Dr. Dele Odunlami is a seasoned journalist and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago - Iwoye. His professional exposures cut across various capacities as a reporter/researcher, presenter and principal editor in reputable media houses in both the print and electronic genres in Nigeria, including the defunct African Guardian Magazine, Champion Newspapers and the Ogun State Television, 25 UHF Abeokuta. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, English (Education) Combined honours Degree, Second Class Upper Division at the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) in 1990. Thereafter he proceeded to the University of Ibadan where, at different times, he obtained two Master’s degrees (MCA and M.A) in Communication and Language Arts with distinction, including a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja. He crowned his academic efforts with a PhD in Broadcast Journalism at the Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State in 2012. Dr. Odunlami who joined the services of Olabisi Onabanjo University in 2003 is widely published and is currently the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, OOU Ago- Iwoye, Nigeria.
The euphoria that characterized the eventual presidential assent given to the Freedom of Informat... more The euphoria that characterized the eventual presidential assent given to the Freedom of Information Act in 2011 in Nigeria had barely settled when the mass media, civil society groups, including lawyers and activists started facing impediments in their bid to invoke the law to enable them to have access to vital information on issues of public interest. Prior to this time, expectations were high from stakeholders on the assumed benefits of the FoIA to press freedom and transparent governance. Though not exclusively a mass media law, the FoIA was seen as instrumental to the attainment of sustainable development through an open, free society and democratic ethos. Four years after, how have the mass media fared in the use and applications of the provisions of this vital law? To what extent have the much-touted benefits of the Freedom of Information Act impacted on the investigative journalism skills of practitioners towards realizing the goals of transparency on the one hand and susta...
The paper addresses the possibility of wealth creation in the real sense of it beyond theoretical... more The paper addresses the possibility of wealth creation in the real sense of it beyond theoretical postulations, which abound from previous studies on waste in Nigeria. Among such previous studies referenced, majority did not delve into the real process of turning waste to wealth for the purpose of creating actual wealth. This study therefore intends to achieve actual wealth creation from waste by throwing entrepreneurial challenge to the indigenous talented and skillful individuals. The study discovered six ‘waste’ items, that is, maize husk, pure water nylon, banana stem, pineapple leaves, sisalina leaves and areca leaves that are convertible manually into new products such as maize-husk paper products; paving stones/slabs from pure water-nylon; banana stem, pineapple leaves and sisalina fibre for weaving products such as caps, bags, cloths, floor mats, table mats, decorations, and areca-leaves into -nut plates and spoons useful at parties, restaurants and bukas in Nigeria and Africa.
The internet has changed for good the ecology of communication across the globe. And Nigeria, the... more The internet has changed for good the ecology of communication across the globe. And Nigeria, the largest black nation, is no exception. A number of politicians in this country are already swimming with the tide of online applications for interactive exchanges.
The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the pol... more The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the political knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media (Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print med ia. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents political behaviour (...
It is usual for some theories and ideas which enjoy universal acclaim to run foul of allegationof... more It is usual for some theories and ideas which enjoy universal acclaim to run foul of allegationof cultural relativity. While it is sometimes ~n acceptable norm research to proceed from the inductive sphere o.flogic (via the particular general),there is often a limit to the extent o.fiJ!ferences or generalizations intellectuaflreedom will guarantee Jurgen Habermas's seminal work Transformation 0/ the Public Sphere. in spite of its acclamation intellectual circle. suffers some sorts of oversight in African. alheit, Nigerian contexts. This paper explores the cultural dimensions and parallels elements of Haber mas' public sphere in the African and Nigerian contexts. cuncludes that in spite of its seeming cuLturally reLativistic stance, Habermas's thoughts0/1 thepubLic sphere are as germane to traditionaL cuLtures o.fthe South asthey are to tlze North.
The government of one of Nigeria’s most prominent political subdivisions - Lagos State – initiate... more The government of one of Nigeria’s most prominent political subdivisions - Lagos State – initiated the Operation Green Lagos campaign recently, as part of efforts to address the climate change aspect of its environmental challenges. Communication strategies were put in place to drive the project. This study starts a debate on the campaign by assessing the profile of awareness and perception of the target audience, as this profile is crucial to its success. A total of 385 Lagos State residents responded to questionnaire items, complemented by an interview with the relevant government official. Findings show that the campaign recorded a high level of awareness (89.6%) through the instrumentality of the broadcast media while 83% viewed the project as an act of social responsibility to improve the quality of life. In spite of these impressive outcomes, respondents noticed an inconsistency in the strategies, which slowed their response to government’s environmental activities. This infor...
