THE RELEVANCE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA ON PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT ON COVID-19 AND ITS PREVENTIVE MEASURES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the Study

The electronic media, as the realm's fourth estate, plays a crucial role in educating the public on health related issues. Flora et al. (2011) described the four positions that the electronic media can play in health intervention many decades ago, including the first, which they called media as trainer, the second, which they called media as supporter, the third, which they called media as programme promoter, and the fourth, which they called media as supplement. The four elements have different appearances, but they can be used together or separately.For example, the electronic media's role as an educator involves informing the public about public health issues especially in the face of the prevalent pandemic. The goal of education is to ensure that the general public is psychologically prepared with knowledge that can act as a checklist for their actions in the face of the outbreak of any disease. The electronic media, according to Kim and Noriega (2020), is an important part of health education. According to the researchers, one of the ways the electronic media can do this is through a mix of knowledge and entertainment and sharing health related contents on electronic media platforms such as Radio and Television. Okim-Alobi and Okpara [2019] believe that the electronic media provides a formidable forum for disseminating health knowledge to the general public.

The out break of Covid-19 led to upsurge in health crisis globally from its first mention in Wuhan China disrupting not just health but social and economic activities.Astonishingly, in the first three months after COVID-19 emerged Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, a devastating number of new cases were reported across China and several countries around the world.  And it was finally declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 2020 (WHO 2020). Evidence indicates that COVID-19 transmitted through respiratory droplets via contact routes such as the mouth, nose, and conjunctiva or eyes (UNICEF 2020).

During this period of crisis,electronic media are meant to be uses as an instrument of creating awareness to the public as well passing relevant information regarding the novel corona virus. Therefore it is on this note that this study seek to examine the relevance of electronic media on public enlightenment on Covid-19 and its preventive measures.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Coverage is the most basic way for the electronic media to inform the general public on public health problems. This can be accomplished by techniques such as regularly reporting public health concerns, recommending acceptable health behavior, and proposing measures to help combat the issues that have been identified. Educating the general public on health issues is akin to training soldiers for battle. As a result, if possible, this should be achieved before the health problem becomes a pandemic. This is critical because it will allow them to take proactive measures.What this means is that where possible, it is better for the media to educate the general public about health pandemics well ahead of time before there is a confirmed case within their locality. Within the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), local media did not need to wait until there is a confirm case of the virus in their country before educating the general public about its symptoms, prevention and recommend action for the government to take. Unfortunately, previous studies  that have examined electronic media coverage did not take this aspect into account. Thus it is against this backdrop that this study is focus on investigating the relevance of electronic media on public enlightenment on Covid-19 and its preventive measures.

1.3 Objective of the study

The purpose of this study is to  examine the relevance of electronic media on public enlightenment on Covid-19 and its preventive measures. Specifically this study seeks:

1. To determine the frequency of the usage of electronic media on COVID-19 causes and preventive measures in Nigeria.

2. To examine different types of electronic media used  the enlighten the public on the Covid-19 and its safety guidelines.

3. To ascertain if electronic media stories made suggestions to the government on the cause and spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria.

4. To determine if electronic media stories on COVID-19 recommended appropriate health behaviour necessary for the prevention of covid-19.

1.4 Significance of the study

The study in it entirety will be beneficial to the body of knowledge. Specifically it will expose government and private owned media on the need to ensure that panic-free information on covid-19 portrayed to the society. It will enable media presenters come with creative and development oriented program to ensure that the spread of of corona virus is reduced to the barest minimum. It will equip the masses with firsthand information on the need to comply with safety measures as advertised on the electronic media for their personal health benefit as this would reduce the number of the spread of the novel disease.

1.5 Scope of the study

This study is aimed at  examining the relevance of electronic media on public enlightenment on Covid-19 and its preventive measures using electronic media such Wazobia Radio and AIT Television as a case study.

1.6 Research Question

1. What is the frequency of the usage of electronic media on COVID-19 causes and preventive measures in Nigeria?

2. What are the  different types of electronic media used  the enlighten the public on the Covid-19 and its safety guideline?

3. Do you think  electronic media stories made suggestions to the government of Nigeria on the causes and preventive measures of covid-19?

4. Do you  think electronic media via stories on COVID-19 recommended appropriate health behaviour necessary for the prevention of covid-19?

1.7 Limitation of Study
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8.Operational Definition

Relevance: relevance is the degree to which something is related or useful to what is happening or being talked about.

Media:The term media, which is the plural of medium, refers to the communication channels through which we disseminate news, music, movies, education, promotional messages and other data.

Electronic Media:Electronic media are media that use electronics or electro-mechanical means for the audience to access the content.

Preventive Measures:Preventive Measures encompass a variety of interventions that can be undertaken to prevent or delay the occurrence of disease or reduce further transmission or exposure to disease

Public Enlightenment: this is process or  act of giving someone or people  knowledge,briefing or awareness about a particular discuss or situations

Curb: curb is the act or influence of limiting the occurrence of something.stopping the rate at which something happens

Covid-19:Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is defined as illness caused by a novel corona virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2.