CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1    Introduction

Media is a truncation of the term media of communication, referring to those organized means of dissemination of facts opinions, entertainment and other information in newspapers magazines, books, films, radio, television, the world wide web, billboard CDS, DVD, Video cassettes, computer, games and other forms of publishing. All these forms of media described as the consciousness industry performs various functions for society. They could be said to be endowed with journalist of different specializes

          They could be said to have different areas of specialization depending on the type of training and degrees they have acquired. It is for this reason each journalists plays a significant role interms of information dissemination. This is so because the media in its entities could be said to have audience, depending on the type of outfit involves as explained by Ndolo (2001: 5-6).

          The Nigerian media audience is large and diverse: 130-140 million people, over 250 hostile ethic groups; over 250 mutually unintelligible languages made more complex by over 100 dialects; two major antagonistic religions; 70 percent of Nigeria are rural dwellers, illiterate by western standards and live on less that N 125 per day.

          From Ndolo’s views, it could be said that columns are also part of the newspaper role in disseminating information through one major aspect which is the process of entertainment that such newspaper promote national interest and certain behaviours especially in critical or emergency situations and during times of national crises. To add entertainment columns mobilize the populace against unpopular policies and against dictatorial regimes.

          Deriving from what has been said as regard the consciousness role of entertainment columns Wright (1990:17) is of the view that it is the entire process of occupation of conducting as news medium including structures, policies, content, writing, editing, publishing and broadcasting that is known for journalism.