Local Newspapers Coverage of Rural Development Issues a Decade into the Fourth Republic: A Content Analysis of the Tide and Port Harcourt Telegraph Newspapers
Abstract
This study set out to detect the amount of attention given to rural development issues by Local Newspapers after Nigeria returned from a long spell of military dictatorship to democratic rule in 1999. It also determined the frequency and rate of coverage of the rural development issues by local newspapers using the method. The assessment was for a period of six months, January to June 2009, ten years into the fourth republic, and the Tide and Port Harcourt Telegraph newspapers were content analysed. A sample size of 48 copies of both newspapers was studied, (that is 25% of 192) and the random fraction was ¼. The content analysis method was used in collecting data. The data was presented in simple tables of frequency distribution and percentages. An analysis of the data showed that though the Tide covered more rural development issues than the Port Harcourt Telegraph, their total performance towards the coverage of rural development issues was poor. The paper recommended among other things that local newspapers should increase their reportage of rural development issues through their features and editorials.
How to cite this article: Iniamagha I. Local Newspapers Coverage of Rural Development Issues a Decade into the Fourth Republic: A Content Analysis of the Tide and Port Harcourt Telegraph Newspapers. J Adv Res Jrnl Mass Comm 2019; 6(4): 1-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2395.3810.201908
References
Baran SJ, Davis DK. Theories of Mass Communication. California: Mayfield Publishing Company 1995.
Bittner JR, Mass Communication, an Introduction. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1977.
Easterly W. What did structural adjustment adjust? The association of policies and growth with repeated IMF and World Bank adjustment loans. In Journal of Development Economics 2005; 76: 1-22.
Frank E, Ukpere W. The Impact of Military Rule on Democracy in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences 2012; 33: 285-292. 10.1080/09718923.2012.11893106.
Gready P, Ensor J. Reinventing Development: Translating Rights-Based Approaches from Theory into Practice, (eds), London: Zed Books Ltd 2005.
Greer HT. A brief History of the Western World , 5th Edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanich Publishers, 1987; 536-37.
Jide J. Balancing Social Responsibility with Truth Telling in Conflict situations In Eserinume McCarty Mojaye, Emily Archagba & Lai Oso (eds) (2008), Media Dialogue, Peace Building and Reconciliation: Conference Proceedings. African Council for Communication Education. Delta
State Chapter 2008.
Keller EJ. Africa in Transition: Facing the challenges of Globalisation. Havard International Review 2007; 46-51.
Kerlinger F. Foundations of Behavioural Research (2nd ed). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston
Krippendorf K. Content Analysis: An Introduction to its Methodology. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications 1980.
Kingsbury D. Poverty Alleviation and Development, in: Kingsbury, D., Mckay, J., Hunt, J., McGillivray, M. and Clarke, M. (2012), International Development: Issues and Challenges, 2nd Edition, New York: Palgrave Macmillan 2012.
Mcquail D. Media Organisational Performance Models and Research Options. London: Sage Publications Inc 1992.
Ndimele O-M, Kasarachi I. Fundamental of Mass Communication. Port Harcourt: M.J. Grand Orbit Communications Ltd, 2007.
Nnadi A. Curbing Youth Restiveness in Nigeria through Communication and Youth Empowernment In Eserinume McCarty Mojaye, Emily Archagba & Lai Oso (eds) 2008, Media Dialogue, Peace Building and Reconciliation: Conference Proceedings. Africa Council
for Communication Education. Delta State Chapter 2008.
Ohaja EU. Mass Communication Research and Project Writing. Lagos: John Letterman Ltd 2003.
Oxford Advanced Learners’ English Dictionary 7th Edition 17. Udoidem SI. Values & National Development. Lagos: Africa Heritage Research & Publications 1992.
Unegbe BN. Philosophy and National Development In Udoidem, S.I. (eds) (2002), Foundations of Philosophy and Logic. Lagos: African Heritage Research and Publications 2002.
Walizier MH, Wienir JR. Mass Media Research: An Introduction (2nd ed) . California: Wadworth Publishing Company World Bank (1981), World Development Report, Washington DC 1983.
