ABSTRACT
This study was set to examine the role of formal
journalism education on journalist’s professional practice in Enugu state. The
population for the study is the entire registered journalists practicing in
Enugu. Multi-stage sampling procedure which involved cluster and simple random
sampling techniques was used to draw a sample size of 137 journalists from the
population of 210 registered journalists in Enugu state. Survey methodology was
adopted for the study, while two theories were found relevant for the study.
They are: social responsibility theory and development media theory. The study
found that majority of journalists practicing in Enugu state do not have a
degree in Journalism/ Mass Communication but have in other disciplines. Many of
them hold a degree in English language. The study also made a shocking finding
that some people practice journalism as SSCE or OND holders. This could account
for low level of professionalism recorded in the practice. The study recommends
among others that: The Nigerian union of journalists should review the criteria
for deciding who is qualified to practice journalism. The basic requirement
should include possessing a degree in Mass Communication/ Journalism. Beyond
possessing a degree in mass communication, fresh graduates should gain from the
experience of others by undergoing internship programs before being certified
to practice journalism as a first step towards attaining professionalism in the
field.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Education as a critical component of a
country’s human capital increases the efficiency of an individual worker (WEF,
2016).
Huang and Liu (2005) believe that
intellectual capital (knowledge) is a critical force that is responsible for
economic growth. There is a common perception that educated people can do
certain tasks easily and efficiently compared to the uneducated or those who
are less educated. Vugt (2006) asserts that lack of education and knowledge
makes a person crippled and inefficient. He reveals that previous studies have
found that education increases job satisfaction. Wright and Davis (2003) believes
that education will foster an increase in professionalism and further
exploitation of management, whereas a lack of it will cause lack of job
satisfaction. Priti (1999) believes that educated individuals know the scope,
expectations and depth of their jobs and will be able to add building blocks to
their professionalism as they progress through their careers. Education also promotes core task performance
by providing individuals with more declarative and procedural knowledge with
which they can complete their task successfully. It is generally believed that
good education helps in preparing individuals for more effectiveness in their
profession.
(WJEC, 2007) established that journalism
education provides the foundation as theory, research and training for
effective and responsible practice of journalism. In 2013, the census of
journalism education programs kept by the World Journalism Education Council
(WJEC) listed almost 2,400 programs globally. In 2007 and in 2013, UNESCO
released model curricula for journalism education (Beate, 2016).UNESCO’s
support for journalism education is underpinned by a strong conviction that
professional journalistic standards are essential to bring out the potential of
media systems to foster democracy, dialogue and development. With respect to
this, so many efforts has been made to ensure quality education in journalism
that will have an impact on the practice.
In Nigeria, several professions have
boundaries. They have regulated educational programs that individuals must
undergo before being inducted and given license to practice such profession.
Such professions like Law, Engineering, Accounting, Medicine, Nursing, etc
enjoy a high sense of respect because the processes that one must go through
before being admitted into such professions are clearly identified and strictly
followed.
Ironically, journalism, which is widely
seen as the conscience of society does not have such clearly set out
regulations on who should be allowed to practice journalism. It is believed
that some people who practice journalism did not have to obtain a formal
education in journalism. The practice of journalism in Nigeria has courted
great controversies especially in relation to educational qualifications,
ethical regulation and adherence to professional precepts.Talabi and
Ogundeji(2012) note that journalism is an esteemed profession that has a lot to
offer in the reformation of the society; unfortunately in Nigeria, it has
become an all-comers affair as individuals with no media qualifications dive
into the mass media for livelihood. They also observed that it has now become a
truism that low literacy rate contributes to a low degree of journalism
training and also to a low standard of journalistic performance. Journalism
profession has suffered serious setbacks in its developmental processes in
Nigeria because; the nation has not given priority to degree programmes in
journalism. Instead graduates from other disciplines such as Political Science,
Economics, Sociology, English and others are given on-the-job training in
journalism.
