CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Radio is an essential mass medium that virtually
every member of the society benefits from. Kuewumi (2009) asserts that Radio
has radicalized the face of human communication and ultimately become a fixed
point in the daily lives of humans whereby people are informed, taught,
nurtured and reformed by way of relaxation, reinvigoration and resuscitation.
This he argued, makes radio as a medium of mass communication being constantly
sought after by its ardent listeners. Radio is the wireless transmission of signals
through free space by electromagnetic radiation of a frequency significantly
below that of visible light, in the radio frequency range, from about 30 kHz to
300GHz (Wikipedia, 2015).
Egbuchulam (2002) defined radio as a mobilizer and
a formidable factor in the new world order in economy, technology and politics.
Radio is best described as the cheapest, safest and the most effective medium
of communication available to man. According to Onabajo (1999), in the
developing world as in Asia and Africa, radio is cheap; it does not cost much
compared to television which is expensive. It is also portable i.e. it can be
easily transported from one place to another. It is credible as it transmits
messages that its listeners hold important. Radio can also present news as it
happens, brings the voices of news makers and artists into the homes of
listeners. It also provides dramatic shows and other entertainment, which
listeners can visualize even in the absence of visuals. For that reason, radio
enjoys the advantage of simultaneity. It requires little effort of its
consumers to comprehend its message. It is a good companion that entertains and
informs its listeners.
Kuewumi (2009) asserted that imagine a world
without radio; it will be like a garden without flowers and trees. Radio daily
feeds us with information, teaches us and calms our nerves. If radio is well understood
and its potentials realized, hardly will there be any one that will live
without a radio. Many anxious moments will be healed.” Radio is a vehicle for
projecting personality through which it attracts and holds an audience. It is
an efficient instrument for getting a message to a large number of people at
the same time, because it transcends the boundary of space and time, and also
leaps across illiteracy barriers (Onabajo, 1999).
Egbuchulam (2002) asserts that radio has been a
major communication tool for improving the quality of people’s lives, bringing
to their doorstep news, entertainment and education through its programmes.
Despite the world wide enchantment with the internet and web-based learning,
radio still retains the advantage of being able to serve dispersed, isolated,
and disadvantaged communities aspiring to overcome the barriers of illiteracy
and physical distance in many countries. Listeners use and relate to radio in
very different ways compared to other media. Listeners use radio for various reasons
one of which is for emotional support, to keep their spirits up through
programmes, and the result will determine to a large extent the attitude
listeners would have to programmes. People listen to radio to be informed,
entertained, educated, follow their favourite football team, and follow fashion
trends or popular music, among others.
According to Oliveira, Portela, & Santos
(2012), it is assumed that listeners make their own interpretations of a radio
programme – if the presentation includes something they can relate to,
something familiar. The encounter between the radio programme and the listener
is regarded as a meaning making process within a cultural context.
This meaning making process is influenced by a
variety of factors, such as the radio programme topic, design and the
socio-cultural variations in experiences, knowledge and cultural dispositions.
“The figures of those who listen to radio continue to increase thus indicating
an increasing affinity for the free and participatory opportunities offered by
radio stations” (Bamgboye, 2013). Radio plays an integral role in providing its
listener with news, music and other programmes, while also acting as a voice
that represents them as well as the society at large. It is therefore no
argument that radio serves as a means of communication. In the aspect of
information, radio provides information in terms of news that is, the
day-to-day information within and outside the country. Radio also encourages
its listener to know more about entertainment, education, and politics; they
can also participate through phone-in programmes, talk shows and motivational
programmes. Radio generally helps to broaden the knowledge intellectually and
morally.
Federal University of Technology Minna Campus
Radio popularly known as Search FM 92.3 is a campus radio located in Minna, and
they poised themselves to have given the best of information on the latest
events and stuffs happening around the world. The station is striving hard to
give to the society the best in the world of radio broadcasting. Since her
inception, Search FM 92.3 Campus Radio of Federal University of Technology,
Minna has been able to reach the world and make positive impact on the students
& staff of Federal University of Technology, Minna and also more greatly on
the Community Host of Minna and its environs.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The significance of radio in informing, educating,
and entertaining students in the educational institution is not in doubt, and
it is one way by which they keep in touch with the contemporary world. It can
be assumed that before the advent of radio, information on what is happening
outside the school premises especially in the educational and social world was
(would be) difficult to discern by students. Even after the advent of radio and
going a step further to establish campus radio stations, there is still doubt
as to how many students are aware of what is happening beyond the walls of
their school premises, and in the global world. As students, especially of
higher institutions, it is imperative that they keep abreast of goings-on
around them, in the country and the world at large. It is worthy to note that
the residents in the states where campus radio stations are located also
benefit by listening to radio station that is been moderated by youth and
intellectuals whose energetic nature will offer the best in terms of news,
entertainment, education and information. This study therefore seeks to examine
the listenership level and perception of Federal University of technology Minna
campus radio programs.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the listenership level and perception of Federal University of
technology Minna campus radio programs
2. To
determine factors affecting the listenership level of Federal University of
technology Minna campus radio programs.
3. To
examine the perception of the public on the quality of program aired on Federal
University of technology Minna campus radio.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What
is the listenership level and perception of Federal University of technology
Minna campus radio programs?
2. What
are the factors affecting the listenership level of Federal University of
technology Minna campus radio programs?
3. What
is the perception of the public on the quality of program aired on Federal
University of technology Minna campus radio?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no significant
relationship between listenership level and perception of Federal University of
technology Minna campus radio programs.
HA: There is significant relationship
between listenership level and perception of Federal University of technology
Minna campus radio programs.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the significance of this study:
1. The
outcome of this study will educate the students, education administrators and
the general public on the relationship between listenership level and
perception of Federal University of technology Minna campus radio programs. It
will also reveal the advantages of listening to campus radio stations.
2. This
research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the
listenership level and perception of the public on campus radio station and its
programs, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in
the subject area.
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is limited to residents in Minna, Niger
State where Federal University of technology Minna campus radio is located.
REFERENCES
Bamgboye,
O. S. (2013). Media Categories [lecture note]. Retrieved from Unpublished
lecture note: Introduction to Educational Broadcasting.
Egbuchulam,
(2002). Broadcasting: Challenges for the Private Media. Vanguard Newspaper.
Kuewumi,
J.B. (2009). Radio: How it Impacts the Listener Personally. Babcock University
Mass Communication Journal, 2(1), 138-149.
Oliveira,
M., Portela, P., & Santos, L.A. (Eds.). (2012). Radio-the Forgotten Medium
for Users Creative Mental Interaction and Co-production. Braga, University of
Minho Press.
Onabajo,
S. (1999). Essentials of Broadcast Writing and Production. Lagos: Gabi Concept
Ltd.