to generalize to other government owned newspapers in Nigeria owning to the fact that  they  operate in the same economy. Discussion of background issues covers constitutional and legal provisions and government ownership of media. Strictly speaking, there are two main categories of the press in Nigeria: the government-owned press and the privately owned press. The establishment of daily newspapers by newly created states accounted for the relatively spectacular increase in government ownership since 1960. The decision to compete with private entrepreneurs is not a sound one, notwithstanding the argument for government ownership in Nigeria at this time. The lesson of history is that such ownership is incompatible with a democratic way of life in a society having a free enterprise economy. Also such ownership rarely if ever lasts unless the government intends to use methods which seriously detract from democratic principles to sustain its media outlets regardless of their performance and level of success or failure. It would be in the interest of the Nigerian press, governments, public and national development, for the governments to leave the field of daily and weekly newspaper publishing to private enterprise and concentrate their efforts in radio and television broadcasting.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page……………………………………………………………..……..…..……. i

Certification ……………………………………………….…………...….…..….…..ii

Dedication ……………………………………………………………....…….……...iii

Acknowledgements...…………………………………………...…………...…...…..iv

List of tables………………………………………………………………..................v

Table of contents………………………………………………..…………….….…..vi

Abstract ………………………………………………….………………...…..........viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1Background to the study ------- 1

1.2Statement of the problem------- 5

1.3Objectives of the study - ---- 7

1.4Significance of the study ------ 7

1.5Research questions------ 8

1.6Theoretical framework- ----- 9

1.6.1 Authoritarian theory--------9

1.6.2   Benevolent-Authoritarian or Conservative Development Journalism-10

1.7Scope of study ---11

1.8Limitation of the study -------12

1.9Definition of terms-------12

References--------14

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0Introduction--15

2.1Overview of Government Ownership of the Media-----15

2.2Factors Militating Against the Efficient and Effective Performance of the

Government Owned Media -----23

2.3Legal Constraints on Journalistic Practice in Nigeria-----26

2.4Controversies on the Best Form of Media Ownership----29

2.5The Impact of Editorial Policies on the Mass Media----31

2.6Nigerian Press and the Quest for Professionalism----33

2.7Political Instability-------37

2.8Media Ownership and its Consequences on media practices---38

2.9Summary of Literature Review -------41

References----------43

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1Research design ----------47

3.2 Description of the research population------47

3.3 Sampling techniques--------47

3.4 Sample size---------47

3.5 Instrument for data collection-------48

3.6 Validity of research instrument-------48

3.7 Reliability of the instrument-------49

3.8 Procedure for data collection-------49

3.9 Method of analysis and presentation of data-----49

References---------50

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1Introduction---------51

4.2Data Presentation and Analysis -------51

4.3Presentation & Analysis of Psychographic Data Collected----56

4.4Discussion of findings/answers to research questions----63

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Preamble----------66

5.2 Summary of findings--------67

5.3 Conclusion----------67

5.4 Recommendations--------68

5.5 Suggestion for further research --------69

Bibliography---------70

Appendix---------75