Audience Perception of Political News Coverage on Television: A Study of African Independent Television (AIT) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page……………………………………………………………………………...…i

Declaration …………………………………………………………………………..…ii

Certification …………………………………………………………………………....iii

Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………...iv

Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………..……………...v

Abstract ………………………………………………………………..……………….vi

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction

1.1         Background to the study…………………………………………………………1

1.2         Statement of Research Problem………………………………………………….5

1.3         Objectives of study         ……………………………………………………………6

1.4         Research Questions         ……………………………………………………………6

1.5         Significance of study       ……………………………………………………………7

1.6         Scope of the Study           ……………………………………………………………7

1.7         Operational Definition of Terms………………………………………………….7

CHAPTER TWO: Theoretical Framework Literature Review

2.2         Theoretical Framework…………………………………………………………...9

2.3         Conceptual Review……………………………………………………………....15

2.4         Empirical Review………………………………………………………………...37

CHAPTER THREE: Method of Study

3.1         Research Method………………………………………………………………...41

3.2         Population of Study …………………………………………………………..…41

3.3         Sample Size and Sampling Technique…………………………………………...42

3.4         Research Instrument ……………………………………………………………..43

3.5         Validity of the Research Instrument …………………………………………….43

3.6         Reliability of the Research Instrument…………………………………………..43

3.7         Method of Administration of the Research Instrument………………………...44

3.8         Method of Data Analysis………………………………………………………..44

CHAPTER FOUR: Data Analysis and Results

4.1 Field Performance of the Research Instrument            …………………………………...45

4.2 Analyses of Data on the Research Questions………………………………………..45

4.3 Summary of Major Findings ………………………………………………………..55

4.4  Discussion of Findings………………………………………………………………56

CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1         Limitations of Study……………………………………………………………..58

5.2         Summary…………………………………………………………………………59

5.3         Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………....60

5.4         Recommendations…………………………………………………………….....61

          Reference

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of audience towards political news coverage on television with focus on AIT and NTA Ilorin. Four research questions were posed to guide this study. The Agenda setting and Perception theory constituted the theoretical framework for this study. Residents of Ilorin metropolis were sampled for the research. This study adopted questionnaire survey as its data gathering method. The researcher adopted the multistage sampling technique. Out of the five selected local government areas in Ilorin metropolis, Simple random sampling technique (Ballot method), was used to select two wards each from each local government. Also, 250 copies of questionnaire were administered to residents of Ilorin metropolis for the questionnaire survey. The findings showed that residents of Ilorin metropolis are highly exposed to political information through constant exposure to news coverage on NTA/AIT Ilorin. Also, it was established that residents in Ilorin metropolis has a positive attitude towards political news coverage on NTA and AIT Ilorin because both stations give adequate attention on coverage of political news than other news. Furthermore, this study showed that residents in Ilorin metropolis have perceived that NTA & AIT Ilorin gives more frequency to coverage of political news than other news. However, this study established that political news coverage influences the political behavior of citizen because it promotes participatory politics in the democratic process by influencing their choice of voting in an electoral process. Therefore, the researcher recommended that media organizations and press bodies should organize seminars and workshops to sensitize and educate journalists on the significance and effects of news content especially when covering political and conflict news programmes in other to improve their skills and professionalism. Also, the researcher recommended that the media houses should ensure that contents of their news are absolutely free from bias, factual and relevant to the larger society.