Taraba State University Journal of Communication and Media studies
The Taraba State University Journal of Communication and Media Studies (TSUJCMS) is a bi-annual publication of the Department of Mass Communication, Taraba State University, Jalingo. The journal covers all areas of research interest within communication and media studies, including development communication, intercultural and cross-cultural communication, gender studies, new media and emerging trends in communication, public relations, advertising, corporate communication, media and society, and conflict-sensitive journalism, among others.
Mass Media, Freedom of Expression and Democracy: The Nigerian Experience from 1999-2017
This study interrogates media-state relationship under the current democratic dispensation. Libertarian Press Theory serves as the theoretical framework of the study, which argues that freedom of expression is sine qua non for democracy to thrive. The ensuing argument and supplied evidences serve to demonstrate that although there exists moments of clashes between the media and state forces, the current democratic experiment holds freedom of expression in high esteem. This is what the vibrant press has been yearning for, since the commencement of the Nigerian project. However, the study argues that the abuse of social media opportunities, coupled with the current rise in hate speech is pushing the state to the wall to device measures that would tame these abuses and hate speeches that are overheating the polity already. The study, therefore, recommends that this cause should be pursued with utmost caution in other not to limit freedom of expression as a result. Above all, the study recommends that journalists across the country should take advantage of the freedom granted them by the current democratic dispensation to expand the frontiers of democracy. This way, they will uphold their revered status in society as members of the Forth Estate of the Realm.
Political Economy of Conflict Sensitive Reporting in Nigerian Mass Media
Most of the interesting stories by journalists are about conflict. It forms the back-bone of their stories and it is characterised with fiction. The conflict does not have to be a violent one it may be a clash of ideas or ideologies, a disagreement about policies or principles, or an argument about the distribution of resources etc. The media have been criticised of worsening crises through biased, partial and irresponsible coverage and reporting. The paper examines how political economy shapes the coverage of conflict sensitive reporting in Nigeria, and provides a conceptual review of the variables. Agenda Setting Theory has been adopted as the theoretical framework of this study. The study concludes that political economy interest in one way or the other shapes conflict sensitive reporting in Nigeria, both in print and broadcast media sequences as they record high patronage in reporting and sensationalising conflict. The study recommends that the media should engage in responsible practices in times of conflicts.
Evaluation of Communication Strategies Employed By Taraba State Government during the 2011 Flood Disaster Awareness Campaign
This study evaluated communication strategies employed by Taraba State Government during the 2011 flood disaster awareness campaign. The study was premised on risk communication theory and survey; method was employed to obtain data from asample of 379 respondents across various flood prone areas in Jalingo Metropolis. The Findings show that radio, television, newspapers and magazines were the major channels of communication used by Taraba State Government. Among these communication channels, radio was found to be the major channel of communication through which quick campaign warning messages were sent to the people at risk. Likewise, the study found that the strategies Taraba State Government used before, during and after flood disaster during the campaign awareness were advocacy visit to the flooded communities and door-to-door strategies. Against this background door-to-door communication is considered a very good medium for communicating disaster information in the studied area. Finally the study among others, recommended that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) should intensify the use of radio and door-to-door methods in managing flood disaster in the state. Thus, the study further recommended that SEMA and the broadcast media should work together toward production of quality programmes that will go a long way in informing and educating the populace in the state about flood disaster.
The Use of Internet Resources for Learning and Research among Nigerians Studying in European University of Lefke, Northern Cyprus
A lot of the studies on the use of internet in contemporary educational contexts have focused more on students in their home countries. This study extends to investigate the use of internet resources for research and learning among international students (Nigerians) studying in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The study inquired if the students had access to the internet; their internet access points; the internet search engine mostly consulted by the students and the perceived benefits of using internet resources for learning and research. A qualitative study employing a focus group discussion was conducted among 25 conveniently selected students, which reveals that majority of the students use the internet daily for learning and research. Additionally, the study discovers that the students access and use the internet in their school library via their laptops and computers provided in the library. This signifies that there are adequate internet facilities on their campus. The students held the notion that the use of internet resources improves their research and learning, enables them to carry out assignments within a given deadline, permits the comparing and contrasting of different forms of literature, encourages self-learning, promotes peer learning and enables them to prepare better for examinations. These were realized through sourcing materials from search engines such as Google and Google Scholar as well as scientific electronic databases such as Web of Science, Science Direct and Scopus. This suggests that international students who are studying in TRNC have adequate internet facilities and scientific resources at their disposal.
