ATTENTION:
BEFORE YOU READ THE ABSTRACT OR
CHAPTER ONE OF THE PROJECT TOPIC BELOW, PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW.THANK
YOU!
INFORMATION:
YOU CAN GET THE COMPLETE
PROJECT OF THE TOPIC BELOW. THE FULL PROJECT COSTS N5,000 ONLY. THE FULL
INFORMATION ON HOW TO PAY AND GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS
PAGE. OR YOU CAN CALL: 08068231953, 08168759420
CHALLENGES
OF CAMPUS RADIO BROADCASTING IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: A STUDY OF BSU FM 89.9
MAKURDI
ABSTRACT
The study
assessed the challenges of campus radio broadcasting in Nigerian Universities,
using BSU FM as a point of focus. The study was anchored on the Technological Determinism
theory and the Development Media Theory. The survey research method was adopted
with the questionnaire and unstructured interview as the instruments for data
collection. Findings from the study showed that Campus radio stations have
enormous challenges confronting them, ranging from power supply, manpower,
finance, to lack of effective management or unqualified managers. The study
also found out the prospects of running campus radio stations when effectively
managed. The study therefore concluded that campus radio stations in Nigerian
universities have to overcome many challenges ranging from funding, equipment,
manpower, lack of constant power supply, lack of students participation, poor
management structure amongst others. To this end, the study amongst other
recommendations, suggests that any university or other tertiary institutions
trying to establish campus radio stations should take into cognizance these
challenges and spell out measures to bring them to a barest minimum or curb
them before even acquiring a license.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of Study
The personal
and unique character of radio makes it one of the most appealing and universal
mass media for participatory communication and development (Tomaselli & De
Villiers, 1998:147). It has the capacity to reach large audiences, both young
and old, including those in remote, underdeveloped and impoverished areas of
the developing world (Tavhiso, 2009). The above statement goes a long way to
affirm the prospects of radio in our society.
In similar
vein, campus radio gives room for students to participate in the programme
package and production. This explains why Madamombe (2005) highlighted some of
the benefits of campus radio that “Their transmitters may reach only a few
miles, but campus radio stations are enabling isolated communities across
Africa to voice their own concerns. On air, ordinary citizens discuss issues
that are central to them, such as gender relations and combating HIV/AIDS.”
The general
belief worldwide is that any campus based community radio station is a mere
juke box. However, recent research studies have shown that some of these
stations are actually contributing to community development (Osunkunle, 2009).
Community campus radio stations offer concrete means for public participation
and defence for cultural diversity. “Participation is the engine of democracy
and community radio is a tool for participation” (Jordan, 2006 in Suleiman,
2014)
Khan (2010)
posits that needless to say, community radio has played a major role in
bridging the communication gap between the Government and the local people. As
the community radio is still evolving it might be possible that in the near
future, we will witness its various new forms which will be technologically
more superior as well as user-friendly.
At a time
when public-private media lines are vulnerable to blurring and a market in the
mantra climate dominates the media landscape, community media provides primacy
to the local; it provides a voice to the voiceless, the unheard and the
marginalized (Sen, 2010).
Community
radio is the modern means of communication for social communication. “It falls
under general means of mass communication. Community broadcasting is such a
process whereby individuals indulge in interaction with each other to achieve
collective objectives. There is action-oriented relationship between
individuals involved in interaction while there is mutual friendship and
attachment. Similar geographical, cultural and natural settings tend to bring
them closer emotionally while chasing common objectives. The main common link
for coexistence is sentiments, needs and localness. They are never competing
with each other; they coexist. All are habituated to work in groups” (Mainali,
2008).
But like any
aspect of human existence, campus radio stations also have their own share of
challenges encountered on a daily bases as they try to live up to this task of
bringing development to their host communities. Ihechu & Okereke (2012)
mentioned finance as one of the challenges facing community radio stations.
They posit that “Learning from the impact of license fees and renewal fees on
the existing private stations (their inability to make substantial profit after
paying license fees ranging from 10 million to 25 Million naira); it becomes
difficult for community stations to be commercially viable in the face of the
present licensing regime.” In support of the above assertion, Thangaraj, Kumar
& Asokan (2007) suggests that the annual licence fee may be cut down for
community radios to ease the financial strain. Thangaraj et al (2007) further suggested
that the frequencies allotted to low – power community radios should not be
allotted to high power commercial transmitters even if they are more than a
hundred kilometres away. Proper utilization of revenue earned through
commercial advertisements if allowed, should be ensured.
