THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING ON NIGERIA VIEWERS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In treating the effect of religious broadcasting on Nigeria audience, we shall continually interchange the concept influence with effect. Though both words are synonym, the word effect is more common in studying communication impact.

Considering the audience dimension we state that there is no broadcasting without an audience. The audience factor is the most important. The audience keeps the media alive, they are heterogeneous in nature.

Broadcasting is a two way communication via telephone, E-mail, tax, satellite etc. It remains predominantly a one-way social phenomenon.

To understand the impact or effect of broadcasting on Nigeria audience, we need to understand it from the context of their social categories and selective capacities. The mass of the Nigerian public are socially a numerous subset. Each subset has its traits, which affect its level of exposure to the media and invariably the extent of the effect of such message on them.

Variably such as age, sex, educational attainment, social economic status, social affiliation all combines individually or in concert to affect the public disposition to broadcast messages. This is where the theories of selective exposure and uses and gratification come into play in shaping audience perception of broadcast message and the gratification they get form it.

The two factors to have in mind when presenting religious programme, is the audience and the medium of conveyance. This factors guides your presentation, and goes beyond ordinary information. The audience with its greater part determines which material will be presented. You have to be familiar with your medium and know the difference between your medium and others. The radio medium is transitory and fleeting and so message have to be brief and concise.

The television medium is more economical to use than the radio because the audience view things for themselves on the screen.

A critical analysis of the radio and television broadcasting media will be essential in examining the effect of religious broadcasting. It will be done with thorough care within the scope of limitation.

In recent time religious groups has imbibed the efficiency of broadcasting as a means of communicating to their members and the society at large in order to disseminate their doctrines. In our country Nigeria, we have three major religious groups. They are, the Islamic religion, Christianity, and traditional religion. They have various segments with different view and doctrines which guides them and cannot be known by an outside without being effectively informed. Information and communication technology have improved our broadcasting media through the use of state of the art electronic digital gadget to reach the world and therefore our religious group has deemed it fit to be the most effective means of reaching the world.

The main purpose of this work is to have an in depth analysis on how effective the broadcasting media has been for religious groups in converting people with force or bias. This is because religions which interwoven with the culture of the people, can be defined as the belief of a group of people in regards of their existence in this world.

Religion frames one’s mind to adhere to the rules and regulation of the society he or she lives in. it helps to nurture the mind and make one a better being through indoctrination.

Broadcasting is one of the most effective means of communication. It has helped religious group to better the society and eliminate crime that has in recent times became the other of the day.

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

The purpose of religious groups is to create a sense of reasoning among the masses and change the world at large. Each individual is governed by his own intuition, the transformation of individuals into a better being is not an easy task and unless brainwashed with doctrines he cannot easily change or adapt to changes. Human beings have animalistic tendency. This makes it even more difficult to predict an individual.

The society at large influences the behavior pattern of individuals and so in corrupt society religious groups finds it difficult to penetrate into the society and defect it. Religion plays a vital role in everyone’s life. To what extent has religion influenced the lives of people through broadcasting media to reach the society? This poises the main problem to the impact of religious broadcasting in our country Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives and aims of this study is as follows:

1)          To determine the impact of the broadcast medium in creating awareness on religious issues for the urban audience

2)          To find out, how exposure to television have greater influence on the audience than radio.

3)          To analyze whether age can contribute to the media preference of the audience

4)          To find out the prospects of using the social status and level of education of an audience to determine hours spent on a medium.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research stems from the fact that communication is very much at the heart of each religious organization. This study will show and determine how religious broadcasting affects the audience and the way they react to broadcast stimuli.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1)          Does radio broadcast create more awareness for the audience on religious issues?

2)          Does a television exposure have greater impact on the audience than radio?

3)          Does ages contribute to media the impact, the broadcast media has on its the audience?

4)          Does education and social status of an audience influence their opinion on issues that is aired on broadcast media?