Abstract

Community broadcasting is a means of information dissemination, and is of immense benefit to communal life. This benefit can only be derived through sustained listenership borne out of accepted programming. This study therefore examines listeners? perception of enlightenment programmes on University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo campus radios. A total of 80 students, 60 staff and 60 catchment respondents (in all 200 respondents) were selected using a multistage sampling procedure while questionnaires were used to collect information on listenership status, listeners? preference for enlightenment programmes categories, formats, and perception. Data collected were analysed using descriptive (frequency and percentages) and inferential (Chi-square, PPMC and Student t-test) statistics. About half (50.7%) of the respondents listened to the programmes while non listeners were restricted mainly by lack of signal. Children?s programme (1.79) was the most preferred enlightenment programme category among the listeners while radio drama or play format (2.49) was ranked first among preferred programme formats and there was an unfavourable perception (59.2%) of the enlightenment programmes among the listeners. There was a significant difference in the listeners? perception of enlightenment programmes on University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University campus radios (t = 4.33, p<0.05). There was also a significant difference in the listeners? perception of enlightenment programmes in the primary and secondary communities of University of Ibadan. There is therefore, the need to increase the transmitting coverage of existing campus radios while radio drama programme format was advocated to enhance listenership among catchment respondents.

PDF