ABSTRACT

This study is to access the role of Media in National Development in two government owned media in Nigeria (Television and Radio). In doing this, the two selected media federal Radio cooperation of Nigeria FRCN and Nigeria Television Authority NTA Enugu are surveyed as a case study in which differences were discovered which states that television is needed most than radio in National Development due to some added advantages. That there are some essential and fundamental differences in the role which each medium play in National development. The combination of audio visual gives television greater advantages in role national development. Finally summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations were made at the end.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Communication is the process of sending message from one point to another and the content of the message is called information. Information pervades the whole spectrum of life it is a treasure to a nation community and the world at large. Every sphere of life will remain static without well packaged information. Information to a reasonable extent is an asset, a resource, a commodity with social, economic and political consequences. According to (Unoh 1991) cited by (Okoro and Agbo (2003: 1).

Communication as an activity or an experience is so basic to all human affairs and situations that practically, every normal person recognizes its importance, feels its effectiveness, and laments its breakdown, in various human communication settings.

Just as communication is indispensable in human activity, the mass media especially Radio and television are very vital to the mobilization of a large, heterogeneous people for any activity of interest to them and the society at large. For people to be expected to contribute their quota in the achievement of any development programme, they need not just to known about the existence of such programme but to be adequately informed about the nature of the programme, the level of contribution required from them, the merits and demerits of parts of participating or not participating in executing the programmes. The people also need to have opportunity or avenue to reach out their leaders (government) on how they think the society could be bettered in the interest of all. Herein lays the importance of mass media in any society.

The mass media are channels through which ideas, experience, values or message sought are shared with or relayed to a large (mass heterogeneous, scattered audience). Mass media could also be defined as device for moving messages across distance or time to accomplish mass communication. The expression “mass media” has also been used to refer to technical device through which mass communication is achieved. Media fall within two categories – print (newspapers, magazines, books, journal etc) and electronic (radio, television etc) media. They make communication possible from a source to an infinite number of persons.