INFLUENCE OF COVER DESIGN OF SELECT NEWSPAPERS ON READERSHIP AMONG RESIDENTS OF UYO
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
Man’s first attempt at communication was probably a combination of facial expression, physical postures, and gestures (mert student encyclopedia Vol. 3) to be able to externalize their feelings and needs, people first used such primitive forms and modes as idiophones or self sounding media live wodern drams, balls and gongs, membrenophone or vibrated media including all classes of sian drums. Symbologrpahy or sign and symbol writing (like the NSIBIDi (secret writing among cultic groups in the eastern Nigeria) to convey human though and expression (Omu, 1978:2-4).
When the value of writing became apparent, people started writing first on stone and clay tablet. It graduated to papynes and parchment scrolls. The advent of paper, the modern alphabet and the invention of moveable type of printing in the late 1440’s was a great step in the spreading of writing  communication. In time there were books, magazine and newspapers as organs of early mass communication.
Newspaper is an important part of communication newspaper such as the punch the guardian and the vanguard help to inform, educate and entertain the readers.
Designs are made to assist the reader to grape the message. A good design is not that which uses all the boxes, colours and fancy typography, but which impels the readers to take notice and which to read. obviously, the style of presentation must be related to the newspapers formats as well as the contents the layout and design of a newspaper is completely different form that of magazine.
To achieve a quality design in newspaper, the element of design such as unity, balance, proportion, contrasts, harmony and rhythm must be, properly used. The readers are probably the major factor in determining what is communicated, therefore to obtain a favorable response from them those in control of the business must influence or find out what the main purpose f newspaper design is, of course to improve communication to get more people to read more of the newspaper (Moun, 1984).
- Statement Of The Problem
The proliferation of newspapers and their disappearance has dotted human history and whenever there has been a choice of newspaper options to the reader the disappearance has been more severe. the seasons for such spread could be among others, political and socio-cultural conflicts and the physical and psychological appeal of the paper.
Studies have shown that it is not uncommon that papers carrying the same headlines are unequally attended to more succinctly, it has been documented that readership market is largely underscored by the design, layout, format of a paper (Mann, 1974:72). So have been the place of type face display ands make-up styles adopted. (Baskette, Sissors 1977. Akinfeleye, 1987).
But inspite of these submission, it is generally observed, however, that some newspaper carrying the same headlines are ignored in preference to other (Wainwright, 1982). such a phenomenon motivated the researcher to ponder whether or not newspaper readers in uyo are influenced by the cover design of the newspaper.
1.3Â Â Objectives of the Study
The case for design as an important variables in newspaper readership has been established elsewhere (Baskette, Sissors, 1977, Curly 1979; Moen (1984). but the notion that uyo readers are not design conscious had remained a puzzle, and hence a challenge to this study. given the forecast of the probable course the objective of this study are to:
- ascertain if type, size and shape can influence readers preferences
- find out whether the display and size of photographs influence reader preferences
- find out whether make-up can influence readers to ascertain it headline display can influence readers
- ascertain if headline display can influence readers
- find out whether the use of quality entertainment at work influence readers
- find out whether the use of colour can influence readers.
1.4Â Â Research Questions
Given the foregoing premises, the following questions were raised
- Does the size and shape of type of typeface influence the reading a newspaper?
- Does the display and size of photograph influence reading of newspaper?
- Does the make-up of a page influence readers preference of newspaper?
- Does the use of quality cartoons and other entertainment on the front page influence readers preference of a newspaper?
- Do readers prefer newspapers which use colour more to those which do not?
- Can the use of colours influence readership?
1.5Â Â Justification
Apart from the traditional functions of a newspaper which is to inform, educate and entertain, it also thrives both as an economic stimulate and as a business itself. in this regards, it enable people to act based on knowledge, not ignorance, caprile or superstition (merit students encyclopedia) 13.328.
A paper’s confined stay in business depends on the level of advertising support it enjoys. that support also depends on the size and type of the paper readership. A variable for securing such audience, size and type is the design of paper for design is the window and personality of the paper. (Merit student encyclopedia II).
This study will provide a design blueprint for the would be publisher interest in arresting and holiday his readership market and perhaps expanding it. It is hoped more importantly that it would give the would be researcher student or teacher and inspiring insight into the nature of the newspaper design and as a basis for further study.
1.6Â Â Limitation of the Study
This study was limited to Uyo resident and on the following newspaper namely punch, guardian and vanguard. It would have been desirable to extend. The study to other states. but because of time and money limitations the study would be limited to public servant in uyo municipality.
For the most part, data by the study will come from some staff and student of the University Uyo, national electric power authority, ministry of works, ministry of information, Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation, and business community using these institutions and organizations does not necessarily mean they from the back of newspaper readers. Â However, the literacy level and state of critical minds inherent therein where considered high enough for the purpose of the study.
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