ABSTRACT
The
study was to ascertain the level of gate keeping on the internet messages (if
any) and to recommend to the government of various countries on the need to
establish a body that should be saddled with the responsibility of gate keeping
every information before it is been published on the internet.
In
doing this, a background study on gate keeping was done, followed with a brief
history of the internet from which the research questions and hypotheses were
generated.
The
theoretical framework that was found suitable was the agenda setting theory of
the press.
Survey
research method was used and questionnaire was adopted as the instrument for
data collection.
The
chi-square method was also used as the instrument for data presentation and
analysis.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page … … … … … … … … i
Approval
page … … … … … … … ii
Dedication … … … … … … … … iii
Acknowledgement … … … … … … … iv
Abstract … … … … … … … … … vi
Table
of contents… … … … … … … … vii
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1
Background
of the study … … …. … … 1
1.2 Statement of problem … … … … … 3
1.3 Objectives of the study … … … … … 5
1.
4 Research questions … … … … … … 6
1.5 Research hypothesis … … … … … 7
1.6
significance of the study … … …
… 8
1.7
Definition of terms … … … … … … 8
1.8 Assumptions … … … … … … … 9
1.9 Scope
and limitation of the study … … …
10
References … … … … … … … 11
CHAPTER TWO
Literature
Review
2.1 Source of literature … … … … … … 12
2.2 review of relevant literature … … … … 1
2.3 Brief history of internet… … … … … … 16
2.4 used of internet. . . . . . . 20
2.5 Theoretical framework … … … … … 23
2.6 Summary of literature … … … … … … 26
Reference … … … … … … … … 28
CHAPTER
THREE
Research Design and
Methodology
3.1 Research method … … … … … … 29
3.2 Research design … … … … … … 29
3.3 population of study … … … … … … 31
3.4 Determination of
sample size … … … … 31
3.5 Sampling technique … … … … … … 34
3.6 Measuring instrument … … … … … 34
3.7 Validity and reliability of measuring instrument …
35
3.8 Method of data collection … … … … … 36
3.9 Method of data analysis … … … … … 37
3.10 Expected result … … … … … … 38
References … … … … … … … 39
CHAPTER
FOUR
Data Presentation and
Analysis
4.1 Data presentation and analysis … … … 40
4.2 Testing of hypothesis … … … … … 50
4.3 Discussion of results … … … … … 57
CHAPTER
FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and
Recommendation
5.1 Summary of findings … … … … … 60
5.2 Conclusions … … … … … … … 61
5.3 Recommendations … … … … … … 62
Bibliography … … … … … … … 64
Appendix
I … … … … … … … 66
Appendix
II … … … … … … … 67
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:
Gate keeping is the process through
which information is filtered before dissemination, be it publication,
broadcasting, the internet or some other type of communication studies,
journalism, political science and sociology.
Originally
focused on the mass media with it few-to-masses dynamic, theories of
gate-keeping also now includes the workings of face-to face communication and
many-to many dynamic now easily available via the internet. The theory (Gate keeping) was first instituted
by a social psychologist, Kurt Lewin in 1947 and is still an important theory
in mass communication and journalism. Gate keeping occurs at all levels of
media structure, from a reporter deciding which sources are chosen to include
in a story, to editors deciding which stories are printed or covered and
including media outlet owners and even advertisers. Outside of media
organizations, individuals can also act as gate keeping deciding what
information to include in an email or in a log for example. Although Kurt Lewin coined the phrase
“Gate keeping†it was first applied to the study of news by one of his
assistants, David Manning White in 1950, he examined copy submitted to a small
city daily newspaper during a one week programme in 1949. The editor of the
newspaper provided information on why stories were rejected.
White
found the decision making process to be “ highly subjective†although there was
much criticism, his study led to further research in the areas of gatekeeping.
Similarly, Kurt Lewin referred to individual or group of person who governs the
travel of news items in the mass communication channel. In expanding Lewins
definition of gatekeeping, it is any person or formally organized group
directly involved in relaying or, transmitting or transferring information from one individual
to another through a medium of mass communication. All mass Media are also generally referred to as
gatekeepers, similarly the purveyors of information or messages within the
mass media for instance, the film
producer, who cut a scene from the original script, a propaganda artist, who
prepared leaflets to distribute to the electorates, the engineer in the
television or radio control room, the editor who, with other members of
editorial board decide the topic and the angle to be used in the editorial
writing, the owners of mass medium
organization who makes policies on what goes into the medium for the audience
or any other individual in the processing or controlling of messages
disseminated through mass media to the public are all known as gatekeepers.
