NEWSPAPER READING HABIT OF THE YOUTHS IN OJI RIVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU

NEWSPAPER READING HABIT OF THE YOUTHS IN OJI RIVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU

ABSTRACT

Reading stimulates imagination, encourages quick learning, widen views, expand horizons and enhances understanding about different people and places. It also promotes imagination and curiosity. Conversely, the latter part of the 20^th century is known as the “electronic age”. It is estimated that 97% of the homes have atleast one television set. Children who come from homes without television are likely to view programmes in schools, at friends house and in stores. Almost every youth is exposed to television. This research work was aimed at determining the newspaper reading habit of the youths in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State as oppose to television viewing habit. The researcher employed the survey design using questionnaire which were distributed to youths using the simple random sampling technique. It was observed during the survey that youths prefer television viewing over newspaper reading as 93% of youths respondents stated. It was further discovered that although some youths have access to newspaper, only a pitiable 6.7% of the youths respondent prefer newspaper reading over television viewing. The researcher therefore encourage imbibing of reading culture into the heart and minds of the youths from the very tender age, while urging parents, guardians and every relevant agencies to always make newspaper and other reading materials available for the youths. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                PAGES

Title page    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Certification         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Acknowledgements -               -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Abstract -   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Table of contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vi

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the study         -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2     Statement of the problem        -        -        -        -        -        -        7

1.3     Objectives of the study  -        -        -        -        -        -        8

1.4     Research questions        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        9

1.5     Significance of the study         -        -        -        -        -        -        9

1.6     Scope of the study         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        10

1.7     Definition of terms         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        11

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0     Introduction         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        12

2.1     The Media (Television/Newspaper) as the 4^th

          Estate of the realm         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        12

2.2     Media Functions and Dysfunctions  -        -        -        -        15

2.3     Concept of youth violence       -        -        -        -        -        -        22

2.4     Need for effective reading culture      -        -        -        -        23

2.5     Television watching, newspaper reading and cohort

          Differences in verbal ability     -        -        -        -        -        29

2.6     The influence of television on youths         -        -        -        30

2.7     Factors responsible for poor reading culture       -        -        31

2.8     Television viewing children’s reading habit

          and related classroom behavior        -        -        -        -        -        36

2.9     Importance of reading    -        -        -        -        -        -        38

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0     Introduction         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        45

3.1     Research design    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        45

3.2     Research population      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        45

3.3     Research sample  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        45

3.4     Research instrument      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        46

3.5     Method of data collection        -        -        -        -        -        -        46

3.7     Method of data analysis -        -        -        -        -        -        47     

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1     Data analysis       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        48

4.2     Discussion of findings   -        -        -        -        -        -        56

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0     Introduction         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        59

5.1     Summary    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        59

5.2     Conclusion -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        60

5.3     Recommendations         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        61

REFERENCES   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        62

Appendix I -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        65

Appendix II (Questionnaire)   -        -        -        -        -        -        66

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

          Reading can be defined as the process of looking at, and comprehending the meaning of written and printed words from the visual representation of symbols. It involves recognition and sometimes verbalization of symbols which represent sounds in human speech. Taiwo in Journal of Research in Education and Society (Vol. 2 No1, April 2001), sees reading as taken place when the reader understands what has been encoded. Hence, comprehension is  at the centre of reading. Reading facilitates the teaching and learning process and has saved the human race over the years. Reading is a process that requires the use of complex thought procedures to interpret symbols as meaningful units, and comprehend them is a though unit, in order to understand a printed message. It also involves the giving of interpretation of written symbols mentally. The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Second Edition), defines reading as the skill or activity of getting information from books. The Webster New World Dictionary (1986) also sees reading as the act or practice of a person who reads or studies books. According to Dorothy (2002), reading is a total integrative process that starts with the reader and includes the following domains: the affective, the perceptual and the cognitive.

1.     The effective domain: Includes our feelings and emotions for instance, if we have adverse feelings about certain things, these feelings will probably influence how we interpret what we read. Our feelings can also influence what we decided to read.

2.     Perception: This can be defined as giving meaning to sensations or the ability to organize stimuli on a field. How we organize stimuli depends largely on our background of experiences and on our sensory receptors. In the act of reading, visual perception is the most important factor. Eye movement influences the reader’s perception.

3.     Cognitive domain: Cognitive domain involves thinking, and skills of comprehension. Persons who have difficulty in thinking for instance would obviously have difficult in reading. Readers who have faulty perceptions will also have faulty concepts. Okebukola (2004) affirm that, through reading, humans have the tools to transmit knowledge to each succeeding generation; it does allow one to listen to the wisdom and people of all ages. Jah, the creator chooses to relate with us through reading of his inspired words. To Douglas (2000), every child needs to become fully competent in reading in order to succeed in school and to discharge responsibilities as a citizen of a democratic society. A citizens who reads has the capacity to actively participate in the continuity of learning. Reading is the foundation of much of the enjoyment the individual gets in life and is closely related to vocational efficiency. Reading provides a background of information which reduced ignorance thus empowering and promoting literacy and connection.