Information is regarded globally as the oxygen of any democracy. In the context of developing cou... more Information is regarded globally as the oxygen of any democracy. In the context of developing countries, the effective dissemination of information is seen as a prerequisite for democracy and sustainable development. Community radios, the world over, provide alternative platforms of expression, public sphere and voice for the oppressed and marginalized social groups and communities often denied access by the mainstream media. As a major precursor of community radio in Nigeria, campus radios owned and operated by academic communities of tertiary institutions, especially universities, are fast gaining recognition. At the last count, not less than twenty seven licenses were approved in the twilight of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2015. Observers are however worried that, in spite of their pretensions, many of these stations, in terms of their programming, content, ownership and control, still operate like the conventional broadcast and commercial media. With this...
Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the ... more Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the mass media on the political behaviour of the people as consumers of media texts and output. In Nigeria, this curiosity is the same. The few studies that had been conducted along this direction had differing outcomes while most of them focused on the situation with the adult population. This study therefore examined the predictive relationship between media access and exposure on the political knowledge of undergraduates in selected universities in South West Nigeria. Using the descriptive survey design through a carefully constructed questionnaire, data were obtained from respondents selected across the study locale, to measure and test five hypotheses in the study. Findings showed, among other things that exposure to the electronic media predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. Most of the respondents also chose television as the most pr...
The economics of media production, distribution and consumption makes the issue of commercializat... more The economics of media production, distribution and consumption makes the issue of commercialization an inevitable reality in the modern society. But the mass media exist essentially as a social institution to provide voice to the populace through a ‘full, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context – that gives meaning’. However, unfolding realities reveal that commercial considerations have vitiated the statutory mandate of the media as the fourth estate of the realm. In Nigeria, like other developing countries, the challenge is how media professionals can balance their desire to break even and successfully navigate the complex and harsh mace of economic realities for an enhanced bottom-line on the one hand and remain committed to the professional demands of their calling on the other. This is crucially so because of the media’s place and role as societal conscience, compass and barometer of development. This paper x-rays the emerging issues in...
Effective programming is the soul and the heartbeat of broadcasting. Because of its heavy depende... more Effective programming is the soul and the heartbeat of broadcasting. Because of its heavy dependence on technology and innovations, emerging trends continue to challenge the old and traditional methods of broadcast operations and programming. While the switch from the analogue to the digital technological mode appears seamless in developed countries, the experience is fraught with many challenges in developing nations like Nigeria. This paper examined the concept and challenges of broadcast programming in a digital era within the context of a developing country like Nigeria. As a conceptual study, it traces the historical antecedents of broadcast programming in the country and situates this in the classic ambience of broadcast programming models as a basis for further determining the impact of the social media on broadcast programming including the future of programming in the oxymoronic global and atomized market. The paper recommends that Broadcast stations owners and operatives s...
Participation and stakeholders’ engagement are critical to the success of any democratic governan... more Participation and stakeholders’ engagement are critical to the success of any democratic governance. The mass media not only provide a platform for the cross – fertilization of ideas and issues which transform to meaningful agenda that propel societal concerns, they also determine the salience of such issues that engage the attention of the society. However, the advent of the social media has put the conventional media on their toes as they seem to be fast conceding their hitherto exclusive privilege of agenda- setting to the social media who with their liberal and increased access to the public sphere and have widened the prospects of audience participation in the digital media space. But this is not without its attendant challenges. Communication engagements in the social media, though robust, remain largely uncoordinated. It is even being speculated , and reasonably too, that the same forces which hijacked and hegemonised the agenda of the political elite on the masses through t...
Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the ... more Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the mass media on the political behaviour of the people as consumers of media texts and output. In Nigeria, this curiosity is the same. The few studies that had been conducted along this direction had differing outcomes while most of them focused on the situation with the adult population. This study therefore examined the predictive relationship between media access and exposure on the political knowledge of undergraduates in selected universities in South West Nigeria. Using the descriptive survey design through a carefully constructed questionnaire, data were obtained from respondents selected across the study locale, to measure and test five hypotheses in the study. Findings showed, among other things that exposure to the electronic media predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. Most of the respondents also chose television as the most preferred and dominant medium of political information in the country. Based on the findings it was recommended that Government and media proprietors should collaborate to widen the access of youths to the print media through reduced costs and attractive contents. Because of its increasing popularity among the people, practitioners in the broadcast media were enjoined to adhere to strict professional standards in order to sustain the patronage of the audience while taking advantage of emerging benefits of the Internet for wider reach and more appealing programmes and programming. Background to the Study By his nature as a political animal, man relies on the mass and man-media (interpersonal communication) for information and usable data to enhance his participation and political efficacy in the polity. The media thus exert some forms of influence on politics and the political process. But whether such roles or influence are salutary or not is an ongoing debate. However, the reality of media impact as a crucial element among other factors in the human political socialisation process remains undisputable.
The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the pol... more The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the political knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media (Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents political behaviour (t4226 = 2.365; p<.05_. The calculated t value of 2.365 was found to be significantly higher than the critical t value of 1.960 at 4226 degrees of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. The study also revealed that television was the most dominant source of political information among the respondents. Based on these findings, it was suggested, among others, that Government and media proprietors should synergise efforts to curb the incidence of poor reading culture among youths through reduced costs and richer contents of the print media. Keywords: Media Use, Political Knowledge, Media Exposure, Political Behaviour.
The euphoria that characterized the eventual presidential assent given to the Freedom of Informat... more The euphoria that characterized the eventual presidential assent given to the Freedom of Information Act in 2011 in Nigeria had barely settled when the mass media, civil society groups, including lawyers and activists started facing impediments in their bid to invoke the law to enable them to have access to vital information on issues of public interest. Prior to this time, expectations were high from stakeholders on the assumed benefits of the FoIA to press freedom and transparent governance. Though not exclusively a mass media law, the FoIA was seen as instrumental to the attainment of sustainable development through an open, free society and democratic ethos. Four years after, how have the mass media fared in the use and applications of the provisions of this vital law? To what extent have the much-touted benefits of the Freedom of Information Act impacted on the investigative journalism skills of practitioners towards realizing the goals of transparency on the one hand and susta...
The paper addresses the possibility of wealth creation in the real sense of it beyond theoretical... more The paper addresses the possibility of wealth creation in the real sense of it beyond theoretical postulations, which abound from previous studies on waste in Nigeria. Among such previous studies referenced, majority did not delve into the real process of turning waste to wealth for the purpose of creating actual wealth. This study therefore intends to achieve actual wealth creation from waste by throwing entrepreneurial challenge to the indigenous talented and skillful individuals. The study discovered six ‘waste’ items, that is, maize husk, pure water nylon, banana stem, pineapple leaves, sisalina leaves and areca leaves that are convertible manually into new products such as maize-husk paper products; paving stones/slabs from pure water-nylon; banana stem, pineapple leaves and sisalina fibre for weaving products such as caps, bags, cloths, floor mats, table mats, decorations, and areca-leaves into -nut plates and spoons useful at parties, restaurants and bukas in Nigeria and Africa.
The internet has changed for good the ecology of communication across the globe. And Nigeria, the... more The internet has changed for good the ecology of communication across the globe. And Nigeria, the largest black nation, is no exception. A number of politicians in this country are already swimming with the tide of online applications for interactive exchanges.
The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the pol... more The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the political knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media (Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print med ia. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents political behaviour (...
It is usual for some theories and ideas which enjoy universal acclaim to run foul of allegationof... more It is usual for some theories and ideas which enjoy universal acclaim to run foul of allegationof cultural relativity. While it is sometimes ~n acceptable norm research to proceed from the inductive sphere o.flogic (via the particular general),there is often a limit to the extent o.fiJ!ferences or generalizations intellectuaflreedom will guarantee Jurgen Habermas's seminal work Transformation 0/ the Public Sphere. in spite of its acclamation intellectual circle. suffers some sorts of oversight in African. alheit, Nigerian contexts. This paper explores the cultural dimensions and parallels elements of Haber mas' public sphere in the African and Nigerian contexts. cuncludes that in spite of its seeming cuLturally reLativistic stance, Habermas's thoughts0/1 thepubLic sphere are as germane to traditionaL cuLtures o.fthe South asthey are to tlze North.