“Campus
community radio is still relatively in its infancy in Nigeria. University
campuses in many other countries such as the United States have
well-established community radio stations, serving niche audiences while
simultaneously offering a nursery slope for apprentice broadcasters” (David,
2015)
BSU FM 89.9
has her own share of these challenges as are almost peculiar to other stations
across Africa. A circumstance of note is the fact that the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in her Nigerian Broadcasting Code of 2010 the
5th edition restricted the funding of a campus radio station to the following:
Subvention; Spot announcements from within the Campus community (Not exceeding
9 minutes in every 1 hour broadcast; Donations or grants; Events coverage
within the Campus community; Sale of station’s memorabilia (Broadcast Code,
2010). Although the funding of these stations is usually limited; many stations
also solicit programme underwriting support, listener contributions, and outright
donations, which are
important because advertiser/commercial content
is
severely
restricted by law on non commercial stations (Sauls, 1995).
Challenges
specific to a university-based community radio station fall into four main
categories: Seasonal issues, solving the learning/performance dilemma,
volunteer workforce tensions and the innovative versus the normative (David,
2015). Another challenge in line with this is the issue of programming.
According to Fauteux (2015:32) “the primary role of community based campus
radio stations is to broadcast alternative programmes that are not typically
heard on commercial radio, but also in depth spoken word programming, community
specific programming and special interest music. In addition to students,
members of the community at large are also involved in the production and
programming of community based campus stations. This stipulation is passed down
to campus stations from the CRTC and it ensures that campus radio content is
different from and alternative to commercial and public radio stations in the
same area”.
A campus
station is not only expected to serve the needs of the university community,
but also the community that houses the institution which the campus station
exist on. Whatever reasons might have informed the establishment of a campus
radio station, one thing is clear: it must deliver content which satisfies the
tastes and meets the needs of the community (Ojebode, Onekutu &Adegbol,
2010).
Another
issue worthy of note is a situation where campus community radios become tools
of propaganda in the hands of their owners or the government of the day as the
case may be. According to Singh (2010), the little media that is growing
parallel to the big global entities has to remain on guard and ensure maximum
community participation, so that it does not turn into a puppet. This media
which are closest to the community in the form of citizen journalism,
grassroots press and community radio should not turn into a gimmick in the
hands of the large conglomerates. Danger also lurks in the form of
organisational control that may want to use the medium for propaganda. The
medium and its use should have all the mechanisms of the involvement of the
community.
BSU FM like
other stations under the same category suffers power issues. Given the onerous
cost of generator fuel, one might expect more solar powered radio stations in
rural areas, but they are not the majority. Reasons include the initial expense
of the panels, as compared to a diesel generator, the fact that panels can be a
target for thieves, and the difficulties associated with replacing and sourcing
the battery(ies) (Myers, 2008).
This
research therefore seeks to find out some of the challenges faced by campus
community stations, using BSU FM as a study focus. The study is set out to
ascertain if for sure the station is faced with challenges, so as to suggest
solutions that would at least help the station bring these challenges to the
barest minimum.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
There is a
dearth of information regarding campus community radio in Nigeria. Much
attention has been given to the role of community radio in development,
education and community representation, but very little focus on community
radio’s functioning within the current broadcast system (Lotter, 2007). Setting
up and running an effective community radio faces a lot of challenges, the
biggest issue being that of sustainability. Among the major reasons observed is
lack of community interest, insufficient content, sporadic financial
assistance. All these, combined with the bureaucratic problems of getting a
license hinder the process of growth of community radios (Pradhan, 2011), and
BSU FM is not left out on these myriad of problems facing campus community
radios.
It has been
observed that the challenges facing BSU FM station in her infancy stage of
operation includes poor management structure, inadequate staff/personnel,
paucity of funds and bureaucratic quagmire from the university management.
These problems are not however peculiar to BSU FM alone, as similar issues were
noted at Simli Radio in Dalun, within the Tolon-Kumbungu District of the
Northern Region of Ghana by (Al-hassan, Andani
&
Abdul-Malik, 2011), when they revealed that “the radio has faced leadership
difficulties. It has remained a big challenge to get a Station Manager. The
absence of such a figure has negatively affected service delivery and
management of the station.” Al-hassan et al (2011) further observed that “the
station could not meet its target of the social programmes because of power
outage. Also, there is a high tendency of disappearance of radio programmes
after individual presenters leave the organisation”.
In the
course of the research, it was observed by the researcher that BSU FM had gone
off air from October 2016 and remained off air till the time the research was
concluded. The reason for the shutdown was because the transmitter which was
supposed to be a test-run transmitter could not continue serving the station
for long so it shutdown on one of their
broadcast
days. This becomes a serious issue of concern because even though the station
was running five hours weekdays excluding Saturdays and Sundays, the
transmitter could not serve, which begs the question, what if it were to be run
like other campus radio stations like UNILAG FM, which runs nineteen (19) hours
daily from 5:00 am to 12:00 am. This undoubtedly shows that the school
management was not prepared for the station in the first place. Another issue
observed by the researcher was the issue of staffing or adequate man power to
run the station. Majority of the presenters were students in their final years
of study and it became a very big issue trying to get students from the lower
classes to fill these vacant positions soon to be left. The researcher also
happened to be among the graduating student presenters.