New Media and Conflict Management in a Pluralistic Nigeria: A Perspective on the Opportunities and Threats of the Platforms
This study interrogates the place of new media in conflict management in Nigeria, taking into consideration the positive and negative implications of their numerous platforms such as online news sites, social networking sites and blogs among others. This assessment is done against the backdrop of the myriad ethno-religious conflicts that have engulfed the nation. Data were collected from secondary sources such as books, journals, seminar papers, websites and newspapers among others. The data were contextually analysed. Findings reveal that new media have potentials which, if effectively harnessed, can make them to serve as good conduits for conflict management in Nigeria, such as interactivity, interconnectivity, `delocatedness', ubiquity and accessibility among others. On the other hand, it is discovered that the excessive freedom that characterizes the new media makes them prone to abuse, as it enables users to engage in deliberate spread of fake news, false and misleading stories, exaggerated truths and inflamed stories, publishing of gruesome pictures, biased and unbalanced reportage among other unprofessional and unwholesome practices. The study decries these unwholesome practices, and advocates for self-regulation by the masses in the course of their social media engagements for conflict reporting. It also calls for implementation of peace journalism principles by the masses who have become active reporters of conflict. This way, the negative effects of new media will be minimized and their positive impacts maximized for effective conflict management in the country.
Book Review: Multiculturalism, Diversity and Reporting Conflict in Nigeria
In their edited book titled "Multiculturalism, Diversity and Reporting Conflict in Nigeria" Umaru A. Pate and Lai Oso have x-rayed issues bothering on multiculturalism, diversity and conflict reporting vis-a-vis the role communication, and specifically, the media play in facilitating social cohesion, community resilience, peace, unity and understanding in the Nigerian society.
An Evaluation of Public Relations Practice of Selected Tertiary Institutions in Benue and Nasarawa States in Relationship Management
This paper entitled: "An Evaluation of Public Relations Practice of Selected Tertiary Institutions in Benue and Nasarawa States in Relationship Management" has examined whether public relations is effectively applied in managing relationships between the selected institutions and their publics or not. The design adopted by the study was survey. The Social System Theory was adopted. Data were collected through questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered on the institutions' students, staff and host community members as key publics. To complement data obtained through the questionnaire, the study further collected data by conducting oral interview with eighteen key staff of the selected institutions. Data collected were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed that although the studied tertiary institutions in Benue and Nasarawa States recognise public relations, they do not apply it effectively in managing relationships with their publics. Due to the inability of the institutions to effectively apply public relations, they do not cultivate and sustain a very healthy and strong relationship with their publics. The study, therefore, concluded that public relations is not well understood by the managements of the selected tertiary institutions. The study recommended among others, that awareness programmes should be organised for managements of tertiary institutions by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, that managements of tertiary institutions should create independent departments for public relations and employ only trained and certified public relations personnel in them to carry out public relations activities.
Status, Problems and Opportunities of Mass Communication Research as a Social Science Discipline in Nigeria
This paper has noted that the social scientific paradigm of mass communication research originated in the United States and has generated sufficient theoretical and methodological backgrounds to form a guide for founding and organizing a mass communication research in Nigeria. The paper examined the status of mass communication research in Nigeria, and identified some technical and systemic problems. Specifically, the study found that theoretical propositions used in mass communication research in Nigeria mostly do not reflect rigorous understanding of the theories and, therefore, add nothing to the theoretical front, as most of the theories were wrongly used and cannot generate empirical data to be translated inductively. An institutional apparatus for a national level model institute of journalism and mass communication research was proposed as a strategy for developing the social science discipline of mass communication research in Nigeria. The paper concluded by identifying various opportunities within the field of mass communication theory as a research agenda for the proposed institute.
The Role of Editorials in Shaping Government Policies: A Study of Lagos State Government
This study was carried out to determine the influence of editorials on the of government policies in Lagos state, Nigeria. Qualitative research desingn was adopted, while in-depth interview was employed to elicit data for analysis. The study found out that many policies and decisions of government were arrived at with the help of some editorials. Though, the study also discovered that government officials select the type of editorials to believe particularly as they relate to the style and ownership of the medium which publishes them, such 'unethical' editorials are still being analysed for possibility of some data, facts and biases. The finding is such that the power of editorial to influence government policies is enormous and cannot be overemphasized as the in-depth interviews conducted to ascertain this confirmed that editorials are held in high esteem by the government. The study recommended that newspaper houses should endeavour to employ the best hands to write their editorials as such editorials could be the strength of the newspapers.
