TABLE
OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
1.2
Statement of the Problem
1.3
Purpose of the Study
1.4
Significance of the Study
1.5
Research Questions
1.6
Scope or Delimitation of the Study:
1.7
Limitation of the Study
1.8
Research Hypothesis
1.9
Operationalization of Terms
CHAPTER
TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.1 Meaning Of Community Newspaper
2.2 Brief History of community newspaper
2.3 Rationale for Community Newspaper
2.4 Benefits/Impact of Community Newspaper
2.5 Objectives of Community Newspaper
2.6 Functions of Community Newspaper
2.6 Constraints of Community Newspaper
2.8 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Target Population
3.3 Sample Size
3.4 Sampling Technique
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection
3.6 Method
of Data Collection
3.7 Validation
Of Instrument
3.8 Reliability of Instrument
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
DATA
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Analysis Of Despondence Biographical Data
4.3 Testing Of Hypothesis
4.3.1 Hypothesis One
4.3.2 Research Hypothesis
4.3.3 Research
Hypothesis Three
CHAPTER
FIVE
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
References
Appendix A
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The
phenomenal growth in mass media channels have led to an expansion of the roles
it could play in various areas apart from performing the functions of providing
information, influencing public opinion, social attitudes, entertainment and
bringing about greater social integration. In contemporary times, the media
play important role in providing information through news reports and analysis
which is beneficial in assessing political performance.
In
Nigeria, the press historically played a powerful role in motivating people to
participate in the freedom struggle during independence era years after the first
newspaper was published by Reverend Henry Townsend. This led a very solid
foundation for the expansion and growth of newspaper industry. The newspaper
industry was at the front of the fight for independence of Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
The pre and post independence press (Newspaper) brought about many innovations.
They fought colonial masters, gained their independence and also brought
development to the nation through their coverage. This development is in all
facets of human endeavor and springs across economic, social, cultural and most
importantly political aspect of the country. This development in area of
politics was attained through mobilization of the masses and the creation of
political awareness in both national and local level; using national newspaper
at national level and community newspaper at local level.
Although,
this does not mean that therefore the advent of the newspapers that political
awareness has not been. Prior to the advent of the newspaper, community development
had progressed from generation to generation. Communities and even ages grades
undertake various political programmes like elections and appointments of
village chiefs and rulers, which is peculiar to communities.
However,
in contemporary time, as newspaper has come to stay in Nigeria, it is not
possible to talk of development without mentioning politics. When we talk about
politics, the first thing that come to mind is creating awareness to let people
know about political programmes available, their right etc then mobilizing them
to participate in the programme. Therefore, for meaning national development,
it must be anchored on generating useful and effective political awareness.
In
emphasizing the role of the mass media in nation building the government should
be aware that the mass media must provide a basic national and balanced
services of news which will educate the citizen of the country. For it has been
observed that general mobilization and enlightenment of citizens for political
activities are the main factor of any development process.
However,
the area of focus in this research work should be on the print media and
community newspaper to be precise. This entails the roles it played in the past
and the role it still plays in liberating the masses from obscurity, especially
the role played during the struggle for independence for the reasons, the
various government and people have recognized the influential and powerful
nature of the community newspapers on information gathering dissemination as
well as in mobilizing the people towards a common goals. Some are still
wondering at the role of the press in molding, influencing and exerting public
opinion. However, the impact of politics has not been felt in some area due to
the people’s level of press awareness on political programmes and activities.
Generally,
the newspaper industry has experienced a lot of transformation is evident in
the rate at which many newspaper have been springing up in all nooks and cranny
of the country.
One
appreciates this development, with the development of community newspaper by
some newspaper by some newspaper houses. But how far have these community
newspaper gone in catering for political enlightenment of people at rural
areas with particular references Aguata
Local Government Area. The people at the local area comprises the bulk of the
country’s population. They are the cradle of civilization.
Aguata
Local government Area is one of the twenty-one (21) local government area
in Anambra State. It is made up of
fourteen (14) autonomous communities, with it headquarters at Ekwulobia. It is
one of the largest five local government areas in the country.
The
local government is rapidly developing industrially, commercially, socially
with rich heritage. Ekwulobia one of the communities and a growing commercial
town has been elevated to urban status by the state government. The people of
the area are mainly farmers and traders with potentialities of becoming
self-reliant in food production. Palm oil production is the dominant cash crop
in the area. The area is also famous in arts and culture as Igboukwu
archeological finding testify to this; it has the only ancestral museum in the
state.
Aguata
Local Government Area has an estimated population of about 328,324 (three
hundred and twenty eight thousand, three hundred and twenty four) people of
various age bracket and also comprises of indigenes and those that are
available are overstretched due to high increase in population and erosion
menace, this has retarded the pace of development. This neglect should be
attributed to lack of adequate knowledge of political programmes of the
government in power by the people in the area. This has always resulted in the
their choice to parties and candidates during the election of representatives.
