The Role Of Radio And Television In Rural Development

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY             

Communication in central to every human existence and activities, prominent scholars in the field of communication are not wrong when they defined the world as a global village owing to the sophisticated technological innovations like the radio and television sets. 

Radio and television are the two outstanding and distinguished broadcasting media. Talking about grassroot broadcasting, the radio enjoys the greatest effect. 

The radio (transistor) comes in various sizes and thus makes it relatively cheaper to afford. Because of this, the village wine tappers who can afford the small size radio, can also easily tie it to his waist enjoying his favourite programme while carrying the days business on the palm tree. 

The language barrier usually associated with some other mass media, does not show its ugly head. This is to say that the radio stations broadcast in the language of the audience (listeners), making it possible for them to understand. The rural man in this case, does not need to be literate in order to hear his own language. Even with about 250 languages scattered across Nigeria, the radio has solutions to them. 

It is the broadcasting media that can reach the widest number of listeners (audience), on the maintain, in river-line areas, and even the most remote areas. Added to this is the instantaneous nature of the radio. It has the power to broadcast an event direct, ie at the same time the event is taking place.      

On the other hand, the television combines the audio and visual effect to make it an interesting can effective medium of communication. Because of the mentioned characteristics, it could be more effective, in appealing and persuading to the public, however, the cost of the gadget now lives one in doubt especially the ruralities as to how many of them can afford it. 

Rural development as a socio-economic phenomenon, is not as new as the current emphasis on it portray. It is as old as the rural communities themselves. These communities have no doubt, recorded some degrees of development in the past. But to what extent? However, the rate of these developments have been so slow that they have either been unnoticed or neglected for many decades now. If rural development has in the past been that slow and so produced little results, then the rural machinery or agent for development must be faulty. 

Researches in the area of rural development has shown that government in the past has been looked upon as the sole agent of rural development or transformation. Suffice it to say that community contributions, towards such development as a result of this negative attitude, have been rare and minimal, if at all the exist. 

The answer to the cause of this situation is not far, it has been largely because of ignorance or lack of sufficient awareness on the ruralities. This promoted Akin Mabogunje, in his unpublished article “community organisation, and collective action” to state that “a verile community organisation cannot be sustained unless the members consciousness or awareness as to why the need the organisation is raised”. 

In the same vein community participation in 8 rural project on programme is guided by the same ideology. Jerry Gana quoting the United vations committee on Rural Development (UNCRD 1985) pointed out that the capacity of a rural community to respond to a specific local development plant and/or market force differs dramatically, depending on the socio-economic and cultural foundation of the community. 

What is being pointed out here is that rural communities need to be properly mobilized in order to create the awareness basic for appreciation and participation in any development process. In other words, they need to be educated, not in school, but to change the attitudes toward development in the society. 

Therefore, the implication is that for any rural development programme/project to be functioned and meaningful, it has to be oriented towards the people (ruralities in this case). The rural folks must have effective participation in the decision-making process of that project programme. 

As this research revolves around “development”, one can vines the concept development to mean different things to different people. 

To the first world, development suggest a process of improving structures, or greating new ones. It is in line with this thinking that the United States government stated that development of nations abroad. To them, (U.S), it means using organisation to develop other nations. In developing countries like Nigeria, the United States for Information Agency (U.S.I.A), is used in development communication. 

The second world (Maxist) sees development as a means of Ideological or geopolitical expansion. 

For the third world countries, whose characteristics include:- 

Relatively low per capital income, a high rate of illiteracy, agriculturally based economy, short life expectancy, low degree of social mobility a strong attachment to traditions, and histom, of colourization.4                  

Some writers see development as most important in the sphere of international communication. They pass this judgment because almost all activities of the third world governments are attached to the development in a manner. They also see the mass media as an instrument of development, no matter who owns the media (private or government). 

It becomes important to note that development depends on the political framework of a given nation. The degree of freedom enjoyed by the mass media is related to the political structure of the particular nation. Because these writers see the mass media as an instrument of development, they try to use the mass media to achieve developmental goal.     

International bodies like UNESCO look at development as helping the third world countries to develop. An organisation like UNESCO seems to be supports the third world demand for the New World Information and communication order (NWICO) as its perception of the concept of communication. In other words, UNESCO seems to accept the view that communication as well as other things form part of development in the third world especially when it comes to the rural areas: 

Thus, such definitions as a process of structural change in the technical, economic, political, and social arrangements by which resources attributed in a society, towards the end of providing the mass of the populations with the means of living a reasonably secure, healthy and satisfying life,5

Would appear to be much more acceptable because they reflected the positive steps currently bein taken by some writers and researchers in the development field towards extricating development studies from the dutuches of conventionalism, and apparent short sightedness. 

Which ever way development is defined, there exist remarkable agreement on the view that certain countries of the worl desperately need to acquire all or at least most of the attributes of development in virtually every aspect of lives of their people, especially the ruralities – hence rural development.

On this note, the use of radio and television to effect or realize rural development becomes most suitable and appropriate. In doing this, one socio-economic group must be identified and treated. This group is the rural dwellers, predominant illiterate, subsistent/peasant farmers. 

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

This research project tried to find out whether the hypotheses were supported through the available data, and give recommendation to government so as to help the radio and television to raise the standard of the rural people of Nzam in Anambra West L.G.A. to an urban status by providing rural development projects to them. 