The government of one of Nigeria’s most prominent political subdivisions - Lagos State – initiate... more The government of one of Nigeria’s most prominent political subdivisions - Lagos State – initiated the Operation Green Lagos campaign recently, as part of efforts to address the climate change aspect of its environmental challenges. Communication strategies were put in place to drive the project. This study starts a debate on the campaign by assessing the profile of awareness and perception of the target audience, as this profile is crucial to its success. A total of 385 Lagos State residents responded to questionnaire items, complemented by an interview with the relevant government official. Findings show that the campaign recorded a high level of awareness (89.6%) through the instrumentality of the broadcast media while 83% viewed the project as an act of social responsibility to improve the quality of life. In spite of these impressive outcomes, respondents noticed an inconsistency in the strategies, which slowed their response to government’s environmental activities. This infor...
Information is regarded globally as the oxygen of any democracy. In the context of developing cou... more Information is regarded globally as the oxygen of any democracy. In the context of developing countries, the effective dissemination of information is seen as a prerequisite for democracy and sustainable development. Community radios, the world over, provide alternative platforms of expression, public sphere and voice for the oppressed and marginalized social groups and communities often denied access by the mainstream media. As a major precursor of community radio in Nigeria, campus radios owned and operated by academic communities of tertiary institutions, especially universities, are fast gaining recognition. At the last count, not less than twenty seven licenses were approved in the twilight of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2015. Observers are however worried that, in spite of their pretensions, many of these stations, in terms of their programming, content, ownership and control, still operate like the conventional broadcast and commercial media. With this...
Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the ... more Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the mass media on the political behaviour of the people as consumers of media texts and output. In Nigeria, this curiosity is the same. The few studies that had been conducted along this direction had differing outcomes while most of them focused on the situation with the adult population. This study therefore examined the predictive relationship between media access and exposure on the political knowledge of undergraduates in selected universities in South West Nigeria. Using the descriptive survey design through a carefully constructed questionnaire, data were obtained from respondents selected across the study locale, to measure and test five hypotheses in the study. Findings showed, among other things that exposure to the electronic media predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. Most of the respondents also chose television as the most pr...
The economics of media production, distribution and consumption makes the issue of commercializat... more The economics of media production, distribution and consumption makes the issue of commercialization an inevitable reality in the modern society. But the mass media exist essentially as a social institution to provide voice to the populace through a ‘full, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context – that gives meaning’. However, unfolding realities reveal that commercial considerations have vitiated the statutory mandate of the media as the fourth estate of the realm. In Nigeria, like other developing countries, the challenge is how media professionals can balance their desire to break even and successfully navigate the complex and harsh mace of economic realities for an enhanced bottom-line on the one hand and remain committed to the professional demands of their calling on the other. This is crucially so because of the media’s place and role as societal conscience, compass and barometer of development. This paper x-rays the emerging issues in...
Effective programming is the soul and the heartbeat of broadcasting. Because of its heavy depende... more Effective programming is the soul and the heartbeat of broadcasting. Because of its heavy dependence on technology and innovations, emerging trends continue to challenge the old and traditional methods of broadcast operations and programming. While the switch from the analogue to the digital technological mode appears seamless in developed countries, the experience is fraught with many challenges in developing nations like Nigeria. This paper examined the concept and challenges of broadcast programming in a digital era within the context of a developing country like Nigeria. As a conceptual study, it traces the historical antecedents of broadcast programming in the country and situates this in the classic ambience of broadcast programming models as a basis for further determining the impact of the social media on broadcast programming including the future of programming in the oxymoronic global and atomized market. The paper recommends that Broadcast stations owners and operatives s...
