ABSTRACT
Photographs in news
stories can stimulate opinion change, either making a reader love the good
advertised, or making the reader hate it.
In view of the foregoing, this study sought to ascertain an “Assessment
of Readers Perception on the use of photographs in Nigerian Newspapers. The population of this study in Enugu
metropolis was about 123 but 119 readers participated in the study. The
objectives of the study were: To ascertain if the use of photographs in Nigerian
newspapers contribute to attracting attention of newspaper readers in Enugu
Metropolis; To determine if newspaper readers view photographs in newspaper as
space fillers or as aid to readers’ understanding, To ascertain if newspaper
readers view photographs in newspaper as aiding credibility to stories or they
are used for aesthetic appeal. The survey research design was adopted for the
study; data for the study was sourced from primary sources, while data was
analyzed using simple tables, frequency percentage. Source Credibility Theory was used as a model
of analysis. The study found out that
readers have different reactions to written words and pictures that are
displayed on Nigerian newspapers. It was
subsequently recommended that proper training be given to journalist to enhance
their competence in the field of practice, placement of photograph should
represent the idea contained in the text and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC)
should investigate obstacles to the flow of information on print media, ethical
and professional standards in the media must be upheld.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
For many years, photography has played
an increasingly important role in the various media of mass communication that
use visual messages to disseminate information (i.e. books, newspapers,
magazine, film, television; and the internet – based media) (Ijeh, 2015). Photographs have been known to greatly
stimulate public interest in current events and human angle stories presented
by the visual media of mass communication, and have also made tremendous
contributions to the civilization and advancement of mankind (Ezekiel &
Ezekiel, 2007).
The power of photographs in mass communication
stems from the common knowledge that photographs are more powerful than words
in message dissemination hence the dictum; “A picture can speak more than a
thousand words”. This is because
photographs speak a universal language and are better able to elicit the same
emotions from people on different sides of languages and educational divides
(Ezekiel & Ezikiel, 2007; Fasheke 2004).
In addition to creating a greater
emotional response, photographs are used to capture a reader’s attention to an
article. Visual images are the gateway to a news story. Communication professor
at the University of Oklahoma, Michael Pfau, claims that people do not merely
pick up newspapers and magazines and start reading. Rather, they look at them, check the headlines
and photographs to determine which stories they would like to read (Pfau,
2006). In previous research, eye-tracking software has been used to determine
which articles are read first, proving that a reader begins their perusal of a
newspaper drawn to the most striking features – typically the headlines and
photographs. According to (Pfau, 2006), readers are more likely to view a
photograph, first before reading a text.
However, he noted that combining both text and photograph makes it three
times more likely that at least some of the text will be read. He also noted
that previous research with an eye-tracking device has also proven that readers
are drawn to larger photos over smaller ones, and color images over black and
white versions.
To the general public, photographs are
deemed as credible sources of information. Viewers are more susceptible to
believe images that they visually see, rather than what they hear or read
(Pfau, 2006). Photographs tend to be taken at face value, exactly for what they
represent, while a photograph and text seems to be less credible because
“readers sense that the words are authored, but the image is a true
representation” (Kepplinger, 1976).
Conversely to Anderson 1989 cited in (Kepplinger, 1976)
argues that, “though the photographic image may have powerful visual impact, it
does not have the ability to give any in-depth explanation of the event it
presents to a world eager to be informed. It cannot tell what happened before
or after an event; it cannot give political or social context, much less an
analysis. The camera does not know which of the events it captures are
historically significant and which are not. As John et al. (1989) have noted, a photograph is time frozen, a moment
yanked out of its before and after” and therefore requires an added textual
analysis to accompany an image (Andersen, 1989).
According to Eunson (2008), a “stand
alone” picture refers to a single photograph, with a caption that describes its
content, published on a newspaper or magazine page whose other text or picture
content are not related to the photograph in question. Here the photograph with its caption tells a
story alone and not in any way related to other news stories on the same
newspaper or magazine page. A picture is
said to be accompanying a news story, its images and captions are directly
related to a contiguous text of a newspaper or magazine news report. In this case, the photograph is used to support
the story text. “Picture - based” news stories sometimes refers to panorama of
photographs on newspaper or magazine pages.
Here, sets of pictures that present different aspects of a particular
subject, event or phenomenon are printed on dedicated newspaper/magazine pages
with no textual report. The set of
photographs, with the aid of their captions tell the story.
The newspaper is one of the largest
users of still pictures. In this
contemporary digital media space where all the media of mass ,communication
(both offline and online) compete for audience and readership; pictures have
become a veritable asset for these media outlets. This competition has necessitated and
propelled newspaper to become more innovative in their use of photographs to
attract and sustain readership. While
some schools of thought argue that pictures aid readership of newspapers,
others argue that they are irrelevant and make little or no impact on readers.
It is therefore imperative against the already established background to
ascertain reader’s perception of the use of photographs, specifically in the
Nigerian Newspapers.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
Visuals can have a
dramatic impact on a reader’s involvement and feelings towards an event or
issue. Images on newspapers have a
powerful impact on readers’ attitude and understanding, and this impact and
understanding cannot be created by text alone.
In a news context, the presence of a photograph can significantly affect
the consumer’s attitude towards the framed issue. While some readers might perceive pictures in
newspapers as a support for the texts, others perceive it as something used in
filling up the newspaper and making the pages numerous. To some also, it is
just an act which serves to draw attention to a big story and to further
illustrate statements made in the story and give the readers’ more details
about the information presented.
This study was
conceived to ascertain the perception of newspaper readers in Enugu metropolis
of the use of photographs in Nigerian newspapers.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1. To ascertain if the use of photographs in
Nigerian newspapers contribute to attracting attention of newspaper readers in
Enugu Metropolis.
2. To determine if newspaper readers in view
photographs in newspapers as space fillers or as aid to readers’ understanding.
3. To ascertain if newspaper readers view
photographs in newspapers as aiding credibility to stories or they are used for
aesthetic appeal.
1.4 Research Questions
1. To what extent does the use of photographs
in Nigerian newspapers contribute to attracting the attention of newspaper
readers in Enugu metropolis?
2. How do newspaper readers view this use
of photographs as space filler or aid to readers’ understanding?
3. How do newspaper readers view photographs
in newspapers as aiding credibility of stories or for aesthetic appeal?,,,,
1.5 Scope
of the Study
This study is
focused on assessing
newspaper reader’s perception of the use of photographs in Nigerian Newspapers.
The researcher chose to limit the study to newspaper readers in Enugu East metropolis. Further research can focus on newspaper
readers in other parts of the state and other states of the nation.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is
considered relevant for various reasons.
1. It will contribute to available
literature on the use of photographs in newspapers. Specifically, it will fill the gap in
literature on the perception of the use of newspapers in newspaper as held by
newspaper readers in Enugu metropolis.
2. For print media practitioners, it could
throw some additional light that will guide their use of photographs in
newspapers and other print media vehicles.
1.7 Operational
Definition of Terms
Photograph: A
picture created by projecting an image onto a photosensitive surface such as a
chemically treated plate or film, CCD receptor etc.
Newspaper: A publication usually
published daily or weekly and usually printed on cheap, low – quality paper,
containing news and other articles.
Photojournalism:
A form of journalism in which a story is told primarily through photographs and
other images.
Readers:
People who read newspapers.
Journalism: The process of news gathering and
dissemination through publication to a specific audience.
Perception: Organization, identification
and interpretation of sensory information.
Assessment: The act of assessing something.================================================================
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