ABSTRACT
This work examines the role the press plans in the shaping of Nigeria political structure using Enugu state as a case study. Enugu State is used owing to the fact that it was one of the concentric zones of intense political struggle of the defunct three regions in Nigeria.
The sample for this work encompasses some library materials and responds form the questions distributed to people in Enugu State.
The findings indicates that the pres has played a distinguish role the dissemination of the government political activities, programs and policies to the people. And that the inability of Enugu State Individual commends the press role in political activities. The finding gives beneath to attest that by the year 2002, the press uses features, articles and editorials to comment on government policy formulation and execution. Newspapers and magazines particularly use news stories to cover government programmes of action and administration according to the findings.
The work also examines the ole the press exercises in the societal. It equally unmasks some in itches which the press encounters in their bid to disseminate political information qualitatively and induces some recommendation that will forestall the problem.
INTRODUCTION
The Nigerian press has been a vital instrument for dissemination of governments policy and news for opinion leaders and decision makers within a political structure as well as the general public. Those in decision making body who are not able to come in contact with international; communities for the foreign policy rely on the pr4ess or such issue.
The press therefore stands as a link between the government and the public, the old and new era of administration etc.
A regime tat newly arrives into power can hold its predecessors capable for some economic an political problems through the press. Such regime also users the press to communicate its record in implementing popular project, compares its record in funding popular service with he part regime and reminds the public of the oppression they received form the oppression they received form the opposition. All these analysis hinges on the fact that the press is a veritable channel through which the government bares its mind to the public.
This chapter surveys a segment of the series of related national policy decision made by Nigeria in the period of British imperialism to the present political dispensation.
Nigeria come into existence as on in 1914 when Lord Fredrick Luggard first government general, amalgam prior to this period, the quality and the quantity of the press coverage towards agitation for self-rule formed the general of the press roe in shaping Nigeria political structure. To substantiate our points, mention should be made of the first newspaper in the country. Iweiroyin established in 1859 at Abeokuta by an Anglican Reverend, Henry Townsend. This paper combined social, cultural and political commentary with religious reporting with an effort to reach large commentary with religious reporting with an effect to reach large native readership. In similar dimensionm, he participation of Anglo African by Robert Campbell in laying the foundation far press involvement in shaping Nigeria political structure cannot be far fetched. All these are clear testimony to the fact that the activities of the press in Nigeria political structure are as old as Nigeria itself.
In the view of this, the press as the survey of information should be held in high esteem by all and sundry.
In the institution of the press, the media must be regulated and guided accordingly especially in this democratic dispensation by guarantee the dudicious discharge of their function. To achieve this, the press council must be given the appropriate legal status to punish any erring media activities during election period. This is to present them from becoming political tools to the determinent of the concept of fair play in the election period.
Until 1930, the government had no control of the press ownership. This period saw the emergency of political parties and the begging of creating mass awareness in political matters. The return of 21k form gold coast now Ghana germinated the seed of private press ownership. Realizing the impact of the press in political mobilization. He established he 21k press limited publisher of the west African pilot in 1937. Other political parties that emerged also used one newspaper or the other as political tool by which they create awareness for their parties.
However as time goes on the government started to interfere in the activities of the press through licensing, pre and post censorship etc. and this affected the quality f coverage the press have in stock on political matters. As journalist and media work kill like to risk its life or Job, they started succumbing to the tunes and dictates of the government.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Background to the Subject matter
1.2 Problems Associated with the subject matter
1.3 Problems that the study will be concerned with
1.4 The importance of studying the area
1.5 Definition of important terms
References using ApA method
2.0 CHAPTER TWO
2.1 The origin of the Area.
2.2 Schools of thought within the subject area
2.3 The school of thought relevant to the problem of study.
2.4 Different method of studying the problem
2.5 Summary
2.6 Reference
CHAPTER THREE
1.0 Conclusion
1.1 Data presentation (Highlights of the Study
2.2 Analysis of the data
2.3 Recommendation
2.4 Conclusion
2.5 References
Not withstanding the oppression form the government the press no doubt facilitated in creating political awareness in rural areas. Not only this, it strikes to educate individuals on political participation and interpret it to those who are ignorant of the political activities in the country.