Abstract

The main thrust of this study is to examine Public Assessment Of The Mass Media Roles Towards Fighting Corruption In Nigeria. I n carrying out the study, three research objectives and questions were posited. The study adopted two theories which are Development Media Theory and Social Responsibility Theory. The content analysis technique and methodology used in this study are a combination of quantitative and qualitative content analysis. From the analysis , it shows that mass media are playing a very critical role in the anti corruption fight in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study among other recommend that the media should collaborate with government agencies charged with combating corruption, as well as with local and international organizations, to educate the public about the detrimental implications of corruption in the country.Additionally, the study proposes that the mass media should engage in extensive investigative journalism in order to not only expose corrupt practices in Nigeria, but also to follow up effectively on previously reported issues.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the study

The mainstream media are incredibly effective vehicles for disseminating information. This involves promoting the anti-corruption agency’s activities. These behaviors are predominantly visible on newspaper pages, which makes newspapers an incredibly effective vehicle of public communication. Corruption has brought Nigeria’s entire system to a grinding halt. (2012) Adegbamigbe

According to Salisu (2000), corruption is defined as the misuse of public resources for private gain.’ For instance, government officials may accept bribes in exchange for issuing passports or visas, granting permits and licenses, permitting the transit of commodities by sea/airport, awarding contracts, or implementing unreasonably restrictive consumer regulations.

On the other hand, Macrae (1982:28) defines corruption as “an arrangement between two parties (the demander and the supplier) involving an exchange of goods or services that has an immediate or future effect on resource allocation; and (ii) involves the use or abuse of public or collective responsibility for private ends.” Sternberg (2000:43) establishes a link between corruption and bribery by defining a bribe as “an inducement offered to encourage someone to violate the norms of the organization he nominally represents in order to obtain a (unfairly) beneficial consequence.”

Numerous high-income countries consider corrupt behavior to be criminal because the bribe-betrayal recipient’s breach of trust with his employer jeopardizes the “development of fair and efficient markets” when committed regularly by senior government officials (Boatright, 1999)

Corruption continues to be a sign of an ailing state, as it is in the vast majority of developing countries, including Nigeria. Indeed, those who take and receive bribes have the potential to deplete a country’s resources, leaving nothing for the most vulnerable population. Even when led by reform-minded governments, highly corrupt countries like Nigeria usually face unique challenges.

Corruption has a long history in Nigeria, dating all the way back to the country’s more than 29 years of military dictatorship. All military dictatorships undermined the rule of law, facilitated public purse plunder, restricted free speech, and entrenched a secret culture in the conduct of official business. The country experienced a complete reversal and destruction of everything that was positive during the military dictatorship (Ribadu, 2006). Corruption evolved became the guiding principle upon which the country’s actions were conducted. When the military deposed democratically elected governments, widespread corruption was used to justify the coup. Military regimes have always been more corrupt than civilian regimes.

During the democratic process, political activities took on a fatal dimension, as contestants saw victory as a ticket to plunder and money. Between 1979 and 1983, the civilian administration was plagued by waste, political thuggery and extortion, a disregard for the rule of law, and rampant public funds thievery via white elephant projects. Despite the presence of the EFCC, the ICPC, and other enforcement agencies throughout Obasanjo’s presidency, the administration was not corrupt.

A strong media is vital to the success of any country’s anti-corruption campaign. In this scenario, the media is either print or broadcast. The media educates the public about corruption, its causes, effects, and potential solutions. Transparency International’s (2002) continued ranking of Nigeria in the bottom five nations in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) since 1995 demonstrates that the media has fallen short of this task (Sowumi, et al 2012).

1.2 Statement of Research Problems

Mass media have developed into literacy-based social institutions capable of effectively addressing societal corruption. In other words, broadcast media are unquestionably agents of change and growth. On the other hand, the media’s function as a watchdog in the battle against corruption is worth considering.

The study’s premise is that, given the increase in the number of corrupt cases over the last few years, it appears as though the mass media has been fulfilling its basic expected role in the sphere of corruption. According to the study, the media should play a proactive role in discouraging public officials from embezzling public monies by reporting on their actions and activities and so bringing them to public attention. After all, the duty of a watchdog is to bark in anticipation of the thief breaking into the house, not after the burglar has escaped. Thus, it is reasonable to predict that if the new media took a more aggressive role in investigative and interpretative reporting, the number of corrupt instances on our national registry would be dramatically decreased, and the country would be significantly better off as a result.

Meanwhile, one may argue that media are law-abiding civilized institutions, not military bases or anti-corruption agency, and such individuals would be correct. One could argue that the job of broadcast media is restricted to reporting on events and exposing who is or was participating in the public realm, which is also accurate. However, one thing is self-evident: corruption abounds in Nigeria, and the media, despite its unofficial status as the “fourth estate of the realm,” owes society a duty to avoid future instances of corruption by bringing them to the forefront of public discourse.

• Research Objectives

The main objective of the study is to investigate the public assessment of the mass media roles towards fighting corruption in Nigeria.

The following are the specific;

1. To critically analyze the frequency of corruption coverage by the mass media in
2. To examine the prominence given to corruption stories by the mass media in Nigeria.
3. To know how effective the mass media have been in tackling corruption in Nigeria

1.4 Research Questions

• How frequent does the mass media carry corruption issues?
• Does the mass media give prominence to corruption stories?
• What is the level of prominence that broadcast media give related issues?

1.5 Scope of the study

The study takes cognizance into public assessment of the mass media roles towards fighting corruption in Nigeria.

This study evaluates the Sun and Vanguardn newspapers’ coverage of corruption through editorials, news, features, cartoons, adverts, and letters to the editors over a one-year period, from June 2017 to May 2020. These will be reviewed and used to demonstrate how the media may effectively bring public attention to corruption issues.

The reason for choosing these two newspapers is that they both have a national distribution and readership. Additionally, the years 2017-2020 were chosen because the administration had significant corruption-related challenges during this time period, the majority of which arose from the national assembly and oil subsidy regimes.

1.6 Significance of the study

The study is essential for both the Nigerian media and the general population, as both are media consumers. Due to their role in educating and informing the public about local and worldwide events, the media are usually referred to as society’s watchdogs.

The media contribute little to informing and educating the public if they do not cover, report, and even broadcast daily events, if they do not examine and investigate irregularities and report findings, and if they do not create avenues for the public to contribute their own opinion as part of corporate citizenship, thereby assisting everyone in feeling included and contributing to society’s development.

The study’s conclusions will ascertain if the media has worked consistently with anti-corruption initiatives toward that end. If public opinion eventually exposes that the media have failed to live up to their pledges, studies should focus on how to ensure that they do so in the future.

When completed, this project’s findings will benefit academicians, communication studies students, and other researchers interested in undertaking future research on this issue.

1.7 Definition of key terms

Media: The term “media” is interchangeable with “mass media.” The mass media are “modern techniques of mass communication that are used to simultaneously deliver news and information to a large number of people” (Ukozor, 2003). There are two media of media: electronic (radio, television, and motion pictures) and print (Newspapers, magazines and books)

Assessment: Conducting study in order to discover a precise statistical value for an object. Additionally, it relates to establishing an item’s worth or ranking.

A campaign is a collection of media operations designed to accomplish a specific objective or generate publicity. It may take the shape of an audio or video broadcast or a print publication.

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