Participation and stakeholders’ engagement are critical to the success of any democratic governan... more Participation and stakeholders’ engagement are critical to the success of any democratic governance. The mass media not only provide a platform for the cross – fertilization of ideas and issues which transform to meaningful agenda that propel societal concerns, they also determine the salience of such issues that engage the attention of the society. However, the advent of the social media has put the conventional media on their toes as they seem to be fast conceding their hitherto exclusive privilege of agenda- setting to the social media who with their liberal and increased access to the public sphere and have widened the prospects of audience participation in the digital media space. But this is not without its attendant challenges. Communication engagements in the social media, though robust, remain largely uncoordinated. It is even being speculated , and reasonably too, that the same forces which hijacked and hegemonised the agenda of the political elite on the masses through t...
Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the ... more Media scholars and political scientists alike are concerned about the issue of the impact of the mass media on the political behaviour of the people as consumers of media texts and output. In Nigeria, this curiosity is the same. The few studies that had been conducted along this direction had differing outcomes while most of them focused on the situation with the adult population. This study therefore examined the predictive relationship between media access and exposure on the political knowledge of undergraduates in selected universities in South West Nigeria. Using the descriptive survey design through a carefully constructed questionnaire, data were obtained from respondents selected across the study locale, to measure and test five hypotheses in the study. Findings showed, among other things that exposure to the electronic media predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. Most of the respondents also chose television as the most preferred and dominant medium of political information in the country. Based on the findings it was recommended that Government and media proprietors should collaborate to widen the access of youths to the print media through reduced costs and attractive contents. Because of its increasing popularity among the people, practitioners in the broadcast media were enjoined to adhere to strict professional standards in order to sustain the patronage of the audience while taking advantage of emerging benefits of the Internet for wider reach and more appealing programmes and programming. Background to the Study By his nature as a political animal, man relies on the mass and man-media (interpersonal communication) for information and usable data to enhance his participation and political efficacy in the polity. The media thus exert some forms of influence on politics and the political process. But whether such roles or influence are salutary or not is an ongoing debate. However, the reality of media impact as a crucial element among other factors in the human political socialisation process remains undisputable.
The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the pol... more The objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of media exposure on the political knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media (Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the print media. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents political behaviour (t4226 = 2.365; p<.05_. The calculated t value of 2.365 was found to be significantly higher than the critical t value of 1.960 at 4226 degrees of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. The study also revealed that television was the most dominant source of political information among the respondents. Based on these findings, it was suggested, among others, that Government and media proprietors should synergise efforts to curb the incidence of poor reading culture among youths through reduced costs and richer contents of the print media. Keywords: Media Use, Political Knowledge, Media Exposure, Political Behaviour.
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knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is
the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have
greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a
combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was
generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire
returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media
(Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the
print media. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents
political behaviour (t4226 = 2.365; p<.05_. The calculated t value of 2.365 was found to be significantly higher
than the critical t value of 1.960 at 4226 degrees of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. The study also revealed
that television was the most dominant source of political information among the respondents. Based on these
findings, it was suggested, among others, that Government and media proprietors should synergise efforts to
curb the incidence of poor reading culture among youths through reduced costs and richer contents of the print
media.
Keywords: Media Use, Political Knowledge, Media Exposure, Political Behaviour.
knowledge and behaviour of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It also sought to discover which medium is
the dominant or preferred source of political information for respondents and which of the media would have
greater influence on their political knowledge and behaviour. The research platform was survey. Through a
combination of stratified and multi-stage sampling, a comprehensive sample frame of 4,700 respondents was
generated from a cluster of faculties/colleges from six universities. From the 4,228 copies of questionnaire
returned and analysed, findings showed that contrary to earlier-held notions, exposure to the electronic media
(Radio, Television and Internet) predicted higher political knowledge and behaviour among respondents than the
print media. The results also showed that there was a significant influence of exposure to media on respondents
political behaviour (t4226 = 2.365; p<.05_. The calculated t value of 2.365 was found to be significantly higher
than the critical t value of 1.960 at 4226 degrees of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. The study also revealed
that television was the most dominant source of political information among the respondents. Based on these
findings, it was suggested, among others, that Government and media proprietors should synergise efforts to
curb the incidence of poor reading culture among youths through reduced costs and richer contents of the print
media.
Keywords: Media Use, Political Knowledge, Media Exposure, Political Behaviour.