In other words, various governments have been neglecting rural community in this country, and that is why most rural dwellers find life difficult, and subsequently rush to urban cities where they think that they can “enjoy” life. 

The development nature of the socio-political structure in this country has made the broadcast media highly sensitive. The broadcast media radio and television, do perform very crucial rules in shaping the destiny of the Nigerian audience. It is this vital role that has led to heavy reliance of the masses on the apparent “credibility” of the broadcast media. Such confidence – carrying remarks like “I heard it on the radio” and “I saw it on the television (screen)” go long way to unveiling the extent to which the masses took upon the broadcast media for guidance and development. 

Therefore, examined in this study was the role played by these broadcast me (radio and television) in raising the rural community awareness of development project. 

The important of this present research is to show the relationship or pattern of inter-connections between radio and television messages as agent of rural development of Nzam community. For instance, agriculture is mostly practice in rural areas of Nigeria like Nzam. This community lack electricity and therefore seemingly denied the use of some mass media like television, expect the few well-to-do, that find it difficult to be exposed to new farming techniques and newly advertiser farm products, implements etc. on the television, except for the radio. 

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

1. Are the Radio messages more effective in rural (Nzam) community development for the rural dwellers? 

2. Are the audience for radio larger than those of television in rural community especially Nzam? 

3. Do the inhabitants of Nzam have more radio set them they have television sets? 

4. Are the radio and television stations directing their programmes towards rural development? 

5. What is the attitude of rural dwellers (Nzam people) towards the radio and television programmes? 

6. What is the level of ruralities involvement in radio and television programming? 

7. What significant change(s) has been recorded by the Nzam community as a result of their exposure to radio and television? 

1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS AND NULL HYPOTHESIS     

H1: Radio plays more significant role in rural development than the television. 

Ho: Radio does not play more significant role in rural development than the television. 

H2: Radio and television programmes have been well directed toward rural development, hence the people of Nzam have been mobilized through the two media (Radio and Television). 

Ho: Radio and television have not been well directed toward rural development hence, the people of Nzam have not been mobilized through the two media (Radio and Television). 

H3: The attitude of rural dwellers on self- oriented development via television programming has been encouraging. 

Ho: The attitude of rural dwellers on self – oriented development via television programming has not been encouraging. 

H4: Even with visual advantage, financial and other constraints have render television ineffective for Nzam community. 

Ho: With the visual advantage, financial and other constraints have not render television ineffective for Nzam community. 

1.8 CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS OF THE VARIABLES 

Rural Development: It is designed to give profit or unpuliftment, such as roads, schools, hospitals, industries, market and the changes of attitudes. 

Audiences:  The assembled listeners or people to hear or listen to a speaker or witness an event. 

Ruralities: The inhabitants of rural communities who are mostly substation farmers and petty traders, and mainly illiterates. 

Community: Human settlement located within a particular geographical or local territory, sharp things together and identical in culture. 

Television: It is a system for converting visual images (with sound) into electrical signals, transmitting them and displaying them electronically on a screen. Or a process of transmitting a view of event, plays etc, while these are taking place or from films or tapes on which records have been made. 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION 

Rural Development: Projects executed by the people of Nzam community such as rural feeder, raods, good drinking water, health center, schools and the current electrification project. 

Ruralities: The inhabitant of Nzam community in Anambra West L.G.A, Anambra State. 

Audiences: The people of Nzam who are expose to the radio and television messages and programme. 

Community: Nzam inhabitants. 

1.9 ASSUMPTION 

1. This study assumes that about two-thirds of the people of Nzam community are illiterate farmers. 

2. That because majority of the people cannot read and write, radio and television will be more effective in carrying the message of development. 

3. That people who are not exposed like the Nzam community see development project as the sole responsibility of the government. 

4. That if the results of the findings and the recommendations are followed, rural communities will be seen competing for self help project which contributes to rural development. 

5. It is assumed that the youths in rural areas migrate from rural to urban areas due to lack of infrastructural facilities which keep life “enjoyable”, in this rural base. 

6. That communities who are more exposed to the mass media (specifically radio and television), are more development conscious than those who are not.    

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 

Other mass media like the newspapers, cinema, billboards, etc are deliberately excluded from this study since emphasized is on television and radio. 

Due to time constraints and limited financial resources of the researcher, the study is in Nzam Community in Anambra to enable him reach the sample population easier. 

The questions administered were limited to adults from 18 years old who understand what rural development entails. 

REFERENCES 

1. David O Edeani: Lecture Note on Rural Development, 

1995. 

2. Robert N. Aknobi: Integrated Rural Development in 

Nigeria: The Anambra State Experience, In Mass Communication and National Development, Ike E. Nwosu (ed), Frontier Publishers Ltd. Aba. 1990 page 5.  

3. Sigimund N. OIkenwa:  Language As a Problem of 

Broadcasting in Nigeria, In Mass Communication and National Development Ike E. Nwosu (ed), Frontier Publishers Ltd. Aba, 1990 

p. 167. 

4. Ike E. Nwosu: The Rural Press as a Vital 

Component of the Rural Information System. IN Mass Communication and National Development, Ike E. Nwosu (ed) Frontier Publishers Ltd. Aba. 1990 page 189.  

5.  Christopher O. A.: Newspaper and Radio Messages as 

Agents of Social Mobilization A study of Adada Community, An Unpublished Thesis of HND Mass Communication of I.M.T. Enugu, July 1985.