NEWSPAPER READERSHIP AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN UYO METROPOLIS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The media play a crucial role in the socialization and education of members of the society in which it operate. The media affect us in many ways: as a major socializing influence, a carrier of culture, a source of information , education, entertainment, a key player in political communication and participatory democracy and a communicator of ideological values, norms, attributes and beliefs (Dennis and Merill 1999). The indispensability of the media is incontestable going by the plethora of responsibilities placed on the media by the constitutions of various democratic societies.
Mass communication is a transmission of information for masses. It function in reaction to the actual events, policies and programme in term of the need and objectives that the nation has before itself. It not only informs and educate but it also inspects public affair and the custodian of people’s right. Communication such as radio, television, film and newspaper affect the mind of the people. The activities of the mass media follow closely the development in various field, informing people, reacting to policies, educating the students related to current events and creating the social climate in which development and nation building programme can take place.
Simply defined communication is the art of transmitting information, idea and attitude from a person to another. The unfolding achievements of science are making this communication machinery and more fantastic in its ability to conquer the physical barriers of our world. The art of mass communication is, much more difficult than that of face to face discussion. The oldest media are those of printed word and picture which carry their message through the sense of sight; the weekly newspaper and daily newspaper, magazine, books, pamphlets, direct mail and curricular.
Newspapers are powerful and important medium of mass communication. They are published in many languages. Every morning we eagerly wait for the newspaper to come because they provide knowledge and information about things that happened in recent past. They are found all over the world. It caters to the needs of various sections of society. A newspaper has great influence on society. It shapes public opinion and influences government policies and decisions. In a democratic society, they play a greater role of the guardian of the rights of the people. They serve as a link between the government and the people. They raise voice against the cruelties committed on the people.
NEWSPAPER READERSHIP AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN UYO METROPOLIS
