CHAPTER ONE
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The idea of precision journalism grew out of the need for effective gathering, processing and dissemination of information, revealing its exactness and precision. Philip Meyer (2002); establishes that precision journalism covers a new and ongoing trend the use by reporters of social science research techniques to increases the depth and accuracy of major stories. Supporting the view, Adenze (2005); remarks that precision journalism seeks to show measures, so dynamic of using new technology to analyze data and provide more precise information in easier-to-understand forms.
However, Udobong (2002); remarks that the idea of precision journalism and conformed to the issue of precision journalism is often sensationalism. It is a manner of over-hyping events, being deliberately controversial, loud, self-centered or acting to obtain attention. It is also a form of theatre in the mass media.
Supporting the view, Nnama (1988) in Uwakwe (2005) say that sensationalism is commonly used reference to the mass media critics, of media bias and of all political stripes often to propel patronage and preference. In this sense, media outlets often choose to report heavily on stories with shock value or attention grabbing names or events, rather than reporting on more pressing issues to the general public.
Patnes smith (1998:112) says:
In the extreme case, the media would report the news of it makes a good story, without much regard for the factual accuracy or social release. Thus, a press release inducing radiations and false pseudo scientific claims issued by a controversial group is guaranteed a lot of media coverage.
The centenaries added that such stories are often prepared rightfully or mistakenly as partisan or based due to the sensational nature in which they are reported. A media organization may report on a political figure in a based way or present one side of an issue while neglecting another or neutrally. It may simply include sensational aspects such as zealots, doomsayers and or/Junk science.
Adinze (2000); says that complex subjects and affairs are often subject to sensationalism. Exciting and emotionally charged aspects can be drawn out without providing elements such as pertinent background, investigative or contextual information needed for the viewers to form his or her opinion.
Ababa (2005); also adds that the subject mainstream media may choose a comedy site as of news source and then proceed to display its content without any factual checks. Emphasizing on the goals of sensationalism in precision journalism, Wak Dicks (1988:112) says that:
One presumed goals of sensational reporting is increase for sustained readership or viewership which can be sold to advertisers. The result is a lesser focus on proper journalism and a greater focus on the “juicy” aspects of a story that pull in a large share of audience.
Be it as it may, precision journalism seeks to reveal. The exactness in reporting and significant imperatives involved. However, sensationalism is often blamed for the “entertainment style’ of many of the news programs broadcast over radio and television, yet the news has always been enjoyed for as long as it has been exchanged.
(Stephens, 2006:15) remarks that the rebate of sensationalism used in the mass medium is based on a misunderstanding of its audience especially the television audience. Furthermore, while the newspaper is often seen as a more credible source than television news because of televisions use of footage over spoken information, they are both sensationalized to the same extent.
Marcus (1992); also comments that television news in restricted to showing the sense of crimes rather than the crime itself, whereas newspapers writers can always recall what they did not witness “no act of violence is beyond the reach of the still formidable magic of words”) Stephens 2006:280.
Therefore, in assessing the infiltration of sensationalism in precision journalism in the Daily Sun and Daily Independent newspapers, the extreme of concern is on the level of patronage and preference.