The Role Of Broadcast Media As An Instrument For Combating Maladministration In Governance In Nigeria

CHAPTER ONE

1.1     INTRODUCTION

Broadcast media has made great impact in the success of combating maladministration in government by making people aware of what is going on in the country through the use of broadcast media like, television, radio etc .The media's key role in democratic government has been recognized since the Iatel7th century, and remains a fundamental principles of modern days democratic theory and practices.

The broadcast media is the bastion of a free state especially a traditional democratic society which is frequently punctuated by military rule. The press serve as "locomotive" for social engineering and sharp public opinion, but they are in turn influenced and manipulated by different interest group in the society. The media can promote democracy by among other things, educating voter, protecting humans right, promoting tolerance among various social groups, and ensuring the government are transparent and accountable. This paper examine the role of the media in the sustenance in Nigeria during the period 1999- p2003

Therefore broadcast media has made a great impact in the success of combating maladministration in government.

1.2    WHAT IS BOADCAST MEDIA

Broadcasting is the distribution audio for video content to a dispersed audience via any electronics mass communication medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum in a 'one to many' model. The term "broadcasting "derived from the method of sowing seeds in a field by casting them broadly about, was originated in the early days of the radio to distinguish radio broadcasting from method using wired transmission's in telegraph and telephone} or that were intend as person to person communication.

Broadcasting is usually associated with radio and television transmissions take place using wire and radio waves. The receiving parties may includes the general public or a relatively small subset, the point is that anyone with the appropriate receiving technology can receive the signal.

The field of broadcasting includes a wide range of practice, from relatively private exchange such as radio and television, to more general uses such as public radio, community radio, commercial radio, public television and commercial television.

Transmission of radio and television programs from a radio or television station to come receive over the spectrum is referred to as OTA {Over The Air} or terrestrial broadcasting license. Transmissions using a combination of satellite and wired transmission, like cable television {which also retrains OTA station with their consent} are also considered broadcast, and also considered broadcasts, and do not requires a licence. Transmissions of television and radio broadcasting via streamlining digital technology are increasingly been referred to as well.

1.3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF BROADCAST MEDIA

The earliest broadcasting consisted of sending telegraph signal over the airwaves. This was particularly important for ship to shore communication, but it became increasingly important business and general news reporting, and as an arena for personal communication by radio. Audio broadcasting begin experimentally in the first decade of the 20th century. By the early 1920s radio broadcasting became a household medium, at first on the AM and later on FM. Television broadcasting started experimentally in the 1920s and became widespread after world war II, Using VHF and UHf spectrum. Satellite broadcasting was initiated in the 1960s and moved into general industry usage in the 1970s, with DBS {Direct Broadcast Satellite } emerging in the 1980s.

Originally all broadcasting was composed of analog signal using analog transmission techniques but more recently broadcasters have switched to digital signal using digital transmission. In general usage, broadcasting most frequently refers to the transmission of information and entertainment programming from various sources to the general public.

Broadcasting started in Nigeria in 1932 when the then British empire service {now British broadcasting Corporation} commenced experimental broadcasts to the west Africa colonies of great Britain to serve the imperial interest of the colonial masters.

According to Ayanbola {1992}, Alawode {2007} and oso {2007}, the colonial government believed that great Britain's political and economic interest would better be served if there was a medium to link the colonies with mother country