ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST KIDNAPPING
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ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST KIDNAPPING
Abstract
The primary goal of this study was to determine the role of mass media in the fight against kidnapping in Nigeria. It is a study of the anti-corruption crusade’s effectiveness in preventing and lowering crimes, particularly kidnapping-related crimes, among people of southeast Nigeria.
To conduct this research judiciously, the researcher examined public awareness of mass media and anti-kidnapping campaigns, public attitudes towards the campaigns, content quality of the campaigns, objectivity and reliability levels of the campaigns, factors influencing the campaigns, and potential improvements.
The study was supported by agenda setting theory. The study’s findings demonstrate that, while the public is aware of the Mass media anti-kidnapping campaign, it has been ineffective in preventing or reducing crimes in Nigeria due to poor content quality, limited outreach, a lack of interest, and other factors.
The recommendations are that the government expand their campaigns to other forms of communication, particularly radio. The contents of the campaigns should also be repackaged to suit the preferences of viewers and listeners.
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background for the Study
Every day in the news, local, national, and international, crime tales grab front-page headlines and dominate television media.
According to Agba (2007), crime exists everywhere, including in our families, but the most heinous and outrageous are those that result in the deaths of a huge number of people, make people poor and homeless, ruin the reputation of a country, clan, or group, and make people fearful of their homes. Shoener Nicole (2012) recognised four basic categories of crime: personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, and statutory crimes.
Nigeria is one of the African countries that has been significantly impacted by the rising crime rate in Nigeria. The amount of violent crime in Nigeria is worrying.
These crimes affect a large number of people, with severe consequences (Okechukwu, 2011, para. 18). Kidnapping, armed robbery, pickpocketing, and the notorious Boko Haram kidnapping are the most common types of crimes in Nigeria.
Because of the catastrophic effects of rising crime in Nigeria, the government has continued to develop ways to assist regulate and eradicate crime in the country. Mass media campaigns are one of those strategies.
The government has used radio, television, and the internet to establish programmes and initiatives that have served to raise security awareness in the minds of citizens.
These marketing messages are sent throughout the country to encourage people to report crimes in their communities and to know what to do if criminals are spotted in the vicinity.
For example, in December 2015, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched a national security campaign as part of its efforts to combat abduction. The campaign was distributed to major television stations in Nigeria, including AIT and NTA.
The campaign was primarily focused with appealing to Nigerian people to join forces with security authorities in the fight against insurgency, claiming that the worst had passed and the country was already on the path to repair and rehabilitation. (Scan News, December 2015).
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America, emphasised the importance of the press in society in one of his speeches. He stated, “If I had to choose between having a government without newspapers and having newspapers without a government, I would choose the latter” (Mustapha and Abudulbaqui, 2012, p. 130).
Similarly, President De Gaulle of France once asked President John F. Kennedy of the United States, “How can you control your country if you do not control television?” (quoted in Orhewere and Kur, 2004, p. 58).
These arguments emphasise the importance of the mass media in any community. Governance is inherently communication-based. The mass media facilitates the two-way communication process required to bridge the gap between government and the governed, including the critical task of ensuring that the fundamental values and principles that hold a society together are promoted among the public.
In the just finished Nigerian presidential elections, the media provided updates on minute-by-minute developments in the elections and campaigning. The dissemination of information was tremendous, especially since youths carry their smartphones everywhere and even provide information to media outlets.
This was witnessed on Nigerian television networks when information submitted by citizens was published and made available to the public.
Kidnapping shocked Nigeria as the media made Nigerians aware of BokoHaram’s ongoing attacks in the country’s northeast. Nigerians rely heavily on media reports since no one can predict what will happen, where, when, or how. Bomb blasts have become a common event.
And, given the widespread reliance on the media for information, it appears that the manner in which information is reported will go a long way towards effecting changes in areas that require them, particularly in combating the recent threat of terrorist attacks by the Boko-haram terrorist group in Nigeria.
In this study, the media is viewed as an influential body and a watchdog for the public interest. The Nigerian media, which is endowed with that conscience due to its tradition of being outspoken, bears a significant duty for effecting social change.
Some experts have attempted to investigate this, but have been unable to determine if the media has played a substantial impact in reducing kidnappings in Nigeria.
This paper will attempt to answer the question, “What is the role of the media?”What are the media’s constraints?How influential has the media been in preventing kidnappings?
The study’s goal is to evaluate the role of the media in Nigeria, to learn about the limits that the media faces in carrying out its tasks, and to determine how influential it is in combating abduction in Nigeria.
In Ayo Olukoyun’s article (2004), he quotes Oseni (1995), who states that the media is charged with holding governments accountable and guarding against abuse of power, necessitating the establishment of countervailing surveillance structures to monitor government activities and stem an inherent proclivity for excess. Kidnapping is disorganised.