This study
therefore seeks to investigate the perceived challenges that campus- community
radio stations face from the time of kick off to when they become part of the
institution of learning that houses them, using BSU FM 89.9 as a point of
focus. To this end, the research investigates the challenges and prospects of
established community radios in Nigerian universities with delimitation on BSU
FM 89.9., Makurdi.
1.3 Objectives of Study
i. To find out problems associated with BSU
FM campus radio broadcasting.
ii. To determine to what extent these
problems hinder the effective running of BSU FM campus station.
iii. To suggest ways of either curbing or
minimizing these challenges.
iv. To assess ways through which BSU FM would
be effectively managed.
1.4 Research Questions
i. What are the problems associated with
BSU FM campus radio?
ii. To what extent do these challenges hinder
the effective running of BSU FM campus station?
iii. In what ways can these challenges be
minimized or curbed?
iv. In what ways can BSU FM be effectively
managed for efficiency?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study
will draw the attention of government and concerned citizens to the plights of
campus radio stations on various campuses in Nigeria.
The study
will also be of immense significance to researchers in the academia in the 21st
century. It does not only aim at contributing to knowledge but also providing a
foundational basis for further studies into challenges of both campus and
commercial radio stations in Nigeria and even Africa.
This study
will also definitely add resource to available literature and will be used to
promote informed decision making and policies by governmental regulatory bodies
and guide them in the right direction on matters concerning campus radio
broadcasting.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study
is restricted to the challenges of campus radio broadcasting in Nigerian
universities, a study of BSU FM 89.9, Makurdi. Geographically, the study is
further restricted to management staff of BSU FM, academic staff of Mass
Communication Department, the managers of Radio Benue, Harvest FM and NTA, Mass
Communication students of Benue state University and NUJ registered
Journalists.
To this
effect, interviews would be conducted with major members of the management
staff of BSU FM: The head, department of Mass communication, the programmes
producer, the chief engineer, the staff adviser, news editor in chief, the
transmitter operator and a senior duty continuity announcer, while
questionnaire would also be administered to the academic staff, the three
managers of Radio Benue, Harvest FM and NTA, Mass Communication students of
Benue State University and NUJ registered Journalists in Makurdi.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Campus: A
campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related
institutional buildings are
situated. Usually a
college campus includes
libraries, lecture halls, residence halls, student centres or dining halls, and
park-like settings. A modern campus is a collection of buildings and grounds
that belong to a given institution, either academic or non-academic.
Broadcasting:
According to Onabajo (2000), “broadcasting has been defined as the transmission
of information through radio waves from a radio or television station, to the
audience in far and near places, through their receivers, which help in
decoding such information”. Broadcasting as also defined by (Akpede, 2010) is
the transmission of messages from a station to an audience scattered over a
given environment or area. Broadcasting could also be seen as “the process of
sending out and receiving messages through the air by a scientific method
called electromagnetic waves” (Sambe, 2008).
Radio: Chiakaan
(2005) in Chiakaan & Ahmad (2011:96) views radio as “a broadcast medium
that limits itself to the transmission of messages which are aurally received
by members of the public”. Because radio activities or programmes are received
by members of the public on a general note, this makes radio, like television
to be a broadcast medium Chiakaan & Ahmad (2011:96).
HOW TO GET THE FULL PROJECT
WORK
PLEASE, print the following
instructions and information if you will like to order/buy our complete written
material(s).
HOW TO RECEIVE PROJECT
MATERIAL(S)
After paying the appropriate
amount (#5,000) into our bank Account below, send the following information to
08068231953 or 08168759420
(1)
Your project topics
(2)
Email Address
(3)
Payment Name
(4)
Teller Number
We
will send your material(s) after we receive bank alert
BANK ACCOUNTS
Account
Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account
Number: 0046579864
Bank:
GTBank.
OR
Account
Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account
Number: 2023350498
Bank:
UBA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL:
08068231953 or 08168759420
https://projectmaterialsng.blogspot.com.ng/
https://foreasyprojectmaterials.blogspot.com.ng/
https://mypostumes.blogspot.com.ng/
https://myeasymaterials.blogspot.com.ng/
https://eazyprojectsmaterial.blogspot.com.ng/
https://easzprojectmaterial.blogspot.com.ng/
Comments
Post a Comment