Aesthetics in Igbo Video Films: Critique of the Battle of Destiny and the Son of Soil

Video film viewership is common among different classes of Nigerians. Such viewing is sometimes followed with discussions on their contents and appeals. This work is an appraisal of Igbo video films. Using formal criticism approach, the Battle of Destiny and the Son of Soil are evaluated. It is discovered that the serials are culturally rich, artistically designed and aesthetically produced despite some obvious technical deficiencies. Keywords: Aesthetics, Igbo, Video films, Critique, Battle of Destiny, and Son of Soil

Voters’ Assessment of Social Media Use for 2015 Electioneering Campaigns by the two Leading Political Parties in Nigeria

This paper examined voters’ assessment of social media use for the 2015  electioneering campaigns by the two leading political parties in Nigeria. The major objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which the two leading  political parties in Nigeria (and their candidates) made use of the social media for their electioneering campaign activities and to ascertain the specific activities they purveyed through the social media. The study was anchored on the Agenda-setting theory of the mass media, adopted quantitative research approach, surveyed 105 respondents purposively drawn from Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi (the three main urban towns in Anambra State), and used the questionnaire as instrument of data  collection. The percentage method was also used to analyse data. Findings of the study show that the two leading political parties in Nigeria did not use the social media much in the electioneering campaigns of the 2015 elections, that the candidates of the two leading political parties utilised the social media more than candidates of other political parties in the election, and that the activities they disseminated in the social media bordered mainly on announcement of party flag bearers, accusations and counter accusations of electoral fraud being strategised by the other political party or INEC’s connivance with one party or the other to rig the election. The paper concluded that the two leading political parties scored below average in the use of the social media in the 2015 electioneering campaigns, though, their candidates performed better than candidates of the other political parties. The researchers recommended more proactive use of the social media platforms by the leading political parties and all registered parties in Nigeria.Keywords: Voters, Assessment, Social Media, Use, 2015, Electioneering.  Campaigns, Political parties, Anambra State, Nigeri

Public and Private Media Reportage of Free and Fair Elections: Views of Media Audience in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Free and fair election is a cherished feature, a universally acceptable and an intrinsically inseparable characteristic of democracy. Reporting election in unbiased, truthful and factual terms is an important role of the press globally. However, at present, in most African countries that have embraced democracy, such as Nigeria, this feature has not been attained. This comparative study of government and private owned media reportage of election in Nigeria aimed at ascertaining the section of the media that pay more attention to issues of free and fair polls. The survey utilised questionnaire to collect data from 300 media audiences in triangulation with interview of select media professionals in Anambra State. It adopted purposive sampling procedure. The paper was anchored on the Social Responsibility and the Agenda-setting theories of mass communication. The study used the percentage method in data analysis. Findings of the study show, among others that privately owned media report free and fair elections, no matter who it favours while government owned media rarely report such issues except where such report favours the government. Based on the findings, the paper recommended that the media owned by government should be more proactive in reporting electoral fairness at all times. Keywords: Free, Fair, Elections, Nigeria, Reporting, Media, Government, Private, Audience and Views

Patterns of Online Media Exposure among Young People in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study investigated Patterns of online media exposure among young people in Anambra State, Nigeria. The rationale behind the study was to ascertain the ways young people in Anambra State access social media networks and to determine the reasons why they use the various online media platforms. Pegged on the Technological Determinism and the Uses and Gratification theories of the mass media, the study adopted quantitative research design and employed the questionnaire for data collection. The paper used a sample size of two hundred youths purposively drawn from Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi (all major cities in Anambra State) and adopted the percentage method in data analysis. Findings of the study show that many young people in Anambra State expose themselves to online media mainly through the use of their cell phones/handsets/smart phones and laptop/PC and that they use the various online media platforms for academic research purpose, for making and maintaining friendship, for entertainment/amusement and relaxation, chatting and for other purposes. The paper concluded that social networking sites are very useful platforms for interactive communication among young people and recommended more proactive use of online media for better academic attainment of young people. Keywords: Patterns, Online, Media, Exposure, Young, People, Anambra State