SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA

NAME:- OYEYEMI FRANCIS OLUSANJO

DEPARTMENT:- LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES


FACULTY:- COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

TITLE:- SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA

COURSE:- MAC 322

  INTRODUCTION

This paper deals with the social and media control in Nigeria. It firstly look at meaning of social and at the same time look at the meaning of social control, it also examine mechanism use the mechanisms or methods of social control in Nigeria.
      Furthermore, this paper also looks at the meaning of media in Nigeria and also looks at some pattern of media ownership in Nigeria and examines the methods o f controlling media in Nigeria.
At the end of the discussion, the paper later concludes that social and media control in Nigeria has recorded enviable leaps in Nigeria

SOCIAL CONTROL
a.    Meaning of Social
In the absence of agreement about its meaning, the term “social” is used in many different senses and regarded as a fuzzy concept, therefore social refers to:- Attitudes, orientations, or behaviours which take the interests, intentions, or needs of other people into account. In other word the term “social” refers to a characteristic of living organisms as applied to population of humans.
b.    Social Control
Social control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group.
Methods of Social Control in Nigeria

Many mechanisms are used for social control in other to prevent the establishment of chaos or anomie in Nigeria. Some theorists, such as Emily Durkheim (1997), refer mechanisms of social control as rule and regulation that guide individual’s behaviour.
Sociologist Simon (1971) identify two basic mechanisms use for social control
1.    Internal control:- Internal control is the internalization of norms and values by a process known as socialization. He defined Socialization as “the process by which an individual, born with behavioural potentialities of enormously wide range and led to develop actual behavior which is confined to the narrower range of what is acceptable for him by the group standards or norms.
2.    External control: - External control is the external sanctions which can be either positive (reward) or negative (punishment). These sanctions come from either formal or informal control.
While the concept of social control has been around since the formation of organized sociology, the meaning has been altered over time. Originally the concept simply referred to society’s ability to regulate itself. The means to enforce social control can be either formal or informal.
Sociologist Edward A. Ross(1993) argue that belief systems exert a greater control on human behavior than laws imposed by government, no matter what form the beliefs take.
He came across with informal and formal social control
•    Informal social control:- He found that the social values that are present in individuals are products of informal social control. It is exercised by a society without explicitly stating these rules and is expressed through customs, norms and mores. Individuals are socialized whether consciously or ostracism can cause a straying towards norms. Traditional society or the society that have small population uses mostly informal social control embedded in its customary culture relying on the socialization of its members.  Informal sanction may include shame, ridicule, criticism and disapproval. In extreme cases sanctions may include social discrimination and exclusion. This implied social control usually has more effect on individuals because they become internalized and thus the aspect of personality. Informal social control check “deviant” behavior of the people in the country. As with formal controls, informal controls reward or punish deviant behaviour. Informal controls are varied and differ from individual to individual, group to group and society to society. For example, at a women’s institute meeting, a disapproving look might convey message that it is inappropriate.

•    Formal social control:- He also found that  Informal social control is often not sufficient in a large society especially Nigeria in which an individual can choose to ignore the sanctions of an individual group. Thus, there is a need for formal control to supplement informal control. Formal control usually takes the form of government action. Government and organizations use law enforcement mechanisms and other formal sanctions such as fines and imprisonment. In democratic societies the goals and mechanisms of formal social control are determined through legislation by elected representatives and thus enjoy a measure of support from the population and voluntary compliance.

Media

    The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have. Defleur et al (1981:239) mass media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. Conventionally, the mass media inform, entertain and educate the people.      
       Mass media are the major source of information and ideas in modern society. They shape people’s attitude and direct their behaviour to a greater extent. They are also the major instrument of social control in labeling the deviant behaviour in the society. For example the issue of Boko Haram in Nigeria, media are playing crucial role in labeling their deviant behaviour until they change their immoral behaviour.