Discourse on Media Masculine Crisis and Gender-based Violence against Women in Nigeria
This study is a position paper on media and masculine crisis on gender-based violence against women in Nigeria. It has become obvious that masculinity crisis is biologically fixed and a child of culture. Utilizing media effect in moderating gender based violence in Nigeria as a result of masculine crisis seems to be yielding result because epistemological and methodological studies have failed to consider the media as a veritable tool to curbing masculinity crisis; rather, these researches have focused more on statistics and academic based findings. Utilizing analysis within diverse theoretical frameworks, this study has demonstrated that the media faced specific problems in influencing masculine crisis relating to gender violence in society. Consequent upon this, media attention is focused on immediate events rather than events that have growing effects on the society. This study suggests new directions in the sociology of news (longitudinal, historic, contextual and interpretative) which are needed in media-masculine crisis-gender violence based research. These attributes inform media institutions to effectively communicate the associated effects of gender based violence at micro and macro levels and heighten public perception and unacceptability of masculine crisis and its effect on gender based violence. The study, therefore, recommends that issues arising from domestic violence should not be tolerated but seen as an act that is punishable by law and also that the media should be effectively used in constructing and re-constructing behavioural and attitudinal changes, in the area of risk associated with domestic violence.
Lokoja Residents' Perception of the Promotion of National Unity by the Nigerian Mass Media
This study investigates audience perception of the role of the mass media in promoting national unity in Nigeria. The general objective of the study was to determine the ways through which the Nigerian Mass media can effectively promote peace in a country of ethnic plurality like Nigeria. The study was anchored on the agenda setting theory. Survey research design was adopted while 385 copies of questionnaire were administered to residents of Lokoja. The results showed among others that the media can promote national unity by educating the public to love one another, educating the public to avoid ethnic, religious and political sentiments, promoting tolerance, educating the public on the benefits of national unity, discouraging cultural sterotype and promoting dialogue among Nigerians. The result also showed that the mass media in Nigeria have been working hard to promote national unity . The extent to which the media in Nigeria have achieved this feat of promoting national unity was found to be average. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended amongst others that the Nigerian government should consider the possibility of enacting a supportive act of parliament, mandating all media stations in Nigeria to dedicate at least 50% of their efforts to promoting national unity.
Influence of Outdoor Political Advertising Media used by Gubernatorial Aspirants on the Electorate in Benue State
This study assessed the influence of outdoor political advertising media used by gubernatorial aspirants in Benue State. Survey research design was adopted using questionnaire and oral interview as data collection instruments. The study's major findings indicated that outdoor political advertising media were extensively used by gubernatorial aspirants during the 2015 gubernatorial elections campaigns. Branded cars, billboards, posters, handbills, pole flags, campaign T-Shirts and banners were ascertained to have been widely used. The study equally found that outdoor political advertising media used in the 2015 elections campaigns were largely perceived to be efficient. The study, however, realized that activities of vandals, poor aesthetic quality, susceptibility of outdoor media to bad weather and lack of factual information about some political aspirants were perceived challenges to outdoor political advertising. In tandem with major findings, the study recommended that collaborative efforts should be made by security agents in the state with outdoor advertising regulatory bodies and the media during electioneering campaigns to tackle the challenges affecting optimal efficiency of outdoor political advertising use. Also, adequate research and education about appropriate outdoor political advertising use should be done by campaign coordinators during electoral campaigns for their principals. This, if addressed would enhance the optimal efficiency of outdoor political advertising media and will go a long way to affect positively Nigeria's electoral process.
The Challenge of Religious Consideration in News Reportage by Nigerian Media in the 21st Century
Journalism entails a high degree of public trust and to earn and maintain this trust, it becomes morally imperative for news media to observe the best professional and ethical practices such as accuracy and fairness, objectivity etc., and above all, have high regard for the public interest. However, it is commonly observed that adherence to these rules has become an uphill task for many journalists due to ownership, house style, editorial policy and primordial considerations. Hence, they blatantly disregard these ethics by injecting sentiment in their news reportage. This is why this paper examines religious consideration in news reporting by the media in a multiethnic and multi religious society like Nigeria with a touch of historical excursion. The study is guided by the agenda setting and social responsibility theories, and adopts qualitative research method, basically historical excursion and comparative exposition, The study argues that journalists are sometimes forced by religious leaning, sales and ownership factors to colour their news reportage. In view of this, the study recommends amongst other things, that personal and parochial interests must pave way for objectivity, fairness, balance, truth, and accuracy in the reporting of religion in order for the media to foster unity, harmonious co-existence among the various religious groups and overall development of the country.
