A REVIEW OF CHALLENGES FACING MEDIA IN DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION (A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA TELEVISION AUTHORITY)
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- NGN 3000
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The art of communication as we know it now has evolved over many generations. Humans have been working very hard for a very long time to improve on one of the most fundamental aspects of their existence, and this effort has resulted in the sophistication and complexity that characterised human communication in the modern world. The McBride commission has thus noted that, in reference to this evolution, "As the world has advanced the task of communication has become even more complex.
In explaining this complexity, McBride and his colleagues (Adibe 2017), have this to say: "Throughout history, human beings sought to improve their capacity for receiving and assimilation information about their surroundings at the same time to increase the speed, clarity, and variety of their methods for transmission of in addition to this, human beings also sought to improve their In light of the aforementioned claim, it may be said that the early years of the press, between 1800 and 1929, are when the media first emerged and began to play a significant role in the dissemination of information, especially in the context of Nigeria. It was the first time a newspaper with the name of "Iwe Irohin" had ever appeared in the nation. However, the evolution of Nigerian journalism can only be broadly divided into three periods: 1800–1920 (early press), 1927–1960 (national press), and 1960–present. These were thought to represent the development of print media in chronological sequence.
In an effort to improve the population's literacy rate at the time, the first printing school in Calabar was established by the Presbyterian Mission in 1940. Anglican missionary Rev. Henry Townsend established a printing school and a second printing facility on the mission grounds in Abeokuta in 1845. The first newspaper was established by Reverend Townsend five years later, in 1859, under the name "Iwe Irohin fun awon era Egba at Yoruba," or "newspaper for the Egba people and Yoruba." Reverend Townsend's primary goal in establishing the journal was to enhance the reading habits of the Egba and Yoruba people. He also desired to influence literacy and education in order to practise Christian stewardship. Iwe Irohin was also a successful political tool against the British government, informing the public about the need to comprehend why the British government must be overthrown.
Other publication was founded in 1863 by the Anglo West India, Robert Campbell, who followed Iwe Irohin up with Anglo African, when the journal was making waves and garnering a lot of criticism. Campbell's purpose in creating the newspaper was to capitalise on the state's rising interest in Western Education and Enlightenment in 1860 by producing affordable and easily accessible articles that would enlighten, educate, and entertain its readers. It was the first newspaper in the country to provide an alternate viewpoint due to its open competition with Iwe Irohin.
Following that, in 1803-1883, Richard Beale Blaiz founded the Lagos Time and Gold Coast Colony Advertiser. The paper's name represented the time when the Gold Coast and Lagos were under combined control. As the newspaper system evolved over time, Zik founded the West African Pilot, which still exists today. It is crucial to emphasise at this point that, from the early days of the press to the present, the media has played an enormous role in restoring Nigerian society's deteriorating and retrogressive status.
Surprisingly, there was a great awakening in the broadcast media as the year progressed. The radio and television were born, causing a revolution in the diffusion of knowledge. Radio as a mode of communication is based on the utilisation of electro-magnetic waves that travel at the speed of light through space. Radio communications were first received in Nigeria in 1932 through the empire service of the British Broadcasting Commission (BBC). Prospective radio owners at the time had their transmissions routed through their sets, which were linked to the post office. Radio transmission was launched in 1936 with the start of broadcast via the RDS (Radio Distribution Service) in Lagos. The program's minimal content of Nigerian or coral works was one of its distinguishing features at the time.
By 1948, there were ten “Wire” Wireless stations serving about 80,000 subscribers in the country. This followed until television came to Nigeria for the first time in 1956. When Queen Elizabeth II came to Nigeria same years, the BBC came with a large contingent. The BBC placed TV screens outside the assembly to enable those outside the gallery of the house to watch what was happening. Nigeria takes credit as the pacesetter in Africa in regards to television broadcasting. That notwithstanding, television broadcasting started in Nigeria as a result of intense political and ethnic rivalry. Account has it that, the first television in Nigeria was the Western Nigeria television (WNTV); Ibadan, it is thus readily clear that, the colonial maters did not make much use of television during their period of rule as television came toward the end of colonialism in Nigeria. This was in operation when Chief Obafemi Awolowo established the WNTV. He was said to have has permission for access to the government owned national broadcasting commission (NBC) so that he would reply to the allegation of act of perfidy leveled against him by the actual grievance that eventually gave rise to regional Broadcasting dates back 1953.
From the year 1953-1960, the Eastern Nigeria television (ENTV) was established, then in April 1962 the federal government started the Nigeria television service, channel 10 Lagos, which was headed by T.O.S. Benson. After the civil war in the country there was significance increase in television broadcasting. Almost all the twelve states of the federation (as at 1972) had their own TV station. Then in 1976, the number of stations had risen to nineteen. In 1977, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) was established to function as an independent body. NTA was given charge over television broadcasting in Nigeria; however, the 1979 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria later remover the exclusive power of the NTA in television broadcasting in Nigeria. The constitution rather allowed for the establishment and operation of broadcasting and stations by different state governments, organization or individual subject to the president’s permission (Okunna 1993, page 55).
At this point, it can be submitted that right from the first day the mass media emerged in Nigeria starting with the print media; the media have been playing the watch dog role in the society, performing a number of functions which benefit the individual as a member of the society. These range from “serious” information and educational functions to “higher” functions like entertainment, information, dissemination, education, advertising, socialization, promotion of culture, motivation, mobilization, integration. They also play the role of agenda setting based on issues that are controversial in nature, here the mass media set the political agenda for the society by deciding what political topics people talk about etc. NTA as one of the media organization has of the mass media to the audience, e.g. election, child abuse, Kidnapping, issue of flooding, crime, war, fire disaster, conflict, fuel subsidy etc; also print media e.g. Newspaper, magazine, Journals, books are not left out.
But suffice it to say that, there are some challenges on the part of the media in using all these channels listed above to send information, thus making the actualization of the noble dream stressful, even NTA a government owned channel has its own shortcomings in the area of playing its roles effectively. Albert, it has been enslaved to the whims and caprices of the political leaders and the government.
Another challenge that weakens the power of Nigeria television Authority (NTA) and other media organization is poor infrastructural facilities. As sobowale (1989: page 304) quoted in Okunna (1994. P. 36) has observed with reference to Nigeria, such basic infrastructural facilities as roads and transport system are in an abysmal state of development; and this limits the work are the media practitioners in gathering information. One can also consider the state of technological expansion and advance in communication technology, with this media have found it difficult to work effectively.
In conclusion, it is submitted with respect that Nigeria television Authority (NTA) has been disseminating information to the masses. But, at the same time has in one way or the other demonstrated the challenges facing its discharge of duties. Despite all odds, this research study will definitely bring changes.
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