CHALLENGES OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN A DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION

CHALLENGES OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN A DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION

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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The role of television as a mass medium in the democratization process is understood in the context of the public sphere, which is defined by Habermas stated  in 2012 as "organs of information and political debates such as newspapers, journals, and institutions of political discussion such as parliament, political clubs, literary salons, public assemblies, pubs, coffee houses, meeting halls, and other public space where socio-political discussion took place." Television, like other forms of mass communication, is meant to serve as a bridge between civil society and the domain of power in a democratic environment. As a result, television provides a platform for free debate of all topics of public concern, using discursive reasoning to guarantee the public benefit (Isola, 2010). This assumes that television in a democratic society operates under the freedom of speech and expression concept. This gives individuals the freedom to engage freely in political debate and decision-making, which is essential to democracy. Several study results in political communication support the notion that freedom of speech and the press are essential for political involvement in a democracy (Becker, McCombs & McLeod, 2016: Entman, 2012; Van Belle 2013). Civil society, which includes the mass media, of which television is a component, is one of the three pillars that maintain democracy, according to Diamond (2014). Political culture and political institutions are the other two. Television, with its unique advantages of impact (audible like radio and visual like print), selectivity, and flexibility among the mass media, has a huge effect on the democratic process, for better or worse. Former French President Charles de Gaulle reportedly questioned former US President John F. Kennedy, "How can you govern your nation if you don't control television?" (cited in Agbanu & Nwammuo, 2009). Television, in a similar spirit, is probably one of the most widely utilized forms of communication in a democracy. While democracy's success or failure cannot be reduced to television, Rajagopal (2016) contends that concern for democracy requires care for television. As a result, television is expected to play a number of roles in the democratization process, including (1) surveillance of current events that are likely to have a positive impact on citizens, (2) identification of key socio-political issues, (3) provision of platforms for advocacy for causes and interests, and (4) transmission of diverse content across multiple platforms, according to Isola (2010). These roles indicate that television in a democracy is supposed to be a diligent watchdog of public interest, and that it should not, under any circumstances, be reduced to serving as establishment lapdogs. It should not only be a mirror that shows the face of democracy, its flaws and beauty spots (Dukor, 2015), but also a voice of advocacy for the society's common welfare. In this regard, television in an emerging democracy like Nigeria should, as noted by Pate (2011), be accountable to the various constituencies that rely on it for information, education, and direction on the functioning of the democratic system; it should strengthen its mediating role through increased interactions among the various parties and stakeholders in the democratization process; it should ensure that the conduct of each of the stakeholders is in accordance with the law; and it should ensure that the conduct of each of the stakeholders is in accordance with the law. Television broadcasting in Nigeria arose as a result of democratic endeavor and was intended to aid the country's democratization process. The function of television broadcasting in Nigeria's effort at democracy is examined in this article. The study looks at how television broadcasting has performed under military and civilian administrations, highlighting areas of success and challenges, and proposing a path ahead with the hope of having television broadcasting contribute significantly to Nigeria's democracy process. The goal is to contribute to the current brainstorming process of taking stock of television's role in Nigeria's political growth 50 years after its founding. It is anticipated that the brainstorming session would lead to some kind of solution to Nigeria's and Africa's political issues. It is also anticipated that the exercise would provide valuable insight into television broadcasting operations for the development of democratic government and culture.

1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Television has maintained a high degree of popularity as a medium of mass communication in the evolution of society and social relations. Because of its benefit of integrating auditory and visual effects, studies show that more people utilize television as a source of news than any other media nowadays (Moemeka, 1973; Okigbo 2009). In Nigeria, the government and single proprietorships of great wealth control the ownership of broadcast stations, which have partisan political and economic agendas and interests (Golding, 1977). In certain instances, the managers are just front-men for the actual owners, who may include foreigners (Oyovbaire 2016). The station here fulfills not just the professional function and mandate given to it by the constitution and society, but also the owners' political agenda, goals, and motives. Such proprietors view their medium as a political extension of their economic power, as well as a potential stepping stone to political power. Unlike the press, broadcasting reaches out to rural regions, provides news, information, and messages in the vernacular, and is not reliant on literacy. Broadcasting, particularly public broadcasting, can deepen and strengthen democratization by making information widely accessible, educating and enlightening citizens about the value of participation, as well as keeping citizens informed and engaged in political and governance processes, and facilitating the holding of political leaders and governments accountable. Broadcasting can assist foster democratic re-awakening by promoting democratic ideals. Broadcasting, on the other hand, may be hijacked and exploited by entrenched interests to undermine and subvert the democratic process if it is managed badly. Under liberal democracy, vested interests may use their power to "shape news and information before it is distributed to the public," and make it run "contrary to the democratic ideals of a free press," as Sherman and Chomsky have observed (2011). The extent to which public service broadcasting plays a positive public role in a country's democratization process is determined by the following factors: how deeply ingrained the philosophy and values of public service broadcasting are; how insulated it is from commercial and other vested interests; how diverse and plural it is; and how transparently regulated it is, using a clear and popular/public oriented legal framework. According to Akinfeleye (1987), the Nigerian government still controls the media. The Nigerian constitution lacks a freedom of information legislation. Section 21 of the 2013 constitution requires the Nigerian press to monitor administration and hold the government responsible to the public in order to achieve the basic goals and principles of state policy. The importance of broadcast media in Nigerian democracy cannot be overstated. There are certain difficulties that television broadcasting faces in this democratic era that will be investigated.

1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The primary purpose of the study is to:

1. To identify the challenges confronting television broadcasting in Nigeria.
2. To examine the role of television broadcasting in the democratic dispensation.
3. To examine the effect of these challenges on television broadcasting in Nigeria.
4. To examine the relationship between television broadcasting and sustainable democracy.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the challenges confronting television broadcasting in Nigeria?
2. What are the roles of television broadcasting in the democratic dispensation?
3. What are the effects of these challenges on television broadcasting in Nigeria?
4. Is there a  relationship between television broadcasting and sustainable democracy?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be of great significance to the following people and in the following ways.

a. The media from time immemorial are charged with various roles of informing and enlightening the public, so this work will be useful to them by encouraging the media to carry out their functions well, despite the challenges that they face from time to time.

b. The study will provide reliable feedback data on audience view of media coverage of events and also provide its strengths and weakness which will serve as a tool for improvement in the media outfit including both electronic and print.

c. It will serve as a data base for Mass communication researchers and scholars who may be embarking on similar research in the future.

d. It will also avail political actors and players more and better information on the role of the media in information dissemination, especially in this democratic era.

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will examine the challenges of television broadcasting in a democratic dispensation,  the study will also, identify the challenges confronting television broadcasting in Nigeria. The study will further, examine the role of television broadcasting in the democratic dispensation. More so the study will examine the effect of these challenges on television broadcasting in Nigeria. Lastly, the study will  examine the relationship between television broadcasting and sustainable democracy. Hence the study will be delimited to NTA Jos.

1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

NTA: Nigerian Television Authority, owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria

Television: An audio-visual mass communication device; that is, a powerful medium of mass communication that provides its audience the opportunity to view as well as listen to its transmitted messages.

Television Broadcasting: The dissemination of audio and video contents to a large, heterogeneous and dispersed audience which receives the information simultaneously

Challenges: Used interchangeably with problems in this work

Media: Dictionary meaning sees it as the main ways which large number of people receives information. In the cause of this work, it’s taken to be the radio station where Radio Benue falls under this media in disseminating information to large heterogeneous audience.

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