When Ownership and Geographical Considerations Get To The Front Burner In Media Coverage Of Political Crisis: A Critical Review

One fundamental principle of media business is the fact that media people must always put public interest first in all their dealings. This they are expected to do irrespective of their geographic or ownership leanings. While one recognises the fact that these factors remain contentious in the media circle and sometimes difficult to do away with in media business, the social responsibility principle should always be allowed to govern all media engagements. While some observers argue that this principle rules only in developed world and not in the third world, others argue otherwise. This review looks at whether or not geographical and ownership considerations influence media people in their coverage of political crisis around the world. After a review of some empirical studies, it is concluded that geographical location and ownership play significant role in media coverage of political crisis

The Influence of Prevention of Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission Campaigns on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Nigerian Women

The transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding is called Mother-to-Child Transmission (MCT). This is one avenue that has fundamentally aided the infection of children with the dreaded HIV disease. This menace of mother-to-child transmission has been very devastating. Many children have been infected which has resulted to their early deaths. According to a progressive report in 2012 by UNAIDS, an estimate of 3.4 million children younger than 15 years were living with HIV globally in 2011, 91% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa (where Nigeria is situated), while an estimated 230 thousand children died from AIDS-related illness in the same year. It was also reported that mother-to-child transmission accounts for more than 90% pediatric AIDS. To effectively combat the MCT malaise, the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) was introduced. This introduction heralded countless number of PMTCT campaigns globally, including Nigeria. Therefore, the critical question that necessitated this study is, what is the influence of the PMTCT campaigns on the knowledge, attitudes and practice among Nigerian women? Using Survey Research Method and Multi-Stage Sampling Technique, women in 6 selected states from the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria (1 state from each of the zones) were studied. In the end, findings revealed amongst others that though the knowledge level, attitudes and practice of PMTCT among Nigerian women is abysmally low. Based on the findings, it was recommended, amongst others, that organizations, agencies and other bodies involved in packaging PMTCT campaigns should design and disseminate adequate, specific clear and very convincing messages to the women. This will help improve their knowledge on the PMTCT programme which will consequently secure the right attitude in them and herald an improved level of practice. When this is achieved, mother-to-child transmission would have been drastically reduced. Keywords: Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV •Campaign •Knowledge •Attitude •Practic

Achebe’s There Was A Country In The Court Of Public Opinion: 43 Years After The Nigerian Civil War

The Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970 ended with the then military government of Gen. Gowon maintaining the“No Victor, No Vanquished” posture. This was despite the fact that the defunct Biafra, as it were, clearly lost outwith millions of casualties, mostly women and children. This posture, with all its criticisms from those whoinsisted that Biafrans should be treated as prisoners of war, was maintained by the then Head of State whobelieved it was a reconciliatory take off point. Ever since, several policies, and programmes have been put inplace to reduce the hostility between the then Biafrans (now mainly South- Easterners and a few South-Southerners) and the rest of the country. At the point when available evidence was suggesting that the hostilitywas reducing, late Prof. Chinua Achebe published a controversial book, “There was a Country: A PersonalHistory of Biafra,” in 2012. This book, with a detailed account of the war, analysts argue, has reengineeredhostility, “thereby bringing to naught all reconciliatory moves made in the last forty-two years.” ConsideringAchebe’s intellectual capacity, world status and what he represented, especially to the Igbo nation, one istempted to agree with these analysts. However, such conclusion could be hasty without empirical proof.Therefore, the obvious questions are: has the book in any way influenced Nigerians to construct or reconstructtheir memories of the war? Is it leading to fresh hostility, considering the fact that he accused prominentNigerians of genocide? Qualitative and quantitative data generated through interview, questionnaire and focusgroup discussion revealed that the book has influenced Nigerians to construct and reconstruct negative memoriesof the war.Keywords: Nigerian Civil War, Memory Construction, Reengineering Hostilit

Spitting on a Blood Document: An Analysis of Nigerian Journalists Perception and Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act

This work is on Nigerian journalists’ perception of the implementation of 2011 Freedom of Information Act in the South East Nigeria. The researchers adopted survey research method in which questionnaire and oral interview were used as the means of data collection. A sample size of 237 was drawn from a total population of 580 using Taro Yamane formula. The data generated through the administration of questionnaire were presented and analyzed using tables and simple percentages. The qualitative data generated through the oral interview were also presented .At the end ,the researchers discussed  the results gotten from the tables and oral interview in line with the research questions and it revealed  that, the Nigerian journalists do not have a detailed understanding of the content of the F0I Act. It also revealed that the Nigerian journalists do not see F0I Act as an important legal document that has the capacity to strengthen investigative journalism in Nigeria. This study also revealed that the Nigerian journalists do not see the Act as capable of granting them protection in their day to day activities. Finally, the study as well revealed that access to information in Nigeria has not increased as a result of the F0I Act. Based on this, it was  recommended among others things that sensitization workshops on F0I Act should be organized by the NUJ of different states from time to time to enable them (journalists) embrace the provisions of this Act for a proper implementation. This will go a long way for a better kick-off on the implementation of the Act

NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS FRAMING OF THE CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS ABDUCTION (A STUDY OF THE GUARDIAN, DAILY SUN, THE TRUST AND LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS)

ABSTRACT: This study investigates how selected Nigerian newspapers reported the Chibok school girls' abduction in Government Secondar