Television news perspective of conflict reporting: The Nigerian Television Authority as a reference point

Abstract

This paper examines the significance of public views on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) perspectives of conflict reporting in news. Survey research method was adopted for the study. A total of 400 respondents were selected for the study using Taro Yamane’s sample size formula. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Four hundred copies of questionnaire were administered to the public but only three hundred and ninety eight were returned. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency count, percentage, mean and chi-square to test the hypothesis. Finding reveals that audience views on the perspective of NTA news on conflict reporting are not significant as far as national unity is concerned. Also, it was, found that as a result of audience dependency on the media and as a national news carrier (NTA), the public are affected by gate keeping and agenda-setting postulations of the NTA news. Invariably, the media are reflections of events in the society and they play roles in the structuring of audience perceptions. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that journalists or television reporters should not allow their personal views and emotions as well as ethnic, religious, political and ideological sentiments to influence their reports on conflicts as such may call to question the credibility of the reports and put their lives at risk. In all conflict situations, government should always react promptly to early signals of possible outbreak of hostilities. Key words: Conflict, conflict reporting, television news, audience, perceptions.