ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to look into how Africa is portrayed in the media. The study looked into the beginnings of broadcasting medium in particular. The research also looks into the misrepresentation of Africa in the media. Finally, the research uncovers a brief history of Africa. The historical research design was used in this study. The findings revealed that broadcasters have a responsibility to communicate and interpret Africa’s developmental progress to the rest of the world in order for them to better comprehend the continent’s progress. The most common kind of articles covered by the media are negative stories about poverty, starvation, conflict, and corruption. This was attributed to preconceived notions about Africa and Africans, as well as set preconceptions and stereotypes about Africa. The study concludes that before releasing any news regarding Africa, the broadcasting commission, reporters, and journalists should double-check their facts. In order to lessen the misrepresentation of Africans in the western world, it is also necessary to educate the media on what is going on in Africa.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Throughout history, communication has shown to be an effective means of transmitting information. Communication has evolved into an infrastructure for the movement of information across all industries. Fabian is a fictional character who appears in the film Fabian (2013). In this sector, radio broadcasting, in particular, has made important contributions. This is primarily because to its extensive reach and ability to reach anywhere; humans may work on land, at sea, and in the air. When combined with its wide reach, radio is a cost-effective medium. Even people without work can afford a radio receiver for as little as 500 naira or a little more. With the Boyes (2013). Aside from these advantages, the current technical revolution has brought radio closer to Africans than it has ever been.

The problem is that wealthy countries are using new technology to disseminate more information to Nigeria than ever before, most of which is not valuable knowledge for developing countries but rather a universal characteristic of life that suffocates our country’s individuality and cohesiveness. Carstens Carstens Carstens Carstens (2015). By confining the senders of information to individuals with access to high-tech information equipment, these technologies promote information imbalance. Nigeria, like the rest of Africa, is cut off from African culture and activities. Carstens Carstens Carstens Carstens (2015).

The North’s industrialized countries represent the rest of the world in a variety of ways, including news coverage of good breakthroughs and scientific discoveries; medicine, health, politics, sports, governance, and the economy are all offered solely to the North’s industrialized countries. Culture and cultural elements are emphasized as major areas of concern since culture incorporates many societal problems; yet, there appears to be a man-made gulf forming between the established North and the developing or impoverished South, which is unbearable. Frankenstein’s monster (2014). Finally, the South is portrayed as a region beset by famine, disease, and economic chaos, as well as conflict, malnutrition, government corruption, bureaucracy, inefficiency, disasters, military coups, earthquakes, and national disasters. Every negative incidence or event becomes breaking news in the industrialized media. Franks(2014). How much of the North’s beneficial work or progress is publicized? This brings to mind the debate over media bias in reporting on national and international cultural and news flows. An review of news reporting on the South, on the other hand, raises the question of whether the bias in recorded events and the poor portrayal of the South by industrialized countries is truly negative. What can our radio stations do if these accusations are made with the objective of portraying the South in a negative light? This is the paper’s major point. Since the 1970s and 1980s, when the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) debate centered on the nature and content, direction, quality, quantity, fairness, balance, and objectivity in the transnational flow of information dominated by the media of the industrialized North, developing countries have demanded social equity and justice in information dissemination, as well as a restructuring of the information system. Despite the fact that this goal has not been met, there is now hope for Africa as communication technology evolves and expands on a daily basis, both numerically and qualitatively. The good news is that, because to the excess of information technology, Nigerians now have more access to information broadcasting capabilities than they did previously. This is a fantastic opportunity to package and convey additional information about how one wishes to be perceived. Only then will the Western world be able to comprehend Africa.

Statement of the problem

Despite the media’s labeling of Africa as the “Dark Continent” and the “untamed jungle,” African nations continue to be inspired by enormous development and economic possibilities. Nonetheless, the continent retains a certain allure and mystique. Fabian is a fictional character who appears in the film Fabian (2013). African countries remain an important part of a fast-moving urbanization and globalization trend. The media misrepresents African states in respect to the region’s history and global perceptions of the continent. Media photography may function as a near-constant stream of visual propaganda because it mostly depicts images of murder, destruction, and poverty in Africa. Harth is a fictional character from the video game Harth (2012).  Unfortunately, such coverage of the news has the potential to promote misinformation and biases. As a result of this focus, success stories, development projects, and national growth receive less attention than media misrepresentation of African countries. Terrorism, poverty, illness, political conflicts, natural disasters, and other calamities, for example, account for more than 60% of the 6-9 percent of African coverage in the international media. Harth,(2012). The underlying reasons of Africa’s social and economic problems are frequently disregarded in news coverage. The mainstream media has the potential to impact public opinion and views on significant global issues, and it plays an important role in international discourse. The media’s distortion of African countries leads to erroneous coverage, which could stymie the region’s socioeconomic progress and development.

Objective of the study

The study’s overall goal is to investigate how Africa is portrayed in the media. The following are the precise goals:

The purpose of this study is to look into the beginnings of broadcasting media.

The purpose of this investigation is to look at the misrepresentation of Africa in the media.

To learn about Africa’s history in a nutshell.

Research hypotheses

 

For this study, the following hypothesis has been proposed:

H0: In the broadcasting media, there is no distortion of Africa.

HA: Africa is being portrayed incorrectly in the media.

Significance of the study

This research looks on how Africa is portrayed in the media. As a result, this research will be important in the following ways.

Media houses will profit from this study since it will expose the media and enjoin them from viewing Africa from a biased perspective.

Academia: This study is important to the academic community since it will serve as a guide for researchers who want to write more about the media’s portrayal of Africa and contribute to the current literature.

Scope of the study

This research will look into the beginnings of broadcasting media. The research will also look into the misrepresentation of Africa in the media. Finally, the research will provide a brief history of Africa.

Limitation of the study

The researcher faced some challenges in conducting this study, including time limits, money constraints, language barriers, and the attitudes of the respondents.

Furthermore, there was a component of researcher prejudice. The researcher had some biases, which may have shown up in the manner the data was gathered, the kind of people questioned or sampled, and how the data was evaluated afterward. It’s impossible to overestimate the impact of all of this on the findings and conclusions.

Organization Of The Study

This research paper is divided into five chapters for simple comprehension:

The first chapter is about the introduction, which includes (overview, of the study), historical backdrop, statement of problem, aims of the study, research hypotheses, relevance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terminology, and historical background of the study. The second chapter covers an overview of broadcasting, types of broadcasting, and broadcast transmission. Signals, radio broadcasts, and so on. Media bias, colonialism, narrative theory, and negative African stories about poverty, famine, conflict, and corruption are discussed in Chapter 3. The fourth chapter focuses on African races and West African forest kingdoms. The study’s summary, conclusion, and suggestions are presented in Chapter 5.

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