National Interest, Identity and Press Freedom: A study of the Big Brother Nigeria TV Programme:

Folayan, Bolu John and Oyetayo, Toluwa M. and Folayan, Toluwani T (2019) National Interest, Identity and Press Freedom: A study of the Big Brother Nigeria TV Programme:. In: 6TH (2019) ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNICATION SCHOLARS & PROFESSIONALS OF NIGERIA, 2019, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE..

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Abstract

This study investigates the challenges of fostering national interest side-by-side the need to promote the constitutionally-guaranteed press freedom, – using a popular Nigerian reality TV show, Big Brother Naija as referent point. The media’s basic functions include surveillance of the environment, correlation of the components of the society in relation to the environment and transmission of social heritage. The surveillance function alludes to the propensity of the media to scout for news and tell people what is happening around the world. Correlation refers to the ability of the media to shape and influence their audience; while the transmission function refers to the role the media plays in the transference of experience, culture and tradition. The BBN has been very controversial from inception several years ago. Among others, it was widely accused of having more of negative impact on the society. The researchers sampled 200 youths purposively in Lagos and Ede purposively to be sure they were regular viewers of the programme. They sought answers to the following questions: What are the demographic characteristics (age, sex, education, social class, etc.) of the BBN audience? Why do viewers like or dislike the BBN programme?What gratifications, if any, do viewers who like the programme derive from watching it?Is the BBN, as a media programme, functional or dysfunctional to the society? To what extent does the programme promote national identity and What gratifications do viewers of the programme enjoy? Leisure accounts for 32 per cent (n=61), escape 17 per cent (n=9) and learning 16 per cent (n=8). The respondents who gratified “groupthink/status” viewed the programme to seen as sociable , trendy or wanting “to belong”. Many of those who watch BBN are youths, students in both urban and sub-urban settlements.The most-watched aspects of the show are ‘eviction’, tasks/games’ and ‘diary sessions’ in that order of preference. The researchers found that majority of the BBN audience like that the programme majorly because serves as a source of entertainment, education and promotion of the Nigerian identity

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Miss Ann Orjime
Date Deposited:	30 May 2020 13:29
Last Modified:	30 May 2020 13:29
URI:	http://eprints.federalpolyilaro.edu.ng/id/eprint/205

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