The Media and Impact of Government Agricultural Programmes on Farmers in Taraba State: A Study of Donga Local Government Area
This study is an evaluation of farmers' perception on government agricultural programmes in Taraba State. The study focuses on farmers in Donga Local Government Area where 399 farmers were sampled for the study. The survey research design was used and questionnaire was administered on respondents sampled from 10 council wards of the local government. However, only 380 copies of questionnaire were valid or usable. Data were collected and analyzed in the order of the four research questions raised by the study. The major findings showed that popular government agricultural programmes available to Donga farmers include, Rice value chain, green house agro project, distribution of fertilizers and herbicides, improved cassava stem and improved seedlings. Government agricultural programmes are found to be highly significant and important to Donga farmers as they help boost their farming profession and increase their income yearly. The study also found several challenges affecting farmers which include; poor road network facilities connecting farmers to farms and markets, embezzlement of fund made for agricultural purposes, inadequate farm implements and irregular irrigation system as well as pest invasion. It, therefore, concludes that since agriculture is the main stay of the Nigerian nation, government programmes need to be revamped to intensify modern farming system, The study, amongst others, recommends that the government intensify efforts in initiating other programmes of action to draw youths attention to farming; and that government owned media should be at the top of reporting and disseminating all available information in the farming world to farmers.
Effect of Fake News on Youths Perception of Nigeria's Unity: A Study of Higher National Diploma (HND) Students of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Nigeria
Fake news as well as misinformation has become an unwanted feature of social networks collectively referred to as the social media, Evidently, on daily basis, social media audience comes across a variety of fake news and misinformation. The fear of its disruptive and dysfunctional effects on a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, thus, prompted this study. Consequently, with the Higher National Diploma (HND) students of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, as its population, the study uses survey research method and questionnaire as an instrument respectively. The sample size of 400 respondents determined by the Taro Yamanes formula was proportionally distributed using the simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data collected. Findings revealed that the prevalence of fake news as well as exposure of the youths to it was high. The study, therefore, recommends, among others, that government should begin massive public enlightenment campaigns via various mass media outlets and social media to sensitize Nigerians on the dangers fake news/misinformation poses to the country's unity and wellbeing as a whole. The campaign should be specifically targeted at the youths who form majority of users and audience of the social media.
Portrayal and Objectification of Women in Music Videos: A Review of Existing Studies
This paper adopts qualitative research method, specifically, corpus analysis to review studies on the portrayal and objectification of women in music videos such as R&B/hip hop and pop. The study was carried out from July 2018 to October 2018 and data sources included Web of Science Collection, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google. These databases were selected because they have a lot of high impact journals and they are devoted to publishing peer-reviewed publications. From July to September 2018, an initial electronic searchded about 200 articles. Furthermore, in October 2018 an additional 50 articles were retrieved. The retrieved articles were speed-read by checking the titles, abstracts and conclusions to ensure each retrieved article is entirely related to the subject matter. This, process resulted in a total of (n=62) purposefully selected studies used in this current research. Results indicate that a large number of the reviewed studies used content analysis and objectification theory. Most of the studies reported that female artists are more sexually objectified, held to stricter appearance standards, and were more likely to demonstrate sexually alluring behaviour in music videos. Sexual objectification was found to be more prominent in the R&B/hip hop and pop videos than in country videos. Most of the studies were conducted in the United States. The study recommends that future investigators should make it a priority to extend to other regions so as to expand the understanding of music portrayal and objectification of women.
