ABSTRACT
This research work focused on the perceptions of female mass
communication students of Enugu state University of Science and Technology
Enugu towards journalism as a career. The study aims at finding out the
attitudes that are being displayed by female mass communication students
towards journalism as a career. Survey method was adopted and the instrument
used for data collection was the questionnaire. The population of the study
according to the current attendance of ESUT female mass communication students
were 370 girls out of which 192 were sampled using taro Yamani’s formula for
getting sample size. Out of the 192 questionnaire were distributed, 190 were
collected back. Data collected was analyzed in tables and simple percentages.
The researcher found out that female mass communication students indeed have
negative attitudes towards journalism as a career. The conclusion of the study
was that female mass communication students have negative perception towards
journalism as a career and there is discrimination, and there is discrimination
against the female journalists in Nigeria. Again, it is also noteworthy that
female roles as mothers and wives are some of the problems facing female
journalists in Nigeria. This was evident on table 17 where 54% of the respondents
affirmed to this. The study therefore recommended that media houses should make
it as a point of duty to employ more of the female journalists just like they
employ the male journalists.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
In this age of
information, everyone wants to be aware of the happenings around them. The media
is the source of all that information, be it print media like the news papers,
magazines and journals, the broadcast media radio and television or the
electronic media like the internet etc. They are all called “journalism”.
Journalists are those actually responsible for all that information believe it
or not, they hold the power to influence the whole crowds with their firsthand
information that they pass. It is their job to either be a part of the news
that makes the difference or just utter rubbish in the name of information for
the people to assimilate.
Journalism is a highly
responsible job, and highly interesting at the same time. If someone is looking
for a career in journalism, they should have a presentable and confident
personality, along with the ability to write and present information accurately
and consciously. Other essential requirements that highlight a good journalist
are: an inquisitive bent of mind, good writing and communication skills,
ability to differentiate between facts and fictions, intelligence, and
interested in current affairs. Most importantly, must be capable of handling
the unforeseen situation efficiently.
Journalism is the
collection, preparation and distribution of news and related commentary and
feature materials through such media as pamphlets, newsletter, magazines,
radio, motion pictures, television, the internet and books.
The earliest known
Journalists product was a newssheet in ancient Rome called the ACTA DIURNA published daily from 59 BC,
it was hung in prominent places and recorded important social and political
events.
Journalism in the 20th
century was marked by a growing sense of professionalism. In our society today
it has been observed that female student Journalists have negative attitude
towards taking journalism as a career. This negative attitude is highly
reflected in the number of mass media houses.
Almost all institution
of higher learning in Nigeria offer mass communication courses leading to the
award of various degrees and certificates, including National Diploma, higher
National Diploma, Bachelor, and master’s degrees.
The increases in the
number of female graduates from all these institutions are not reflected in the
media of communication in the country. Each Year, hundreds of female students
graduate as mass communicators. A close look shows that the number of female
Journalists students surpassed the number of males. But in the field today, a
good number of these female graduates are not seen working in the various media
houses scattered all over the country.
Reference to the
convocation booklets from these schools revealed that a good number of female
ass Communication students graduated from these schools. In the year 1997,
about 150 female journalists graduated from Federal Polytechnic Oko. The Ogun
state Polytechnic in the same year turned out about 86 female Journalist
students and similarly. Between the year 2014 and 2015, Godfrey Okoye
University Enugu graduated about 12 mass communication students of which 8 of
them were females.
Similarly with other
mass communication schools in the country for instance, in 1995, the convocation
booklets of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, revealed that 45 female students
graduated from the department of mass communication. In the year 2008, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University (NAU) Awka, turned out about 58 female graduates from the Department
of Mass Communication. Between the year 2008 and 2009, Caritas University Enugu
graduated over 50 female journalists.
In other levels, the
number of female students surpassed the number of male students in the
Department of Mass Communication with a great difference.
In recent years, media
houses in the western countries lack trained female Journalists in the various
communication activities. Invariably, in Nigeria, this could be seen in most
cases of the media houses in Nigeria. There has been an imbalance in the number
of female, and male trained journalists working with them.
The Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA) had about twenty five trained Journalists on its staff list.
Five out of the twenty- five are female. The Daily Star newspaper has newspaper
had only six female journalists as its staff. The situation is similar in other
media institutions throughout Nigeria.
Statement
of the Research Problem
This study was
undertaken because of the low participation of the female Journalist graduates
towards practicing journalism as their career. Despite the fact that there is
considerably number of trained female journalists, very few of them are wiling
work with media houses in Nigeria.
A large number of
female Journalists are produced from different institutions offering mass communication,
but female participation in the profession is very negligible. One thing that
is glaring in the Nigeria media is the near absence of Nigerian women as news
makers. Though Nigeria is developing, it has gotten to a stage where the female
Journalists and their male counterparts should be competing in the media houses.
The number of female
Journalists in the field today is seen to be very few compared to the number
that graduates from Journalism schools and universities. This dormant attitude
of females tow the profession has resulted to the males claiming superiority
over them in the field and as such not portraying a good image for the women in
the society. This is because most men in the society believe that Journalism
exposes the practitioners and makes the female counterparts lose their dignity.
Many female Journalists
who work in the media sometimes do not show keen interest in their jobs. This
affects the female practitioners as the male practitioners always tend to over
shadow them both in position and in interest to work. This study therefore
tends to find out why the female mass communication students have such
perception when it comes to females being in the journalistic field.
1.3
Objectives of the Study
1.
To find out female mass communication
students see journalism
2.
To know if there is any discrimination
against the women journalists.
3.
To find out if there are wrong in about
female journalist.
4.
To find out if the female roles as
mothers and wives contribute to some of the problems facing female journalists.
1.4
Research Questions
1. How do female mass
communication students see journalism?
2. Is there any
discrimination against the women Journalists?
3. Are there wrong
impressions about the female Journalists?
4. Are the female roles
as mothers and wives some of the problems facing female Journalists?
1.5
Scope of the Study
The study covered the
whole female mass communication students of Enugu state university of science
and technology. This attributed to the fact that the main focus of the study is
on female mass communication students. . .
1.6
Significance of the Study
This study is very
important because a lot of people are baffled over the issues of why women do
not take up journalism as a career after studies. It has really agitated the
minds of some professionals and has equally created a lot of controversies.
The researcher,
therefore, has deemed it fit to find out the reasons for such negative attitude
of females towards Journalism.
Journalism as the
researcher could understand is very controversial and there no need to live on
mere assumption. This study has therefore provided an avenue for an in-depth
study on the controversial issue of knowing the reason behind women going into
Journalism as a career, how do these women see the practice of journalism? Do
they go into the study with the intention of practicing Journalism or taking it
up just as a career?
The researcher also
observed that female Journalists do not only disengage in the practice of
Journalism but also do not contribute in the development and achievement of
Journalism schools.
According to
Okunna(1990) “In most schools in Nigeria, women are not often seen as lecturers
both at universities and polytechnics”
They do not involve in
the teaching of mass communication courses. Women prefer working in other
fields to the career of Journalism.
The study will serve as
a resource material for programme design and implementation in the effort
concerning women in development and to students of women studies, mass
communication, and Journalism. It will, be a useful reading and reference
materials.
1.7.
Definition of Terms
Operational
Definition of Terms
STUDY:
it is an act of considering or examining something in detail. It can also be
said to be a piece of research that examines a subject or question in detail.
PERCEPTION:
This is a way of: feeling or your opinion about something or somebody. The perspective
you view an issue.
FEMALE:
It is a situation of being a women or girl.
MASS:
A large number of people in a community, Society, and nation.
COMMUNICATION:
Methods of sending information to a large number of people, especially trough
Television, Radio Computers, Newspapers, Magazines etc.
STUDENTS:
These are group of people who are Studying at a university or college.
TOWARDS:-
This is in relation to something or somebody, or in the direction of something.
JOURNALISM:-It
is a new effort in reporting in which professional communicators use Social
research method to gather, interpret and vividly present information to the
target audience. Journalism is therefore, the science of reporting.
CAREER:
It is the job or series of jobs that you do, especially if it earns you income.
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