Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Investigative Journalism Practices has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with public perception of government policies. This growing interest reflects the recognition that investigative journalism practices does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria.

Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on investigative journalism practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with public perception of government policies, particularly within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about investigative journalism practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect public perception of government policies. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Investigative Journalism Practices on public perception of government policies in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which investigative journalism practices influences public perception of government policies within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with investigative journalism practices in relation to public perception of government policies.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing investigative journalism practices in order to improve public perception of government policies.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of investigative journalism practices on public perception of government policies in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does investigative journalism practices influence public perception of government policies within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with investigative journalism practices in relation to public perception of government policies?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize investigative journalism practices in order to improve public perception of government policies?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of mass communication, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria seeking to understand how investigative journalism practices translates into measurable outcomes around public perception of government policies. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Investigative Journalism Practices and its relationship with public perception of government policies within the context of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.