On a beautiful September morning, America felt invulnerable and had incredible power. Almost overnight, the American environment shifted from one of affluence, security, and power to one of menace, dread, and uncertainty. This was also true in Nigeria, where, to the dismay of all, explosives were detonated, killing innocent people. (Channels TV, 2013)
The worst happened when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, and their recovery remains a monumental task. The media jumped into action instantly, providing a rundown of events.
As the media communicated information about the terrorists’ methods of operation, the rate at which attacks happened appeared to slow significantly. Threat and dread are more than just psychological phenomena; they have political implications for how elites and the media communicate with the people, and, ultimately, opinion formation.
In times of crisis, citizens rely on political leaders and the media to make sense of unexpected and terrifying events. The features of the information environment determine how people expect the government to respond to a danger or terror.
According to Shana Kushner Gadarian (2010), some scholars have described the media as tools for mass communication. For example, Defleur and Dennis(1981) define the mass media as “devices for moving messages across distance or time to accomplish mass communication.”
The question of applying the word “mass media” to technological gadgets is critical to understanding the notion. Throughout the world, the issue of mass communication, which is the act of conveying or distributing information from a source to a large heterogeneous mass audience via electronic means, is exploited.
It’s no surprise that Bittner (1989) defines “mass communication” as “message communicated through mass medium to large group of people”. Biagi (2003) states that “mass communication is communication from one person or group of persons through a transmitting device (a medium) to large audiences or markets” .
According to Sambe (2005), mass communication is a device that allows a group of individuals to convey information to a vast, diverse, and anonymous audience at the same time. It is the process by which information travels from the source to the receiver after being thoroughly filtered and transferred via a channel.
In conjunction with the definitions above, as well as several others proposed by communication academics, it is clear that mass communication (media) cannot occur without the availability of technologies such as transmitters, televisions, and other gadgets to function as mediums, channels, and so on.
As stated above, a vast number of people have always relied on these forms of mass communication to receive information. It is clear that all of the definitions provided have something in common: they all involve conveying a message via a medium to huge groups of individuals at the same time. (Utulu. 2012).
1.2 Statement of Problem
Despite the Nigerian Security Agencies’ repeated attempts to combat kidnapping in Nigeria through the use of media campaigns on National Television Authority (AIT), Channels TV, African Independent Television (AIT), and other numerous broadcast stations, kidnappers, Boko Haramists, armed robbers, rapists, fraudsters, impersonators, embezzlers, murderers, manslaughters, and prostitutes continue to roam the streets of Nigeria and are highly successful in their activities.
According to Okpara (2010), the Nigerian media has failed to provide effective and efficient messages to combat kidnapping and restore peace in Nigeria.
This challenge prompts reflection on the purpose and character of these media initiatives. Does this imply that individuals do not watch these campaigns, and if they do, do they follow the directions offered by the campaign as they go about their activities?
Do they believe the agencies’ assurances concerning mobile helplines and rapid response during a crisis? Are the campaign promises credible, i.e., do they believe the campaign motives are objective and realistic?
Furthermore, how do viewers assess the timing and packaging of these campaign messages, particularly in terms of how rich or poor the campaigns are, as well as the most appropriate media for conveying these campaign themes.
Furthermore, what variables contribute to the ineffectiveness of these campaign messages? Could it be a lack of resources or insufficient outreach? Are there any additional factors? Furthermore, what ways do the public believe these campaign slogans can be reorganised to achieve their goals?
The answers to these questions represent the primary objectives of this study, and it is intended that they will aid in the resolution of the problem previously recognised by researchers.
1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY
The primary goal of this research is to determine the influence of media in combating and preventing crimes, particularly abduction in Nigeria. This main objective is divided into the following objectives:
To determine the level of public awareness of mass media campaign messages.
To determine the public’s reaction towards mass campaign messages.
Determine the objectivity and credibility of mass campaign messages.
To assess the content quality of mass campaign messaging.
To determine the factors influencing the success of mass campaign communications.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the level of public awareness of mass media campaign messages?
What is the public’s stance towards mass media campaign messages?
What is the level of objectivity and dependability in mass media campaign messages?
What is the content quality of mass-media campaign messages?
What elements influence the success of Mass Media campaign messages?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study’s findings could be significant in a variety of ways.
It would be useful as a reference material for both students and researchers who may require knowledge and documentation on this academic topic.
The findings might also be useful for other media organisations in their presentation of crime, particularly kidnapping situations.
The findings will also allow citizens to express their opinions on the approach and manner in which media organisations handle crime cases near them.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study examines the role of mass media in the fight against abduction in Nigeria. It is a study of the anti-corruption crusade’s effectiveness in preventing and lowering crimes, particularly kidnapping-related crimes, among people of southeast Nigeria. The study’s scope was constrained by a lack of proper financing, time constraints, and other issues.
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