Aesthetic Analysis of Indigenous Television Programme: A Study of Mboho Ibaan on NTA Uyo
This work analyses aesthetic content of Mboho Ibaan to determine the extent of the application of the conventional aesthetic elements and indigenous aesthetic elements that are peculiar to the target audience in the production and presentation of the programme. It also sets out to know the aesthetic related television production problems that affect the programme quality. A total of 26 editions of the programme aired in 2016 were selected using systematic sampling technique and were content analysed. Interview with the producer of the programme was also conducted. Findings show that basic aesthetic elements of light, sound, space and time were used in the production of Mboho Ibaan for the purpose of clarifying and intensifying issues to viewers. Findings also reveal that majority of the aesthetic elements in Mboho Ibaan are cultural as an indigenous television programme but are not uniformly applied to reflect cultural values in some of the aesthetic elements. Some of the aesthetic- related television production problems identified were under running, audio problem, poor lighting quality/ blanks. . The study, therefore, recommends employment of male presenters of Mboho Ibaan for variety, items used in decorating the programmes sets and the studio should reflect Ibibio culture while the programmes discs should be previewed before airing the programmes to avoid flaws, expert in Ibibio orthography/writing should be employed as associate producer of the programmes.
Screen Time: Risks Awareness and Perception of Undergraduates in Northeast Universities, Nigeria
This study examines undergraduates awareness and perception of risks associated with the use of screen-based devices like smartphones, laptops and desktop computers. A total of 437 students from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and Taraba State University Jalingo have been surveyed. Data collected through questionnaire have been analyzed using descriptive statistical tools (frequency and simple percentages). Findings show that students within the surveyed universities are frequently exposed to screen devices and that they are aware that excessive use of screen devices could be risky to their health, social and physical life. However, most of the students do not take proactive measures to mitigate these risks. Therefore, the study calls on university authorities and the mass media to lead a campaign toward enlightening the students on the need to take precautionary measures while using screen-based devices. It also recommends that government agencies and groups like Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria and Standard Organization of Nigeria should compel producers of mobile screen-devices to improve safety measures in their products.
Managerial Problems in Private Radio Broadcast Stations: A Study of Alheri Radio, Kaduna
This study investigates the challenges of managing private radio broadcast stations in Nigeria using Alheri radio, Quantitative survey research method using questionnaire was adopted to sample the views of staff regarding challenges they face at work. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 21 from the total population of 105. Findings from this study show that managerial challenges like direct censorship (restricting information flows to the public); coercion of editorial staff, withholding of budget as well as poor equipment affect private broadcasting in Nigeria. The study concludes that the Alheri private radio station faces a lot of managerial challenges. The study, therefore, recommends that private radio stations should make efforts towards improving their operations to tackle the identified challenges in this study.
The Political Economy of Broadcast Programming and Influencing Agencies in Nigeria
This paper traces the political economy behind broadcast programming which shapes and influences broadcast content production, distribution and consumption. It rings to fore, four factors: ownership, advertising, regulation and audience (OARA) which influence programming largely for power consolidation, resource contrel and profit, simply because, broadcast ownership in Nigeria is largely by people in government or those that are close to power. Variables were adopted from which selected broadcast content was examined to unravel the political economy behind broadcast programming, These variables are; character of broadcast programming, quality of programming, character of media contents and spread of broadcasters, consumers and polities of consumer-content choice: diversity and multiculturalism in action, These variables have clearly helped in examining how economic and political motives shape programming in Nigeria in support of status quo. The paper is anchored on Critical Political Economy (CPE) which falls under cultural theorists whose proposition of media centers on the way social elites operate media to earn profit and exercise influence on society. The paper concludes that most broadcast stations in Nigeria schedule programs to support the status quo and reinforce domination of the airwaves through usage of powerful indigenous and colonial languages in their daily programming, It, therefore, recommends that there is need to overhaul the Nigeria's communication policy with a view to addressing ownership and regulation lapses, especially ship of broadcast stations is solely government and wealthy individuals affairs.
