MISREPRESENTATION OF AFRICA IN BROADCASTING MEDIA

MISREPRESENTATION OF AFRICA IN BROADCASTING MEDIA

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the misrepresentation of Africa in the broadcasting media. The study looked specifically at the advent of broadcasting media. The research also looks into how Africa is portrayed in the media. Finally, the research uncovers a brief history of Africa. The historical research design was used in the study. The findings revealed that broadcasters have a responsibility to report and interpret Africa’s developmental strides to the Western world in order for the Western world to better understand the developmental steps taken in Africa. Negative stories of poverty, hunger, war, and corruption are also the most frequently reported types of stories in the media. This was attributed to misconceptions about Africa and Africans, as well as fixed perceptions and existing stereotypes about Africa. The research

As a result, we recommend that the broadcasting commission, reporters, and journalists double-check their facts before publishing any news about Africa. There is also a need to educate the media about what is going on in Africa in order to reduce misrepresentation of Africans in the western world.

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Study’s Background

Throughout history, communication has been an effective means of transmitting knowledge. Communication, in reality, has evolved into an infrastructure for information flow across all industries. Fabian is a fictional character in the film Fabian (2013). Radio, in particular, has made significant contributions in this area. This is primarily due to its broad reach and ability to reach everywhere; humans can work on land, sea, and air. Radio is economical when

combined with its broad reach. A radio receiver can be purchased for as little as 500 naira or less, making it affordable even to those who are unemployed. the Boys (2013). Aside from these advantages, the current technological revolution has brought radio closer to Africans than ever before, with radio now being a standard feature of most electronic devices, including telephone handsets.

The problem is that developed countries are using new technology to distribute more information to Nigeria than ever before, much of which is not useful knowledge for developing countries but rather a universal feature of life that kills uniqueness and cohesiveness in our country Carstens (2015). These technologies contribute to information imbalance by restricting information senders to those in control.

of high-tech information gear. Nigeria, like the rest of Africa, is isolated from what Africans do and what Africans are. Carstens (2015). (2015).

The North’s industrialized countries represent the rest of the world in a variety of ways, including news coverage of good advances and scientific achievements; medicine, health, politics, sports, government, and the economy are only presented to the extent that these fields favor them. Culture and cultural features are highlighted as important areas of concern because culture encompasses many societal problems; however, it appears that a man-made rift is being created between the industrialized North and the developing or underdeveloped South, which is intolerable Franks (2014). Finally, the South is portrayed as a region plagued by hunger, sickness, and economic hardship. War, starvation, government corruption, bureaucracy, inefficiency, disaster, military coups, earthquakes, and national calamities are all examples of disarray. Every unpleasant occurrence or event becomes breaking news in the industrialized media. Franks(2014). How much of the North’s good news or progress is reported? This brings to mind the debate over bias in media coverage of national and international cultural and news flows. A careful examination of news reports on the South, on the other hand, raises the question of whether the bias in recorded events and the poor representation of the South by developed countries is truly harmful. What can our radio stations do if these claims are a deliberate attempt to paint the South in a negative light? This is the paper’s main point. Since the early 1970s  During the 1970s and 1980s, when the debate over the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) 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 clamoured for social equity and justice in information dissemination, as well as a restructuring of global communication systems. Michira (2002). (2002). Despite the fact that this has not been achieved, there is now hope for Africa as communication technology continues to change or expand on a daily basis, both numerically and qualitatively. The good news is that, thanks to the abundance of information technology, Nigerians now have greater access to information broadcasting capabilities than they did previously. This is an excellent example.

chance to bundle and provide additional information about how one wants to be seen. Only then will the West gain a better understanding of Africa.

1.2 Problem description

Despite being labeled the “Dark Continent” and the “untamed jungle” by the media, African nations remain energized by enormous development and economic potential. At the same time, the continent retains its allure and mystique. Fabian is a fictional character in the film Fabian (2013). African countries remain an important component of a rapidly accelerating trend of urbanization and globalization. The media misrepresents African nations in relation to the continent’s history and global perceptions of the continent. Because it primarily depicts images of murder, devastation, and poverty in

Media photography in Africa may serve as a near-constant stream of visual propaganda. Harth is a playable character in the game Harth (2012). Unfortunately, such news coverage may help to spread misinformation and preconceptions. As a result of this focus, success stories, development initiatives, and national progress receive less attention than media distortions of African countries. Terrorism, starvation, sickness, political conflicts, natural disasters, and other misfortunes, for example, account for more than 60% of the 6-9 percent of African coverage in the international media. Harth,(2012). The underlying causes of social and economic problems in African countries are frequently overlooked in news coverage.

The mainstream media is influential in international debate and has the ability to shape public opinion and perceptions of major global issues.

Misrepresentation of African nations in the media results in apparently incorrect coverage, which may impede the region’s socioeconomic growth and development.

1.3 The study’s purpose

The study’s overarching goal is to address misrepresentation of Africa in broadcast media. The specific goals are as follows:

1. To investigate the origins of broadcasting media.

2. To look into the misrepresentation of Africa in the media.

3. To learn about Africa’s history.

1.4 Hypotheses for research

For this study, the following hypotheses have been developed:

H0: There is no misrepresentation of Africa in the media.

HA: Africa is being portrayed incorrectly in the media.

1.5 Importance of the research

This study examine misrepresentation of Africa in broadcasting media. Hence this study will be

important in the following ways

Media houses will benefit from this study because it will expose the media and prevent them from viewing Africa from a biased perspective.

Academia: This study is important to the academic community because it will serve as a guide for researchers who may want to write more on the media’s misrepresentation of Africa, as well as contribute to the existing literature.

1.6 The Study’s Scope

This research will look at the advent of broadcasting media. The research will also look into how Africa is portrayed in the media. Finally, the research will uncover a brief history of Africa.

1.7 Study Restrictions

The researcher encountered difficulties while conducting this study.

Some constraints included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and respondents’ attitudes.

There was also the issue of researcher bias. In this case, the researcher had some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was subsequently interpreted. The possibility of all of this influencing the findings and conclusions cannot be overstated.

Furthermore, because the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, they may not be applicable to other companies or locations.

1.8 The Study’s Organization

This research paper is divided into five chapters for easy comprehension, as follows:

The first chapter is concerned with the introduction, which includes the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms, and the study’s historical background. The second chapter provides an overview of broadcasting, types of broadcasting, and broadcast transmission. Signals and radio broadcasting, for example. The third chapter discusses media bias, colonialism, narrative theory, and negative African stories about poverty, hunger, war, and corruption. The fourth chapter focuses on African races and West African forest kingdoms. The study’s summary, conclusion, and recommendations are presented in Chapter 5.