Thus,
the primary role of community newspaper in such area is the effective
mobilization of the people towards effective political awareness.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It goes without saying that the people living in
rural areas contributes 80% of the country’s population. Mass media including
print in performing its function since
inception through demand get based or situated in the urban areas of the
country. The rural masses suffer negligence. Government in Nigeria for long
paid, lip service to development of rural areas. The national newspaper has
always has strived to present information, news, articles, features, events etc
that favour mostly the urban dwellers. These rural areas are often news-locked
as such, it exposes the rural folks to dwell mainly on town criers, opinion
leaders, market master etc for dissemination of news and information is not
effective.
One sad thing about these rural dwellers
is that most of them are illiterates and even when they receives information,
they may not understand the implication and some rural masses do not realize
the importance of their own participation in national development, many lack
basic knowledge about the country or the bare minimum political desire to cast
their votes and this calls for intensive public political awareness and
enlightenment in the area.
It is against this background that the
researcher in this study advocates for the resolution of these pressing issues
as;
1. The need for an urgent of community
newspapers
2. The
role of the community newspaper in creating political awareness among rural
dwellers.
3. The
accessibility of rural dwellers to community newspaper.
4. The
extent to which the community newspaper cater for the interest of the rural
dwellers.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
This research project
is being undertaken with several objectives in mind, and intend to look into
the following areas;
1. To find out the actual influence the community
newspapers have in creating political awareness in Aguata Local Government
Area.
2. To
provide information on the level of the exposure of the populace of Aguata
Local Government in politics and politics matters.
3. To
emphasize the importance of rural dwellers participation in politics.
4. To
enlighten the rural folks on the importance of their votes during election.
5. To
use community newspapers to attract development and investment in rural sector.
1.4 Significance of the Study
Nigeria
since independence had chequered history of government system. They have
witnessed more military regime to civilian regimes as a result, Nigerians have
not inculcated the democratic culture, they are still at the
cognitive stage where a lot of mobilization need to be created for them to know
the benefit of democratic culture. It is also imperative to educate them on the
working of a democrative government.
Thus
this research work becomes inevitable and very vital as democracy has come to
stay in our country of which Nigeria has created history in her smooth transition
from civilian government hence the study becomes imperative to governments
states, individuals and society at large.
This
study was also essential to enhance the effectiveness of community newspapers
in mobilizing the masses as well as help to unearthed some of the problem
hindering the mobilization of the people of Aguata Local Government Area by
community news paper (urban news) and offer possible solutions.
This
study is also important to help newspapers administrator to devise effective
means of creating political awareness in
their various areas of circulation.
Although
this work beams it’s search light on Aguata Local Government Area, it is also
essential to point out that most local government areas in the country are
faced with the similar situation so, the findings and recommendation reached at
the end of the country.
However,
the study besides adding to literature, will offer new grounds for further
studies.
1.5 Research Questions
For
the purpose of writing this research work, following research questions are
formulated, of which answering them will help in giving direction and order to
this work.
1.
To what extent has community newspaper
helped in the creation of political
awareness to the people of Aguata Local Government Area?
2.
Do members of the community have access
to the community newspaper?
3.
How effective is community newspaper in
getting information to the people of Aguata Local Government Area?
4.
Is there any relationship between the
people’s exposure to the community newspapers and their participation in political programmes.
5.
To what extent do community news papers
cater for the interest of the community?
1.6 Scope or Delimitation of the Study:
The
topic was chosen with the intention of finding out the impact of community
newspaper is creating political awareness at the local level. The work beams
it’s search light on Aguata Local Government Area.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
The
most limiting factor that factor that hindered the researcher was time. The
apportioned for the research work was to short for more wider comprehensive work.
Another
limiting factor to the work were finance and inadequate material resources, the
non availability of related books in the area of study was another major factor
limited the study, although the little available were judiciously used.
Another
inhibiting factor was the administration of questionnaire that were sent out
were not recovered, some were not properly filled. However, nothwithstanding
these limitation stated above, the work
was a success by imploring diplomatic measures towards appraising the research
topic thoroughly.
1.8 Research Hypothesis
1.
Ho:
There have been no improvement in using community newspaper to
create political awareness at local level.
2.
Ho:
that community newspaper has not achieved the desired objective in
creating political awareness.
3.
Ho:
That constant exposure to community newspaper is not likely to enhance
individuals attitude towards political programmes
1.9 Operationalization of Terms
1.
Newspaper:
It
is a regular printed document consisting of news reports, articles, photograph
and advertisements that are printed in large sheets of paper which are folded
together but permanently oined.
2.
Impact:
A powerful effect that
something has on something especially news on a situation of affairs on
establishment.
3.
Awareness: An act of fairing special interest in or
expe3rience of something and so bring well informed of what is happening in
that subject at the present time.
4.
Community:
People living in a particular area who are considered as a unit because of
their common interest and background.
5.
Rural
Area: Area
outside the urban area where 65 percent of Nigerians live.
6.
Urban
Area: Township where government officials and the middle
class live.
7.
Masses:
The entire citizenry. Those not in governments.
8.
Mobilization:
The creation of awareness in people with a view of changing their opinion
towards certain issues.
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