Nigerian Immigration Laws, Mass Media and the Fight against Insecurity in the Milieu of Inclusiveness
The movement of people from one country to another has over the years been necessitated by the indisputable fact that no country or people of the world can survive in isolation. Much as this has articulated the notion of inclusiveness, it also has raised a greater concern for national security. Thus, without immigration laws and the mass media, inclusiveness would engender negativities. National and international borders would have no bounds and as such, security of lives and property would not be guaranteed. This paper examines the combined contributions of immigration laws and the mass media in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, It is an appraisal which facts, information and data were gathered primarily from secondary sources books, law reports, documents and statutes, Findings revealed that although inclusiveness is indispensable in social integration, sound immigration laws are necessary for national security as well as international co-existence and understanding. Also the paper found that the mass media play a significant role in disseminating information on immigration laws and issues to the appropriate audience, thus, ultimately strengthening national security. The study, therefore, recommends among other things that immigration laws should be made with the interest of both national security and inclusiveness the mass media should, through their agenda-setting role, place high premium on the positive of immigration laws cum inclusiveness for the purpose of both national security and inclusiveness
Style, Personality, And the Nature of Communication for a Democratic Situation in Nigeria: A Linguistic Analysis of Governor Nyesom Wike’s 2015 Inaugural Speech
This research is coneemed with analysing an inaugural speech of a Nigerian personality - Govemor Wike of Rivers State. Using Hallidays systemic functional linguistics, the study demonstrates how the general character of a man and situation determine the manner and technique of language usage as. represented in the speech. The governor's inaugural address of 29th May, 2015 is analysed with particular attention to the use of words and sentences, with a number of rhetorical devices that may be seen as a source of embellishment for ecstatic satisfaction, which define the style of the speaker. And the language of the entire discourse is full of derogatory comments with the speaker's obvious intention of castigating and humiliating his predecessor, and as well inciting the citizenry of the state against him. This undoubtedly exposes the person of the govemor. The study has, therefore, practically demonstrated how a style of communication reveals the personality of an individual. The other aspect of the study is that linguistic style is not just a product of a man's character, but also of context and situation. The choice of words and expressions are actually determined by where a man stands to talk and the category of people he addresses as well as the hour which defines the circumstances that allow for the production of particular utterances, Even as he writes, the subject of discussion and audience usually determine his selection of words and general expressions.
Managing the Herdsmen-famers Crisis in Nigeria: The Public Relations Approach
The incessant violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria have less positive benefits for both parties and Nigeria as a whole. It is a fact that sustainable development can never occur in a rancorous atmosphere. This, to a large extent, if not nipped in the bud will affect the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is aimed at ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030, In this view, this paper adopts symmetri¢ model of communication as the basis for understanding how public relations can be applied in solving farmers/herders crisis. The paper finds out that clashes between herders and farmers is an evidence of negligence by the government to sensitize the citizenry towards achieving a common goal of tolerating cach other. It also identifies reduction in output and income of crops as a result of the destruction of crops by cattle. This situation has translated into low income on the part of the farmers who take farming as a major occupation, As such, the paper recommends that public relations approaches such as press releases, conferences, publicity, etc., should be utilized appropriately in making farmers and herders accept modern methods of cattle rearing and farming so that ones business cannot interfere with another thereby managing both the current and future crises. It also recommends that messages from public relations events, with full participation of both parties, can change the atmosphere of suspicion that currently characterizes the relationship between herdsmen and farmers thereby creating room for peaceful coexistence.
Appraising Public Relations Strategies in the Management of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nassarawa and Benue States
This paper examines public relations strategies in the management of internally displaced persons (IDPPs) in Nassarawa and Benue tates. Anchored on Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and using primary data gathered by means of Focus Group interview, the study reveals that effective public relations strategies have not been adopted in managing the IDPs in the two States. Although government has demonstrated considerable attempts at providing succour to the affected persons, findings show that such measures are inadequate and do not include situational crisis communication mechanism that would keep them abreast of meaningful programmes in that direction. The paper concludes that government has not manifestly recognized the role of public relations strategies in the management of IDPs in Benue and Nassarawa States. In view of this, it therefore recommends that government should, as a matter of importance, employ strategies, most especially the situational crisis communication approach, in the management of IDPs across Nassarawa and Benue States. The paper also reccomends that provision of good health facilities, hygiene, security, food, clothing, shelter and effective communication of same would serve as effective government public relations strategies in the management of IDPs in both States.
Communication as an Instrument of Mitigation against the Human Rights Abuses Associated with Migration across the Mediterranean Sea: A Public Relations Approach
Unprecedented and catastrophic youth migration from Africa, Middle East and Asia is causing massive deaths across the Sahara Desert nd the Mediterranean Sea. The youths move in droves in search of greener pastures in Europe. Most of them loss their lives as they defy the risks involved and restrictive measures put in place by European nations and international agencies to combat the scourge. this is attributed to politicians and policy makers' failure in heir responsibility of providing means of sustenance and social security to their citizens at home. Yet, manipulative machinations f gangs/mafias and human traffickers who have no regard for peoples human rights and dignity are aiding the persistent calamity that has raised more questions than answers. This paper explores the underlying factors which facilitate the plague, the human rights abuses associated with it and how the potentials of communication can be effectively harnessed as means of curtailing, Qualitative and contextual analyses were adopted for accessing literary inputs into it. The study identifies unemployment, poverty, maladministration and human rights abuses in migrants in some countries as the major causes of the migration and the scalation of the sufferings of the migrants due to the intrigues f gangs, mafias and human traffickers who exploit the dire condition of the victims. The study, consequently, recommends effective harnessing of potentials of communication strategies, immediate addressing of the socio-economic situation in the migrants' countries, concerted and political will of all concerned governments and commitment of global agencies and stakeholders in ending the scourge.