Akinfeleye (1990) quoted an American
critic, Dean Rosco Pound who once wrote that every profession is governed by
certain rules, educational qualifications and the absence of such rules makes
it a vocation. For a very long time Nigerian scholars, professionals and
practitioners have argued as to whether journalism is a profession or not in
Nigeria. Some scholars and practitioners of journalism in Nigeria say
journalism is a trade, others say it is a craft or an occupation while the rest
simply say it is a vocation. .
Talabi and Ogundeji(2012) says that
colonial rulers in Nigeria and their succeeding “Nigerian-Europeans” regarded
journalism education as unnecessary undertaking. This view partly accounts for
the reason why for many years all Nigerian universities did not offer any
formal journalism training. Fortunately, the situation is different now. Many
universities and polytechnics now offer courses in Mass Communication or
Journalism. These institutions train students to become professional
communicators. However, many still get into journalism practice without formal
higher education that prepares them specifically for the job. The former Abuja
bureau chief of The Tide newspaper, Alloys Nweke, during the January 2008
Nigerian union of journalists (NUJ) summit in Port Harcourt frowned at the
numerous untrained journalists bestriding the streets with pen and paper
claiming to be journalists. Nweke revealed that the number of untrained and fake
journalists in Nigeria is higher than the trained journalists.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
From the background of the study, it is
evident that scholars believe that formal education is very important for
effectiveness and efficiency of professionals in every field of endeavor.
However, in most media organizations in Nigeria, it is observed that people are
employed to work as journalists without necessarily possessing formal education
in journalism or mass communication obtained from institutions of higher
learning. Some attend some weeks ‘certification courses and parade themselves
as professional journalists. It is like an all-comer affairs unlike what
obtains in such professions as medicine, nursing, law, engineering, medical
laboratory science and others, which require one to be specifically trained in
such field in an institution of higher learning accredited for that purpose.
This study seeks to ascertain if
obtaining formal education in journalism/mass communication has any positive
role on the performance of journalists practicing in Enugu state.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to
examine whether obtaining a formal education in journalism or mass
communication plays any significant role in the professional performance of
those practicing journalism in Enugu state
The specific objectives are:
1.
To determine the number of journalists
practicing journalism with formal education in Journalism/ Mass Communication
to those practicing Journalism without formal education in Journalism/ Mass
Communication in Enugu.
2.
To ascertain the extent to which
journalists’ professional performance is dependent on formal journalism
education.
3.
To determine the extent to which
performance in journalism profession is dependent on talent and skills.
4.
To ascertain the extent to which obtaining
a formal education in journalism contributes to career progress and promotion.
1.4 Research Questions
To guide the conduct of
this research, the following questions were raised:
1.
What is the number of journalists with
formal education in Journalism/ Mass Communication to those without formal
education in Journalism/ Mass Communication in Enugu state?
2.
To what extent is a journalist’s
professional performance dependent on formal journalism education?
3.
To what extent is performance in Journalism
profession dependent on talents and skills?
4.
To what extent does obtaining a formal
education in Journalism contribute to career progress and promotion?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study seeks to ascertain the role of
formal education on journalist’s professional performance in Enugu state. The
scope covers only journalists who practice journalism as registered journalists
in Enugu state.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This research work is aimed at
determining the role formal education plays in the professional performance of
journalists in Enugu state. This research work will be significant in different
ways.
One, this research work will add to
already existing literature on the role of formal education in professional
efficiency.
Similarly, the result of this research
work will serve as reference bank for subsequent researchers intending to study
the role of formal education on journalists’ professional performance.
The result of this research work will
also be of interest to leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists as they take
decisions about who is qualified to be accepted and registered as a journalist.
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
Formal
Education- formal education in Journalism/Mass communication in
an accredited institution of higher learning.
Journalism-
The gathering, assessing, creating and presenting news and information.
Journalist-a
journalist is a person who collects, writes, or distributes news or other
current information to the public
Professional-
a person formally certified by a professional body of belonging to a specific
profession by virtue of behaving completed a required course of studies and/ or
practice. And whose competence can usually be measured against an established
set of standards.
Performance-The
accomplishment of a given task measured against preset known standards.
Talents-
Natural abilities and strengths that enable an individual excel at something.
Skills-
Expertise needed to do a job or task.
Career-
An occupation in journalism.
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