Mass Media As An Instrument Of Political Mobilization (A Case Study Of The Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS)

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This research touches on the various aspect of the mass media as instruments of political mobilization. In other words, it explores into the mass media as a mobilization agency during the political transition period.
It is thus, an important assumption of the work that a systematic study of political mobilization by mass media, should include an examination into the nature of operation of the mass media of communication in the Enugu state Broadcasting service (ESBS) Enugu.
The mass media generally referred to both the print (s) and electronic media as supported in section 22 of the 1989 constitution of Nigeria. “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media should at all be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and highlights the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”.
The role of the mass media according to General Abacha in his maiden independence broadcast on the 1st October 19995 was to inform educate and entertain the citizenry.
Onyishi (1996) while highlighting on the role of the mass media in democracy notes that the press not only sustains the democratic principles but also end with transition period. The media should help in ushering in democracy they should play a crucial role in nurturing and sustaining the success or failure of our practice of democratic government. To large extent, their success depends on how well the mass media carries out their function as the midwife of democracy.
This research therefore is intended to investigate how far the mass media had fulfilled this avowed obligations.
It is hoped that the result of his work will be useful to the media practitioners in the proper performance of their duties.1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS
In democracies the mass media are the watch dog of the people. The citizens are usually mobilized and informed to create awareness on the political process and programmes to ensure a viable political culture.
By political culture, I refer to a system of politic in which sovereignty is vested on the people rather than a small clique, or an oligarchy, a political arrangement hat rule of law, majority rule and constitutionals is the basic guiding principal.
Perhaps, it could be argued that the political crisis that pervaded our recent past points to the fact most of our people are ignorant of an apathetic towards the country’s political culture, it is therefore very easy to observe that in Nigeria, electioneering and voting pattern cannot be validated, in the voting pattern of Nigerians and the possible estimation of the vote attitude towards political issues.1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The level of political participation in Nigeria and Enugu state in particular seems to be very low. Also the political crisis occurring in this country has equally been attributed to several factors. The purpose of this study is to identify the reason or reasons that have contributed to this low political participation in Nigeria politics.
In doing so, what usually comes to mind is to ask the question “what is the reason for the low political participation in Nigeria politics and equally the causes of the constant political crisis? As usual, it may by traced to several factors. .like low level of awareness and tribalism, how can this awareness be obtained ?
This will lead us to this research topic. Therefore, this study is intended to inquire into low political participation in Nigeria politics and equally trace the genesis of the political crisis that identifies the factors responsible and solution sought.1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
it is expected that this study would be immense benefit to the government, the mass media and the people of this country. This study will highlight the importance of the mass media as a vehicle for political mobilization in a transition era.
Through, the mass media especially the radio and television, Nigeria might have a chance of having a viable political culture and help to choose a leadership that will inculcate a viable and sustaining democracy. This will also give us a society blessed with.
As right put by GORAN HEDEBRO:- “Communication media can create a climate of change by including a new values, attitude and models or behaviour favorable to modernization, teach new skills act as a multiplier of resource of knowledge, raise level of aspiration of incentive for action raise level of participation in decision making help people to find new norms and harmony in period of transition change the power structure of the society by giving knowledge to the masses create sense of nations, lead to increase political activity or participation promote people’s need satisfying project and make economic social and politically development a self perpetuating process”.1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
The basic question posed as a result of these problem including the following:
A. Have the media been participating in elections in Nigeria and Enugu state in particular?
B. Has ethnic problem been hindering the smooth conduct of election in this country?
C. Can the masses in this country be mobilized and informed using mass media organ?
D. Finally what role has the mass played to ensure a viable democracy?1.6 HYPOTHESES
H1: Thee has been low participation in elections in Nigeria and Enugu state particular.
Ho: There has not been low participation in elections in Nigeria and Enugu in particular.
H2: Ethnic problem has been hindering the smooth conduct of election in this country.
Ho: Ethnic problem has not been hindering the smooth conduct of election in this country.
H3: The masses in this country can not be mobilized and informed using the mass media organ.1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Conceptual and operational definitions:
1. ROLE
(a) Conceptual:- persons or duties in an undertaking;
(b) Operational: - function or part of the duty the mass media do to contribute national political consciousness and development.
2. MASS MEDIA
(a) Conceptual: - Existing channel through which government and its citizens communicate to each other or means through which greater number of people are reached spontaneously with information.
3. MOBILIZE
(a) Conceptual: - Render something or somebody move from initial position.
(b) Operational:- Cause people to be actively involved in politics to be politically minded and conscious and to believe in political process and result.
4. CENSORSHIP
(a) Conceptual:- process of finding faults from whatever somebody else does.
(b) Operational:- unlimited supervision of the activities of the press by those in government to punish what seems to the government as conditions.1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Since this research is directed at the mass media and political mobilization the research is centered on the Broadcasting media in Enugu state. (i.e. the Enugu Broadcasting service ESBS).1.9 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The entire study of mass communication is based on the premise that there are effects from the media, yet it seems to be the issue on which there is least certainty and least agreement.
This apparent uncertainty is the more surprising since every day experience provides countless examples of small effects.
Consequently we live in a world where political and government processes are based on the assumption that we know what is going on from press and television and radio. There are few people who can trace piece of information or opinion to a source in the media and much money and effort is spent in directing media to achieve such effects. It is on the basis of this that research work since mobilization has to do with the effectiveness of the media.