Socialization

Another method used in Nigeria to control social is the application of socialization. This is understood that man cannot function appropriately in the society without adequate socialization. Otite (1980) defined socialization as the process by which beings that are biologically human become socially human. What this means is that socialization is the process whereby one internalizes the norms of the groups among whom one lives so that a distinct “self” emerges, unique to this individual. Similarly Macionis and Pummber (1997) defined socialization as lifelong social experience by which individuals develop human potential and learn the patterns of their culture. From the above definition, we can note that socialization is the best mechanism that is use to control social in Nigeria because it is a process whereby norms and values of a society such as the belief system, the mode of greeting, the way of eating, the method of naming, the method of burying, the steps in dancing, the way of society. Without it, an individual would not be like any human being and would not be able to conduct his behaviour along the standard approved by his society. They use this through the agent of socialization. For example family is the first agent of socialization that teaches children how to behave in the society while school, religion peer group also teach student on how to behave in society. Therefore socialization is the best method that is use in controlling social in Nigeria.

•    MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
a)     Media
The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have.
Defleur et al (1981:239) Media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. The term mass media is often applied to the technical devices through which information, ideas and attitudes are transmitted to many people in their different locations.
In other word Mass Media is a plural of medium, which means a channel or vehicle through which something is carried or transmitted. In other words, mass media are channels of communication in a modern society, primarily the print and the electronic media. McQuail further describes the mass media as the organized means for communicating openly and at a distance to many receivers within a short space of time

b)    Patterns of Media Ownership in Nigeria

i.    Government Ownership

This refers to public ownership of the mass media (both print and electronic). Government for political reasons owns the media especially radio and television. This kind of ownership could be operational in both civilian and military regimes. Media are set up, staffed and controlled by government because of the fear that such media houses could be used to cause trouble if left in the hands of private businessmen. This is a common scenario in Africa with the exception of Nigeria which liberalized the broadcast industry in 1992 by allowing private individuals to own radio and television stations. Prior to 1992, only state and federal governments own broadcasting stations. This type of ownership is common in Nigeria and in some African countries.

ii.    Private Ownership

This refers to the private ownership of the media (both print and electronic).

iii. Joint Government and Private Ownership
This is a rather joint venture between the government and private businessmen.

iii.    Public Ownership

This refers to media operated on behalf of the public by charter and is supposedly “autonomous” or independent to a great extent. Many media organizations in various countries bear the title public corporation; but they are so only in name and not in fact, considering their obvious subservience to government.

iv.    User Ownership

This is the initiative of the audience e.g. fan clubs coming with their radio and television stations.

c)    Methods of Control over the Media

All three types of government (colonial, civilian and military) that have functioned in Nigeria have implemented policies that have actually restrained freedom of the press. Journalists have been harassed, detained, jailed, and repressive laws and decrees enacted. Comparatively, the British colonial administration may appear to have done the least harm, but it set in motion the kinds of repressive press laws existing in Nigeria today. These pernicious laws and decrees against the media gave government officials legal backing to persecute, fine, detain and imprison journalists, and to proscribe media houses. For instance, the Offensive Publications (Proscription) Decree 35 1993, made it possible for the government to clamp down on six media houses across the nation. Even government owned media were not spared.
There are several ways by which those who wield political power and some media organization control mass media in Nigeria.

I.    Authoritarian Media Theory

Dates from the 16th century, the theory describes a situation in which the mass media are subordinated to state power. Whether the media ownership is private or public, they are expected to service the government or its functionaries and are forbidden to criticize government or its functionaries.
The instruments of authoritarian control of the media are many and varied. They include heavy taxation, repressive legislation and direct or subtle state control of staffing. Others are suspension of publication, and rough treatment of journalists which were the hallmark of Babangida and Abacha regimes in Nigeria.
This can be through the arsenals of authoritarian control such as repressive legislation, heavy taxation, direct or indirect control of essential production inputs, rough treatment of media workers, issuing of death threat and in some extreme cases assassination of media workers (e.g Dele Giwa), censorship and closure of media houses (e.g Daily Concord, OGBC, Abeokuta, during the Babangida regime).