1.2: STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Since
the invention of the internet in the early 1960s, a lot of adjustment have been made towards the
advancement of mankind. In line with the
foregoing , a lot of information and
news items have gone into the internet without appropriate proof reading, vetting or gate keeping, as a result
of these some materials that are not
supposed to be for public consumption
now goes the public unabated and uncontrolled. Unlike other medium of
mass communication that have a series of control (gatekeepers) ranging from the
reporter to the printer (in the case of print media) or to the presenter or
caster in the case of broadcast medium. But in the case of the internet, the
case is different.
A
situation where materials like pornography, abusive words or statements that
are capable of threatening the peace and security of a country are sent to the
internet without being monitored by any regulatory body or authority has called
for concern. Therefore, it is in the light of the foregoing that there is the
need for a body to regulate and checkmate all materials that goes into the
internet.
Another
problem that made the researcher to go into this work is also to access the
role of gate keeping in information dissemination through the internet. And
also to access the level of gate keeping (if any) in the information
dissemination through the internet.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
There
are many things which propelled the desire of the researcher to derive into
this topic. These are the purposes of the study and they includes.
(1)
To advocate for the establishment of a regulatory body to checkmate the kind
and nature of information that goes to the internet.
(2)To
see to it that these body (ies) has an enabling legal framework to back up its
operation.
(3)To
make a workable and practicable recommendation to the internet service
providers and Nigeria Communication commission or the federal communication
commission (in the case of America) on the
need to abide by the law.
(4)
To make a workable and practicable recommendation to the government of various
countries to create an – enabling environment for the law to work and also to
give a legislative backing to it.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS.
(1)
is there any need for gatekeeping on any
material that should go to the internet?
(2)
is there any need to have a body that should be saddled with such
responsibility?
(3)
is there any need for legal framework for the body?
(4)
is there any need both the internet service providers and the NCC to be part of
these feat?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
HI:
there is a need for gatekeeping in any material that goes to the internet.
Ho:
there is no need for gate keeping on
materials that goes to the internet.
H2:
there is a need to have a body that should be saddled with such responsibility.
Ho:
there is no need to have a body should be saddled with responsibility.
H3:
there is a need for a legal frame work for the body. Ho: there is no need for a
legal frame for the body.
H4:
there is a need for both the internet service providers (ISPs) and the relevant
agencies like the Nigeria communication to be parts of these feat.
Ho:
there is no need for both the internet service providers (ISPS) and the
relevant agencies like the Nigeria communication commission NCC to be part of
these feat.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
It
is hoped that the outcome of the study will add to the existing literature in
the area of study. It will also tame the spate of moral decadence in the
society. Occasioned by the incessant
posting of written and video materials to the internet.
1.7
DEFINITION OF THE TERMS
CONCEPTUAL
DEFINITION.
Gatekeeping:
(Gatekeeping) a person in charge of allowing people through a gate internet: an
international information network linking computers.
Journey:
an act of traveling from one place to another.
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION
Gatekeeping:
the process through which information is filtered for dissemination, be it
publication, broadcasting, the internet or some other type of communication
internet. A good network of inter connected computers that communicate freely
and share or exchange information.
Journey:
the parameter for measuring the information that goes to the internet are filtered .
1.8
ASSUMPTIONS
In
a scientific inquiry such as this, the need for assumptions borne out informed
background is very much acceptable. Consequent upon the above, the researcher
made the following assumptions;
There
is need for a gate keeping on any material that should go to the internet.
there
is need to have a body that will be saddled with the responsibility of
gatekeeping.
There
is need to have a legal framework for the gatekeeping body.
There
is also need for both the internet service provider and the NCC to be part of
this body.
1.9 SCOPE/LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
scope of the study of this work is intended to cover and obtain information
from all internet service providers (IS Ps), internet users and some relevant
government agencies like Nigeria communication. Commission (*NCC) all in Enugu,
Enugu state.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
For
the purpose of adequate coverage and poor funding, the researcher has chosen to
limit the study to all internet users in Enugu metropolis and all internet
services providers and internet wholesaler around Enugu metropolis which
include Obiagu, independence layout, New heaven, IMT community.
REFERENCES
Baran,
S.j. (2009). Introduction to mass
communication media literacy a and culture (5thed.) New york: Mc Graw Hill.
Brazilai-Nahon,
K (2009). Gatekeeping: A critical review.
Annual review of
information science and Technology: New York McGraw Hill.
Eze,
M.A. (2008) fundamentals of communication
theories:
Enugu: His Glory publication.
Nwogbuyama,
E. (2006) Mass Organization and
Management, Enugu: Academic
publication company.
The
oxford Advanced learners Dicionary of English 6th
edition.
Wimmer
and Dominick, J.R. (1987) mass media
Research.
(an introduction) USA. WATCH-WOTH INC.
White,
p. (1990) mass communication and national
development. Edited by ikechukwu Nwosu. Aba:
foronitier publishers.
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