CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The word, ‘media’ is the plural form of the word, ‘medium’ which means a means or instrument through which something is communicated or achieved. The phrase, ‘mass media’, refers to the means, instruments, tools, etc. through which information is disseminated to reach a large, scattered and heterogeneous audience (masses) at or almost at the same time, hence the phrase, ‘mass media’. Examples of such instruments are: the radio, television, the, the newspapers and nowadays, the internet.

The mass media performs many functions in every society. It informs, educates, entertains and even unites members of the society together to move towards a certain goal. The mass media is one of the most potent instruments of communication in any given society. It disseminates messages to the masses, telling them what is right or wrong (Soumi, 2016).

According to Sambe (2008), surveillance is one of the functions that the mass media performs. Surveillance has to do with information circulation. This means that the mass media is tasked with providing information to the members of the society.

The mass media also performs the function of agenda setting.  Agenda setting here means that the mass media ‘establishes the news that the masses see and hear’ (Sanchez, 2002), emphasizing on a particular aspect of the news in order to give such aspect of the news utmost importance, thereby, making the audience take an action or actions concerning the matter raised in the news.

People involved in participation undertake a variety of behaviours. Due to the multiplicity of forms in which involvement manifests itself, investigations have focused in turn on the analysis of single specific behaviours.

Traditionally, the field which has been most intensively explored includes conventional participation, and many scholars have paid attention to the analysis of the determinants of voting (Barnes and Kaase, 1979; Blais, 2000; Dalton, 1996; Franklin, 1996; Kleppner, 1982; Muller and Jukam, 1983; Teixiera, 1992).

In recent years, however, different forms of active citizenship have come to the fore, questioning the line that marks the limit between the political and the social sphere, and blurring the established boundaries (Dalton and Wattenberg, 2000; Roker and Eden, 2002; Chisholm and Kovacheva, 2002; Machácˇek, 2001; Van Aelst and Walgrave, 2001).

Despite the increasing importance assumed by civil society and its manifestations, the extended knowledge on participatory processes has not led to a full and clear understanding of the underlying factors.

In particular, whereas a sufficient knowledge has been accumulated in the evaluation of political participation, the social variant of participation has been scarcely investigated.

Sociological surveys of changes in youth values and behaviours have emphasized that young people have progressively distanced themselves from the traditional channels of politics, and rejected party affiliation and voting as the main modes for actively participating to social and political life (Beck, 2000; Inglehart 1977; 1997). At the same time, they have pointed out that a transformation of the ways in which people participate has occurred (Agrikoliansky, 2001; Bauman, 1999; Inglehart, 1977; Mazzoleni and Masulin, 2002).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The attainment of social development goals is very dubious without ample opportunity not only to disseminate information to various parts of the society but also to communicate with them effectively.

There is a very high expectation for radio to play the central role in the dissemination of development information, among urban and rural dwellers simply because, compare to other mass media (television, newspaper or internet), and “Radio is much more pervasive, accessible and affordable” but most people would rather prefer the other means of communication to radio, probably cause of visual sake, while some sees radio as a “poor man’s thing” thereby neglecting the real thing which is the information and cause of that, those who don’t rely on the news media via radio for information cannot talk about the news content with others, and will not have a better understanding of political issues.

Finally, several researches has been carried out on the youth, political participation and decision-making but not even a single research has been carried out on radio and political awareness and participation among residents of Urue Offong Oruku.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to examine radio and political awareness and participation among residents of Urue offong Oruku. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the effect of radio on political awareness and participation among residents of Urue offong Oruko.
2. to determine the relationship between radio, political awareness and participation.
3. to determine the factors affecting radio, political awareness and participation.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.     What is the effect of radio on political awareness and participation among residents of Urue offong oruko?

2.     What is the relationship between radio, political awareness and participation?

3.     What are the factors affecting radio, political awareness and participation?

4.     What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  There is no significant effect of radio on political awareness and participation.

Hi:   There is a significant effect of radio on political awareness and participation.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on radio and political awareness and participation will be of immense benefit to the entire Urue offong Oruko in the sense that it will educate and encourage the expansion of media of all kinds as it positively affects political participation. The private media, especially radio and television stations should be given more latitude under the laws to expand their coverage given the size of the country.

The study will also enable the government to pull resources in support of literacy program in other to promote political awareness and participation. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on radio and political awareness and participation among residence is limited to Urue offong Oruko.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Time Constraints: One of the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

Financial Constraints: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Radio:      The transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves of radio frequency, especially those carrying sound messages.

Political Awareness:       The extent to which an individual pays attention to politics and understands what he or she has encountered.

Participation:                 The action of taking part in something.

Resident:        A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.