          According to Okusaga (2008), reading is the only form of entertainment that is also, an essential life skill. Reading doesn’t just happen; it is a skill that must be nurtured from a child’ earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers. Children need help to develop their ability to read so they could comprehend subjects better at school. Ndimele (2001), notes, whereas aimed communication is biologically transmitted from parents to their offspring, human language is not. Human language is culturally transmitted so long as children are exposed to the language of their parents. Most children with learning disabilities have problems with reading and related language skills.

          Conversely, the television is a system of communication where the image of the scene can be transmitted and produced to another place without the viewer having any problem in recording the information. It is the transmission of information accompanied with sound. According to Mowers (2006) as cited in 1927, congress introduced the US broadcasting system to “help to serve the public interest” the television set has two main purposes, one is to provide a voice for those communities who haven’t been heard, and the other is to increase the understanding of the world.

          In Nigeria, television was first introduced in Ibadan in 1959, it was called Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) Dow Nigerian Television Authority Ibadan. The Benue Plateu Television now NTA Jos in 1974 was the first television station to transmit coloured pictures to the homes of Nigeria (NBC 2009). Today, almost every state capital has at least one television station. In 1993, licenses were issued for the transmission of cable signals to many homes in Nigeria (NBC 2006).

          In Enugu State, NTA Enugu was the first station to commence transmission of signals. Over the years, other station e.g. Enugu State Television (EST), Africa Independent Television (AIT) and most recently cable networks-Multichoice Nigeria (DSTV) Communication Trends Limited (CTL), Cable Mission Television (CMTV) amongst others. These cable networks provide 24 hours of programming.

          Television stations the world over are established to serve the interest of both the people and the government of the day. Television in Nigeria plays a vital role of informing as well as entertaining, thus, helping in nation building. When the television was first introduced in Nigeria, it was the entertainment programmes that caught ad held the attention of the audiences. These programmes as was observed, had very low educational content; this perhaps had a lot to do with the literacy level in the country.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

          The importance of acquiring reading skills for individual’s success in lie cannot be over-emphasized. It is a known fact that prior to the advert of televisions, handsets and computers, people spent hours reading books and travel to land for away in their minds, today, people have lost their passion to reading because there are several other exciting options available. Although some people claim there is no observable impact of television on youths. Dietz and Strasburger (1991) asset that television has the potentials to generate both positive and negative effects. A study carried out in America and published in 1989 in journalism quarterly revealed that in sixty six hours of prime time network Tv, there were in all 722 instances of sexual behaviours ranging from verbal expression, erotic touching to intercourse, masturbation, homosexuality and incest.

          It is against this background that the researcher is carrying out the study to ascertain if the youths of Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu state preferred viewing of television over Newspaper reading or vice versa and its effect in them.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are:

a.     To find out the observable impact of the media (Television/Newspapers) on the youths of Oji Rivers, Enugu State.

b.    To find out why television viewing is preferable to Newspaper reading or vice-versa by the youths in Oji Rivers Enugu State.

c.      To determine the newspaper reading culture of youths in homes without television  set

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          In view of the nature of this research, attempt aimed at answering the following questions will be made.

1.     To what extend do television viewing influence newspaper reading habits of youths in Oji River?

2.     Why do youths preferred television viewing over newspapers reading?

3.     What role should parent played with a view to shaping their children (youths) outlook of the media (television/newspapers).

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          All over the country there has been the general feeling among Nigerians that reading culture has been the missing link in the educational development of a nation. People are worried that there has been a high rate of decline in the reading culture among school children in Nigeria. Close observational studies of youths/students within the academic environment of the researcher shows that the most youths read only during exams and seldom read newspapers where as the few that read newspapers, do so simply for knowledge and pleasure. Sadly though what is happening at present is that the youths/students reading culture has now been taken over by watching of home videos, televisions programmes and the internet surfing for games, social interactions with foreign friends and other less beneficial indulgences.

          The outcome of this research will certainly spell out Oji Rivers Youths media preferences. It will also create the awareness of the danger inherent in spending inordinate time in television viewing and the role of parents/guardian in youths television viewing or newspaper reading habits.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          The research concerns itself with the preference of newspapers reading or television viewing habits of youths in Enugu State (Oji Rivers) to be precise. It will look at the alleged negative contributions of the media (Television/newspapers) on the youths and factors responsible for poor reading culture on the youths of Oji River Enugu State.

1.7     DEFINITION OF TERMS

a.     Youth: This refers to an early life, period of being young especially the period between a child, and being fully grown. Fifteen years to twenty-four years. (15-24 yrs).

b.    Press: Newspapers and Magazines, and those parts of television and radio which broadcast news, or reporters and photographers who work for them.