LAGOS RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF INSPIRATION FM COVERAGE OF CHILD LABOUR.

LAGOS RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF INSPIRATION FM COVERAGE OF CHILD LABOUR.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
The specter of children toiling long hours under dehumanizing conditions have precipitated an intense debate among scholars, policy makers and human right activists over the past two decades. In the middle of the 19th century, industrial revolution, policy makers and the public have attempted to come to grip with the causes and consequences of child labour. Coordination of policy response has revealed the complexity and moral ambiguity of the phenomenon of working children (Bass, 2004).

1.2.1 Background to the study
The mass media, including the press, radio, cinema and television have been described as powerful tools to change opinions, attitudes and influence behavior (McQuail, 1969). This has been described as media effects which are defined by McQuail (McQuail, 2005, p.465) as “the consequences of what the mass media do, whether intended or not.” McQuail goes further to say that the mass media, including television, generally have both undesirable and beneficial effects, mostly planned, on audiences- children, young people and adults and they achieve this “by way of information, stimulation to action, directing attention differentially, persuasion and by defining situations and framing reality” (McQuail, 2005, p. 464-465, 486).
The print and electronic media is aghast with news on the engagement of children in labour and or work. These media posita that the world population especially in the developing countries of Asia and Africa is made up of children (between ages 5-15) and about 60% of these children are engaged in one form of labour or another.
International organizations like the ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO see child labour as a serious global issue, it is the contention of these organizations that the engagement of children in labour is harmful in several ways to the children, the family and the society. It is their belief that it impairs the physical and mental development of children. It affects the family image and rubs society of her future leaders and labour force.

1.3 Statement of the problem
Child Labour does not align to an easy definition. This is because the person considered to be a child in one context may not be a child in another while labour in one may not be so in another. Basu (1998) stated that the definitional problem stems from two extremes, at one; all non educational noon-leisure time of individuals below a certain age can be counted as child labour. At the other only full-time employment in economic activity would be counted. The former includes light work after school work during school holidays, which helps in skill acquisition while; the latter excludes part-time engagement in such horrendous activities as child prostitution.In today’s world, it is undeniable that the media plays an important role in impacting our culture, our economy and our overall view of theworld. The mass media, including the press, radio, cinema and television have been described as powerful tools to change opinions, attitudes and influence behavior (McQuail, 1969).

1.4 Research Questions
1. What is the level of coverage given to Child Labour by Inspiration FM?
2. What is Lagos residents’ perception of Inspiration FM coverage of Child Labour?
3. How knowledgeable are Lagos residents on the consequences of Child Labour?
1.5 Objectives of the study
1. To know level of coverage given to Child Labour by Inspiration FM.
2. To find out Lagos residents’ perception of Inspiration FM coverage of Child Labour.
3. To know how knowledgeable Lagos residents are on the consequences of Child Labour.

1.6 Significance of the study
Significance shows the impact a phenomenon has on an individual, group or society. Therefore the findings of this study will benefit not only the masscommunication students but also benefit the societyon how the media has been used in sensitizing the society against the act of Child Labour. It will alsoenable government to put more efforts towards putting an end to Child Labour. It would encourage media professionals to double their effort in the campaign against Child Labourand would also help in reorienting the people towards reportingChild Labour cases.

1.7 Scope of the study
According to Bordens & Abbott (2008) and Wimmer & Dominick (2011) in Atere (2015), every research is nearly always impossible to fully and completely cover all members of the population, mostly due to the specific nature of the study or other constraints such as time and available resources.
In this study, the researcher limited the scope of study to the opinion of 100 residents (mainly Victoria Island) from Lagos. Questionnaires will be given to 100 respondents in order to adequately garner their opinions about their assessment of Inspiration FM coverage of Child Labour.

1.8 Limitations of the study
Like other research work, this study is not without its own limitations. The major limitation faced by the researcher is…. (will be completed during data analysis and interpretation)

1.9 Operational definition of terms
All professions have their own register or technical terms. This part of the study will therefore provide meaning to some terms as they are used in this study.
Child Labour:Work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
Media:Communication channels through which news, education, data about Child Labour are disseminated.
Coverage:The amount or extent to which Child Labour is covered.

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