The Influence of Advertising and Public Relations on Growth of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises in Benue State
Advertising and public relations are two marketing promotion tools for effectiveness in business endeavours. It is on this premise that this research investigates how advertising (Ad) and public relations (PR) strategies are used by small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Benue State. Survey research design has been adopted with questionnaire and oral interview used in collecting relevant data. The Test of Hypothesis was done using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings generally indicate the awareness and adoption of advertising and public relations by SMEs where results from the Test of Hypothesis also affirm that growth of small and medium scale enterprises in Benue State is influenced by the application of advertising and public relations strategies. Results, therefore, indicate that the calculated value of 0.258 is greater than the critical rvalue of 0.195 at 0.05 alpha levels with 514 degrees of freedom, However, findings indicate that there exist a considerable number of challenges to effect fe utilization of Ad and PR strategies. The study, therefore, concludes that there is effective utilization of PR and Ad for the growth of in Benue State. On this premise, it is recommended among other things, that managements of small and medium scale enterprises should step-up their utility in the knowledge and awareness they already have on the relevance and use of PR and Ad strategies as only then, a significant and tangible growth will be recorded.
Commercialization of News and National Development in Nigeria
Over the years, news commercialization has been a subject of concern in media studies. It is a widely discussed topic that receives scholarly attention at several academic forums and platforms. It is against this backdrop that this study examines the implications of news commercialization to national development in Nigeria. Through exploration of secondary sources, the study established that news commercialization is a practice that is not just in vogue within the Nigerian media landscape, but breads other unwholesome media practices that contravene the ethos of the profession. The study argues that commercialization of news has an adverse effects on Nigeria’s development as trivial issues are often reported due to their economic value to the media outfits at the expense of pressing development issues. Against this background, the study recommends that media proprietors should not slaughter national development on the altar of economic gratifications, but should negotiate a blend between the two to live up to expectations of the revered profession. This will enable them to make greater impact on the quest for national development that has remained a topmost agenda in the country amidst economic pressures.
Integrating Public Relations Principles into Small Scale Businesses in Nigeria
Public Relations (PR) is a famous tool of maintaining mutual understanding between an organization and its public. Large business organizations and institutions across the globe use PR. However, Small Scale Businesses (SSBs) lack the understanding and relevance of PR in their business. Additionally, previous attentions of researches in PR mainly focus on large organizations. This study explores the PR strategies that SSBs can adopt to win and retain customers. The study which relies basically on documentary analysis of published researches to extract evidence is premised on the Melvin Sharpe Behavioral Theory. It establishes that PR oriented strategies such as clean business environment, empathy, quality service or products delivery, effective communication among other practices are key to the success of SSBs. It thus recommends that SSB owners should not just arm themselves with PR strategy but should ensure good employer/employees relations at all times, and SSB owners should ensure healthy relationship with their external publics as prescribed by the Melvin Sharpe Behavioural Theory Principles.
Determinants of Undergraduates’ Decision to Study Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Every student that applies for a course at any tertiary institution has a rationale for the choice. Therefore, this study investigated the factors that influence undergraduates’ decision to study Mass Communication at the University of lorin, Nigeria. The population of the study was all the 214 registered students during the 2015/2016 academic session that cut across the four levels in the Department of Mass Communication. Since the study population was not large, all the students constituted sample for the study. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. Complementing this instrument was in-depth interview which 20 students purposively selected were involved. Findings showed that, majority (61%) who voluntarily applied to study Mass Communication at the University of Horin was due to array of staff, facilities at the department (52%), and reputation of the University as a whole (41%), just as more than half of respondents (66%) indicated that they feel fulfilled studying Mass Communication at the University of Morin. The study concluded that although other factors with varying degrees of response rate including peer influence, parental role, job prospects, and proximity are responsible for students’ decision to study Mass Communication, these factors are secondary. It therefore recommended, among other things, that the University and the Department, in particular, should sustain its standard so as to satisfy students” expectation and remain ttractive to potential Mass Communication students.