CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Radio is an audio medium. As a mass medium, it has the capacity to cut through the barriers of illiteracy and poor infrastructural facilities which could limit the ability of the print media to reach large audiences. Community radio is a recent concept in mass communication. Community radio stations are established to facilitate community development and social change. In addition, radio has other peculiarities which make it the true mass medium, in terms of reaching a mass audience in the developing world. In fact, it has, therefore been identified as the best mass medium at the country’s level of development for the education of rural dwellers (Moemeka, 1981:33).

Radio as a catalyst for development, is relatively cheap and can operate without electricity; it is therefore more within the reach of Third World populations than television which can also transcend such barriers also illiteracy and infrastructural facilities.

Finally; radio is portable, and transistor radio sets are widely owned all over the Third World, even in remote rural areas. In most developing countries, radio is by far the most widely – used mass medium.

The first community radio was established in the 1940s in the Americas. The most notable were the radio stations of the Bolivian tin-mining communities. The Europeans commenced Community Broadcasting in the 1960s. However it was not until the 1980s that the trend became firmly entrenched. The African continent experienced the most rapid proliferation of the Community Broadcasting phenomenon. This was contingent upon the collapse of state monopoly over broadcasting, consequent up, the fillip that was engendered by democratic tenets, human rights and sustainable development. South Africa became the trail blazer in the development of community broadcasting in the continent; with a total of one hundred and fifteen (115) community radio stations. The means or implies that with the establishment of the community and station, development can easily be drawn to the community and the rural people will see glorious limelight.

In Nigeria, research evidence shows that the use of radio as a medium of information is truly widespread, even among rural populations (Okunna, 1992; Okigbo, 1990; Sonowale and Sobanmu, 1984). But the fact still remains the same. The governments at all levels had refused to establish the community radio in the rural areas. It has, therefore, been identified as the best mass medium at the country’s level of development for the education of rural dwellers (Moemeka, 1981:33)

Again, this was followed by Mali and Senegal with eighty six (86) and forty six (46) radio stations in each. Other African Countries that enjoy a proliferation of community radio stations include Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Zambia. The question goes this way, what was the catalyst for the advent of community broadcasting? To answer this question, it would be imperative or important to comprehend the emergence of the dominant old models of state broadcasting which were challenged by private media organizations. Private commercial media contributed to the plurality of listener choice, but tended to pay scant attention to the needs and concerns of the poorer sections of society.

Community broadcasting was closely associated with the concept of more participatory models of democracy, and the recognition that core development goals such as the reduction of poverty could be more effectively achieved by empowering and giving voice to poor people who reside permanently in the rural areas. Where it had been established, it had become clear that community broadcasting could play a specific and crucial role in encouraging public participation, providing access to information and giving a voice, to poor and marginalized groups.

To be exact, the above statement is not a guessing one or work but it denotes that community radio is a catalyst for rural development and it is also there to sensitize on what they ought to do so that development will be theirs.

In explaining the popularity of radio in Nigeria, and by implication other developing countries, with specific reference to ruralities. Okigbo (1990:57) brings out some of the advantages of radio:

The attraction radio has for rural dweller is derived from its cheap price and cost of operation. Again, they (radio sets) are easily portable and can be used by both the educated and illiterate. At the state level, some radio stations broadcast more than 80 percent of their programmes in the vernacular languages.

Indeed, programming in community radio should be tailored to meet the needs and concerns of the local community. Nigeria should join the growing member of African countries that have filly embraced and are implementing community radio. South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Ghana, Benin Republic, among others are at different stages of community radio development.

The federal and state government need not continue expanding the radio stations under their control. Community radio is what African communities need for full integration, participation and involvement in their societies through information, entertainment, education and communication. Government should now provide a legal framework as well as an enabling environment for the proliferation of community radio in Nigeria. It is in interest of the nation as a whole.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Although the conditions of existence in the rural areas are differed, their interests are not entirely different, from those of the urban residents. Our mass media have been trying to identify the varying interests the city dwellers and to satisfy them. They give accounts of politics involving those in the cities. But those ugly things happening in the rural areas are not reported, especially in Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State. They also write on and discuss urban economic and social activities and urban mishaps. Are similar activities not taking place in the rural areas? This is the sole reason why there should be the establishment of the community radio in the rural areas, so that their needs can easily be channeled through it, to the government.

Aderanti Adepoju (1982) writes this about rural areas in Nigeria: “Living conditions in rural areas are relatively poor and remunerative non-farm employment opportunities are scare. Besides, rural areas still lack basic social amenities.” According to him, “….both roads, hospital and schools located in urban areas are often of better quality than the few amenities in the rural areas.” In fact, his notable quote is in line with what the rural dwellers are facing today in their areas.

The rural interest cannot be anything other than what gives the rural residents hope, reports about actions to better their living would be of interest to the rural people. It would be of interest to them to read about their own efforts, to improve their lot, the problems they encounter daily, their ingenuities in tackling their problems and facts in the different facets of life. It would be of interest to the rural people to learn about struggles for the sitting of certain community projects in their villages or clans, and the spread of social amenities in their local government areas as well as patterns of political support in their communities. Stories on accounts of community funds and reports of any embezzlement would also be of interest to them. So would it be of interest to them to read about robbery incidents in their villages. A lot of these happen and are not reported in our mass media.

Some of these communities have Health Centre. Reports of births at these centres and the expertise of the midwives would also be of interest to the rural people. Mysterious deaths occur frequently in the rural areas. So children are struggling against the tide for survival having lost their parents. Reports of these and obituaries of rural personalities would be of interest to the rural communities. Governments from all levels, should look at these enormous predicaments facing the ruralists, so that these problems, will be tackled critical and the community radio be established, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, so that there will be sense of belonging amongst the rural people.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The primary objective or aim of this study is to find out the relevance of Community Radio, in our contemporary society with particular reference to Port Harcourt City Local Government of Area of Rivers State. Specifically, this research work will do the following:

1. Determine the problems encountered in using Community Radio in the rural areas as a whole.
2. Determine the influence of Community Radio on the lives of the rural people.

iii.      Find out the relationship between Community Radio and development.

1. Find out how Community Radio is used as a veritable tool for rural development.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What is the relevance of Community Radio in rural areas?
2. What is the influence of Community Radio on the lives of the people living in rural areas?

iii.      Is Community Radio truly, a veritable tool for solving problems in rural areas?

1. To what extent does Community Radio serves as a catalyst for development in the rural areas as a whole?

1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:    There is no significant relationship between radio and community development.

HA:   There is significant relationship between radio and community development.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will assist or aid student researchers to discover the place of Community Radio in rural areas in particular and Nigeria in general. The rural communities in Rivers State will find this research work very imperative because it will explain in detail the veritable machineries that Community Radio used in solving the problems in rural areas.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work is designed to inform both rural and urban dwellers that Community Radio is truly a tool and a catalyst for rural development.

1.7     OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Radio: Radio is seen as one of the channels of mass communication. It is also regarded as an electronic or audio medium.

Community Radio: Is a non-profit oriented broadcasting at the service of social economic development within communities.

Development: Development can be defined in terms of better nutrition, low mortality rate and broad choice of consumption, capital accumulation, stilled labour formation and technological progress. It can also be seen as “a process concerned with people” capacity, period, to manage and induce change.