Another method used by the government to control media in Nigeria is what Uche (1989, p. 139) calls Coopting.  'Coopting' of journalists ensures that they are reduced to being mere stooges of government officials. It is not surprising therefore that the editor of the Guardian had to publish an article reassuring his readers that his proprietor's acceptance of a ministerial appointment in the government could not influence the objectivity of the newspaper in handling issues concerning government. Other measures of government control include denying journalists access to places and persons for information, refusing to give government advertisements and dubious labeling of documents containing valuable information. All these measures have been used. For example, the newspapers that were pro-government during the colonial rule, the Eagle, Lagos Critic and Record (for some years of its existence) received most government advertisements. But the few indigenous businessmen who could advertise in the newspapers gave their advertisements to the Standard or any other of the newspapers that represented their nationalistic feelings (Omu, 1978). This measure has been in use ever since. Presently, unsurprisingly, one finds more government advertisements in the Daily Times than in any anti-government newspaper.
For instance, within one year of the elected civilian government assuming office in 1990, no less than ten chief executive officers of state-owned broadcasting stations were sacked (Uche, 1989). Those who kept their jobs got the message - toe the line.
Media practitioners have never failed to denounce these controls, except journalists who have been 'coopted'. There have been instances when the government has been taken to court. At times justice was even upheld as in 1975, when a reporter was arrested, flogged and had his hair and beard shaved on the orders of a military government who found his articles offensive. The reporter instituted a court action and, surprisingly, he won the case and the government was asked to pay him damages (Uche 1989, p. 139).

II.    Development Media Theory

Development media theory is another method used to control media in Nigeria.
Development media theory was put forward as a means of paying for the imbalance in development and information flow (media) in Nigeria and a solution to the technological problems facing them. Nigeria bedeviled by problems that make the development of mass media system difficult. Some of these problems are the absence of communication infrastructure, the professional skill, the production and cultural resources and the available audience.
The major tenets of Development Media Theory as a method of media control in Nigeria enunciated by McQuail are:

• Media must accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with naturally established policy.

• Freedom of the media should be open to economic priorities and development needs of the society.

• Media should give priority in the content to the national culture and language

• Journalists and other media workers have responsibilities as well as freedom in their information gathering and dissemination tasks.
• In the interest of development, the state has a right to intervene or restrict media operation.


III.    ESTABLISHMENT OF REGULATORY BODY (NBC)

In addition, regulatory bodies set up by the government can be a source of negative or positive control of the media. Where there are defects or loopholes in the decree that set up such regulatory bodies, these can be used for repressing freedom of expression. It is thought
that government may intentionally leave loopholes to exploit in silencing any opposition. It is widely believed that one pitfall in the decree that set up the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the power given to the commission to revoke the licenses of stations which do not operate in accordance with the code and in the public interest. The decree did not specify either how to seek redress or to what the public interest is, as in the American Federal Communication Commission.
Thus the decree allows the NBC to provide licenses in perpetuity only to withdraw them at whim. The influence of the government is seen in the unflinching support government media organizations give the government of day. Government officials do not hesitate to remove anyone in charge who fails to offer unquestioned support. An 'erring' official risks being sacked with 'immediate effect' or faces other punishments for such 'heinous' acts.
Private media proprietors also exert significant control of their media organizations. Proprietors have been known to demand self-censorship by their editors. The proprietor expects those working in their media organizations to understand and protect their interests. Often a proprietor's economic and/or political interests are very influential in how they want their papers to relate to the government of the day. In 1992, Moshood Abiola the multi-millionaire politician, asked his editor Bayo Onanuga to apologize to the then military President Babangida. Onanuga's article in one of the titles of which Abiola is proprietor was believed to have angered the president. However, Onanuga refused to apologize and instead he resigned along with three others. Abiola, however, did apologise and to rub the former editor's nose in the dust, the apology, a private letter from Abiola to the President, was reported exclusively by the Daily Times 23 April 1992.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I could say that media and socialization are the best mechanism to control social in Nigeria, this is because it has recorded some enviable leaps in Nigeria. Therefore more needs to be done by all the stakeholders and government in other to contribute meaningful to the development of media in this country (Nigeria).

REFERENCES

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