GLOBALISATION AND NEWS MEDIA: THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL NEWS MEDIA ON NIGERIA J.O.E. Mbagwu Ph.D. 2011 Globalisation and News Media: The Impact of the Global News Media on Nigeria Joy Oluoma Ezeji Mbagwu A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Staffordshire University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2011 Joy Oluoma Ezeji Mbagwu A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Staffordshire University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2011 Abstract The focus of this thesis is the impact of the global news media on Nigeria, and the extent to which it has affected Nigeria’s development and international relations. The unprecedented impact of the global news media in recent decades has been conceptualised as perpetuating underdevelopment and inequality in the developing countries. This study develops the idea that the kind of global news that flows into and out of Nigeria, coupled with the access Nigerians and the world have to the news, as well as the way it is packaged, shaped, represented and interpreted, have profound effects on Nigeria. The study integrates both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches. It refers to and selects from various theories of International Relations (IR) and Mass Communication. It is apparent that there is a growing perception that the global news media have influenced Nigerian society. The study suggests that the effects of the global media on Nigeria are psychological, sociological, economic, cultural and political. The global news media are believed to be the best instruments for the purpose of stimulating global and transnational economic development and international relations. However, the benefits of media globalisation are unevenly shared and its costs are unevenly distributed, the main beneficiaries being the developed nations, while the developing nations (such as Nigeria) are disadvantaged. The study recommends the promotion and strengthening of the local media in Nigeria. i Acknowledgments I am highly indebted to my supervisors, Dr. A. Russell and Prof. M. Temple for their invaluable guidance, encouragement and advice throughout the study. Special thanks to Mrs Wendy Mason for her great help in proof- reading all the chapters. My sincere thanks to my beloved mother, the late Mrs Victoria Ezeji, who laid the foundation of my education. Thanks to my sisters and brother for their support. A big thanks to my husband Newman whose support and inspiration helped me a lot. I am of course responsible for the contents of this thesis. “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” Proverbs 2: 6 (New living Translation) Word Count: Body of Text : 79,970 (with footnotes) : 82,388 ii Contents Abstract.........................................................................................................i Acknowledgements .....................................................................................ii Contents......................................................................................................iii List of Tables...............................................................................................vi List of Figures.............................................................................................vii Chapter One. .......................................................................................1 Introduction..............................................................................................1 1.1 Research Context...........................................................................1 1.1.1 Facts about Nigeria.........................................................................9 1.2 Theoretical Frameworks................................................................11 1.2.1 Theories of Globalisation .............................................................12 1.2.2 Liberal Interdependence /Integration Theory.................................22 1.2.3 Dependency Theory.......................................................................27 1.2.4 Media/Cultural Imperialism Theory................................................33 1.2.5 Agenda-Setting Theory..................................................................42 1.2.6 Social Responsibility Theory..........................................................50 1.2.7 Free-Press Theory ........................................................................54 1.3 Research Questions......................................................................60 1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Project.................................................61 1.5 Assumptions..................................................................................62 1.6 Significance of the Research ........................................................63 1.7 Chapter Summary ........................................................................64 Chapter Two........................................................................................66 Globalisation and News Media: A Literature Review.........................66 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................66 2.2 Current Debates on Globalisation.................................................66 2.3 Media and News Globalisation......................................................80 2.3.1 Glocalisation and Subaltern Flows................................................83 2.4 Media Roles and Power in Globalisation.......................................87 2.5 The Disparities and Model of International News Flow..................90 2.6 The Impact of Global News and Information Flow on International Relations in the 20th and 21st Century.......................98 2.6.1 The CNN Effect ............................................................................107 2.7 Global News Representations of the Third World.........................111 2.8 Globalisation of News Media: The Nigerian Experience...............116 2.9 Chapter Summary.........................................................................127 iii Chapter Three....................................................................................131 The Research Methodology.................................................................131 3.1 Introduction...................................................................................131 3.2 The Research Methodology and Rationale for Choice of Techniques...............................................................................131 3.3 The Survey Strategy.....................................................................137 3.3.1 The Case Study Area...................................................................140 3.3.2 Research Population....................................................................140 3.3.3 Sample Technique.......................................................................142 3.3.4 Sample Size.................................................................................143 3.4 Primary Data Collection Methods.................................................145 3.4.1 Questionnaires.............................................................................145 3.4.2 Interviews.....................................................................................148 3.4.2.1 Structured Interview....................................................................150 3.4.2.2Unstructured Interview.................................................................152 3.4.3 Observations................................................................................153 3.4.4 Reports.........................................................................................153 3.5 Secondary Data Collection Methods............................................154 3.6 Data Analysis Methods................................................................154 3.6.1 Method of Quantitative Data Analysis..........................................154 3.6.2 Method of Qualitative Data Analysis............................................156 3.7 Limitations....................................................................................159 3.7.1. Limitations of Using an Online Questionnaire Survey .................159 3.7.2 Limitation of Using Structured Interviews.....................................160 3.8 Chapter Summary........................................................................161 Chapter Four......................................................................................163 Data Analysis and Result Presentation..............................................163 4.1 Introduction................................................................................163 4.2 The Way Nigeria Sees the World..............................................166 4.2.1 Global News into Nigeria...........................................................167 4.2.2 The Perceived Impacts..............................................................175 4.2.2.1 High Wave of Migration.............................................................175 4.2.2.2 Shortage of Highly Skilled Workers...........................................177 4.2.2.3 Loss of Confidence....................................................................179 4.3 The Way the World Sees Nigeria............................................. 184 4.3.1 Global News Out of Nigeria...................................................... 185 4.3.2 The Perceived Impact.............................................................