Critical Appraisal of the Role of National Broadcasting Commission in Supervising Broadcast Stations
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To examine the extent NBC has been able to perform its supervising role as a watchdog of the broadcast industry.
- To examine the extent of compliance of the various broadcast stations with the NBC code of conduct.
- To ascertain if government’s reasons for hesitating to deregulate the industry have been justified.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
A broadcast license is an invaluable asset to a station owner. This is understandable as a station owner can neither be allocated any frequency nor be able to operate without a license. As paragraph 2.12.4 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (2012) clearly states, “no person shall operate a broadcast system which uses frequencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria or operate any wireless equipment that uses broadcast frequencies unless authorised to do so through the assignment of a frequency or channel by the Commission.” The power of the regulatory authority in Ghana – the National Communications Commission is similarly couched. According to Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008, Act 775, “a person shall not operate a broadcasting system or provide a broadcasting service without a frequency authorisation by the Authority.” Therefore, any person or entity in Ghana seeking to operate a system for the provision of broadcasting services has to obtain an authorisation from the regulatory authority. Whether or not such a provision breaches the fundamental rights of those whose requests for licences are denied, has been a subject of controversy for long. Freedom of expression as a human right can be described as universal considering the numerous similarly worded provisions on the subject across the globe. There is in earnest no substantial difference between the provisions of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples‟ Rights and that of Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; as well as that of Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights. They all clearly stipulate that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; including the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. If so, it would appear that these provisions are undermined by the practice whereby broadcasters are constrained in exercising the right in view of the principle of licensing in which a person may be unable to obtain a licence to operate a broadcast station. For many years, the justification for licensing was based on the argument that because broadcasting uses spectrum which is a scarce public resource, it is virtually impossible to grant every request for a license without creating a chaotic broadcasting milieu.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to Critical appraisal of the role of National Broadcasting Commission in supervising broadcast stations.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
One hundred and sixty (160) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and forty (133) were returned. This figure was the sample size. Out of the one hundred and thirty-three, only one hundred and twenty (120) were properly responded to. As a result, the researcher used one hundred and twenty for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Critical appraisal of the role of National Broadcasting Commission in supervising broadcast stations. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Critical appraisal of the role of National Broadcasting Commission in supervising broadcast stations
Summary
This study was on Critical appraisal of the role of National Broadcasting Commission in supervising broadcast stations. Three objectives were raised which included: To examine the extent NBC has been able to perform its supervising role as a watchdog of the broadcast industry, to examine the extent of compliance of the various broadcast stations with the NBC code of conduct and to ascertain if government’s reasons for hesitating to deregulate the industry have been justified. In line with these objectives, three research question were asked and answered. The total population for the study is 200 staff of NBC, Abuja. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study.
Conclusion
This study set out to discover how the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been performing its statutory role: since inception. Also, more importantly, to know the extent of compliance of the various broadcast stations with the NBC Code of conduct and with a view to appraise the NBC. From the findings, it was revealed that the fairness doctrine in political coverage which is synonymous to the concept of the level playing field in politics was lacking in most radio and television stations. Consequently, state radio and television stations became government mouthpieces to the detriment of audience interest. Moreover, it is obvious that the owners or managers of stations are I not devoted to broadcasting as a profession but rather as a souice of income. Therefore, they have little or no interest in minimal standards for their stations. Furthermore, though broadcast regulations has brought quite a refreshing time to the industry, yet there is still so much to be desired of it. It can be concluded that the expectations of the audience from a controlled electronic media are yet to be realized. The rich cultural resemoir of the Nigeria people is yet be reflected in programmes of most of the stations. Again, it was discovered that the content and conduct of programmes or output of stations were not in consonance with the broadcast Code of conduct. These, among other findings of this study highlighted the fact that since the inception of the NBC, the level of stations’ compliance with the broadcast Code has been low. Moreover, the NBC is yet to devise a system or adequate and effective measures of putting the broadcast media in proper check. Therefore, it could be concluded that the broadcast stations contravene the Code because stringent sanctions have not been applied by the NBC.
Recommendation
Programmes: NBC should apply stringent measures against stations whose programmes are devoid of integrity, authencity, good taste and decency, no matter whose ox is gored. Generally, programmes aired should depict the priceless norms and values of the nation. Sale of News: The NBC Code declares that the sponsorship or sale of news is detracting from its integrity and predisposes a bias in favour of the sponsor. News is universally accepted as being sacred and is not for sale. News should be made available by the stations to all and sundry and not serve only the plum tastes of the rich who can afford the price. Other broadcast products or programmes and other economic initiatives should be sold for profit-making. Therefore, the NBC must insist that news must not be sold. Advertisement/Commercials: Public and private stations compete for available advisements inorder to increase their revenue and for sustenance. However, NBC should intervene or resolve the issue of government subvention being only meant for the public stations. I Govenlnient should also package a kind of financial relief for the private stations. That way, advertisements would not be ‘ indiscriminately ‘ featured in place of important or interesting programmes on the radio and television stations. e The Rural Populace: The over 64% rural populace form a huge economic potentials for mainstream broadcasting.
References
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