ASSESSMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA COVERAGE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS ( A CASE STUDY OF IKOT ABASI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA).
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background of the Study
1.3 Statement of the Problem
1.4 Objectives of the Study
1.5 Research Questions
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of Study
1.8 Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Nature of Rural Areas
2.3 News Sources in the Rural Areas
2.4 Reporting the Rural Areas
2.5 Traditional Media System
2.6 The Broadcasting Content
2.7 Problems of AKBC – TV in Rural Reporting
2.7.1 Lack of Transportation
2.7.2 Insufficient Equipment
2.7.3 Insufficient Finance
2.7.4 Manpower/Personnel Problem
2.7.5 Lack of Good Road Network to the Rural Area
2.7.6 Location of the AKBC Television
2.7.7 Commercialization of News
2.8 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Techniques
3.3 Population
3.4 Sampling Procedure
3.5 Description of Measuring Instrument
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Mention of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Presentation of Data
4.2.1 Distribution of Respondents to Question
4.3 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary of Findings
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
References
Appendices
CHAPTER ONE
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
1.1 Introduction
Development is the positive change in the lives of people. It is the positive growth or forward movement which is the opposite of retrogression (going backward). It is also the process of adding improvement on the life style of people.
Electronic media coverage of rural development programmes has to do with using radio and television to disseminate information about or to cover programmes that will help in the positive change of growth in the lives of the rural dwellers.
Reporters today do basically report news about the urban areas forgetting about rural with the sense that news worthiness is based on urban areas.
There are many programmes in reporting which would help in the development of the rural area not depending on the news stories these include, feature stories, human interest, profile, picture stories, cartoons, editorials, etc.
The functions of the media are to inform, educate and entertain and to perform these functions, we must make sure that we bring rural community reporting to the rural areas. One of these rural areas that has been chosen is Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. The channel chosen is AKBC – television.
1.2 Background of the Study
Akwa Ibom Broadcasting corporation (AKBC) came into existence by Akwa Ibom State Government Edict No. 4 of 1988. It was established to address the information needs of the young stake created just a year before in order to mobilize its citizens towards the development of the state. The AKBC is an off-shot of the Cross River Television authority (CTV) established in 1983 which offered television services through a one kilowatt transmitter to a limited audience mainly of Uyo residents. There was also a booster of the Cross River Radio at Abak which operated on a ten kilowatt transmitter. Thus with the enactment of Edict No. 4 of 1988, these two studios became the nucleus of the AKBC. Contract for the expansion of the CRTV was signed in December, 1984. The expansion project finally book off with a 25 kilowatt transmitter on 12th august 1989. Contract for the construction of a frequency modulation station was also signed and both Radio Akwa FM stereo and the AKBC – TV are widely received in the state and beyond.
The AKBC has two arms, the Radio and the television services each under a director operating differently but with the coordination of the central administration where the general manager oversees the entire corporation. The radio arm has never gotten problem since its establishment that would lead to its break in transmission for and was only brought back to existence last year ie 2005.
The AKBC presently relies on government subvention and other revenue realized from it commercialization drive.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Most electronic media houses are established in the urban centres. AKBC is located in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital. NTA channel 12 at Aka Etinan Road, Uyo also in Urban centre.
This study is therefore to critically review the performance of the AKBC – television in terms of covering the affairs of Ikot Abasi. However, the questions that promoted the study are: How sensitive is AKBC – TV to realities of the rural populace. Does AKBC – TV adequately cover the rural areas of Akwa Ibom State or does it only report events in the urban centres? Thus to what extent has the AKBC television reported news events in Ikot Abasi?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are:
1. To determine the frequencies with which the AKBC TV report news in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
2. To determine the sensitivity of AKBC – TV to the realities of the rural dwellers.
3. To determine how much information on development goes to the people from the local government authority.
4. To assess if there is any electronic media coverage all in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
5. To find out whether there is any AKBC – TV correspondent in Ikot Abasi.
6. To discern the important factors influencing news reporting of the rural areas.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research question will guide this study:
1. What are the frequencies of news reports in Ikot Abasi.
2. How sensitive is AKBC – TV to the realities of the rural populace.
3. How much information on development goes to the rural people from the local government authority?
4. Is there any electronic media coverage of agencies, at all in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area?
5. Is there any AKBC correspondent in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area?
6. What are the possible factors that influence news reporting of the rural areas?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study is to find whether the AKBC Television has a lopsided nature of news coverage based on the assumption that the urban area are over reported in the news than the rural areas.
It is believed that result of this study may provide ready guiding material for not only the scholars but also the government and people of Ikot Abasi in charting their information, it will also help AKBC television to know its position in the coverage of the rural areas.
1.7 Scope of Study
It study deals with rural news reporting with regards to Ikot Abasi Local Government Area by the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation television.
It will therefore be limited to news bulletins of the AKBC television between September, 2005, and April, 2006, it will however not attempt to explain the effects of news items on any particular issue.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The following terms are used in the work are defined thus:
Assessment: This is the consideration of judgments of somebody or something.
Coverage: The act of reporting an event over an area
Electronic Media: Using expensive technology to produce and transmit public messages which include radio. Television, etc.
Development: The positive change in lives of people.
Frequency: Number of times news is reported.
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