Thesis Abstract

This project is aimed to show the impact of electronic media on the development of rural area. It also examined how people react to information they get through radio and television set, and the effect it has on them in terms of language, fashion and the way of life generally using questionnaire  and interviews guides as data sources.

       In this project, hypothesis were tested and analysed using ANOVA theory. In the analysis of the data, Anova was used to test the hypothesis because all the hypothesis tends to find the  impact of electronic media on rural development.

Thus, the study was to enable the researcher to elicit information, in an attempt to provide answers to the following research

a.     The significant difference between Rural elites and rural illiterates in their reception.

b.     The significant difference between the rural elites and the illiterates in their level of exposure to education and enlightenment programmes.

c.      The significance difference in the appropriateness of language used in programmes presentation between the rural elites and rural illiterates

d.      The significant difference in the acceptability of programme timing between the rural elites and rural illiterates.

     Apparently, the research work has shown that the people of new Eruwa accepts radio and television programmes because of the effect of the programmes positively on their lives and environment.

Thesis Overview

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Electronic media of communication, when skillfully used has proved to be the most effective media of communication with terrific immediacy. When faced with the issue of trying to inform large audience of widely dispersed rural semi literate or stack illiterate people about new ideas, products or information that can improve their lives, the most promising solution is to basically to employ  the services of electronic media {Bogue 1979}.This statement suitable describes the radio and indeed the television. It also describes the influence of broadcast media on every aspect of our lives.

Electronic media, especially radio cannot only reach people and areas otherwise inaccessible, but also serves a direct instrument education social change and cultural enhancement. Radio and television are agents of social change because they lead to changes in attitude, beliefs and skills which can be no substantial rural development.

    Considering the low level of literacy among the rural dwellers, the impact of print journalism will obviously be very restrictive and limited. This makes electronic broadcast media to be more effective and efficient media for rural development.

However, radio is cheaper and transistorized set are widely known. Therefore, no radio sets are bought annually than television and therefore, information carried on radio has a good chance of getting across to larger proportion of the entire population of the rural areas.

     Nonetheless, for any meaningful development to take place in the rural areas, rural communities needs to be properly mobilized in other to create  the awareness basic  for appreciation and participation in any development process.