Greener Journal of Internet, Information and Communication Systems

Greener Journal of Internet, Information and Communication Systems. Vol. 4 (1), pp. 01-09, March 2018.  

ISSN: 2354-2373

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 022618028

(DOI: http://doi.org/10.15580/GJIICS.2018.1.022618028)

 

Media, Ethnic Rivalry and Economic Development

  

¹EMMANUEL Happiness Onyemaechi, (PhD),

²*UKAEGBU Michael Ibe (PhD)

  

¹Department of Mass Communication, Rhema University, Aba, Nigeria. 

²Department of Mass Communication, Abia State University Uturu, Nigeria.  

Abstract

Ethnic rivalry, economic development and the role of the media are of utmost importance in Nigerian due to the diverse ethnic identities that exist and tend to impinge on the economic development. This study investigates the role of the media to play down ethnic rivalry through unity messages to enhance economic development. Descriptive survey was used to collect data from 200 respondents purposively chosen from Port Harcourt metropolis. The findings show that a good number of people are aware of unity message(s) in the media and such message(s) encourage them to be patriotic and contribute to economic development beyond their ethnic base. The study further reveals that the use of unity message(s) in the media by the respondents is poor as 25.27% assessed it as low and 14.29% very low. The study recommends that media should improve on their social responsibility roles by emphasizing unity message(s) to down play ethnic rivalry in Nigeria.

Keywords: media, ethnic identity, unity messages and economic development.

Return to Content       View [Full Article - PDF]  

    [Full Article - HTML]                [Full Article - EPUB]  

Post-review Rundown

View/get involved, click [Post-review]

Reference

Aiyeloja (2012). Nigeria: Our ethnic identity. Retrieved July 2016 from https: tosanwo. wordpress. Com/…/Nigeria

 

Anaeto, S.G. & Solo-Anaeto, M. (2010). Development communication: principles and practice. Lagos: Stirling-Horden

 

Barth, F. (1969). Ethnic groups and boundaries: The social organization of culture difference. Osho: Universitetsforlaget.

 

Cashmore, E. (1994). Dictionary of peace and ethnic relations. (3rded.). New York: Routledge.

 

Doob, C.B. (1991). Sociology: An introduction (5thed.) USA: Wadsworth

 

Ekeanyanwu, N.T. & Adekoya, T.O. (2008).Media handling of political conflict in a pluralist society. A study of the Obansanyo and Atiku political conflict. In E.M. Mojaye, E.     Arhagba, E. Soola & L. Oso (Eds.), Media, dialogue, peace building and reconciliation:   Conference Proceedings .Abraka: African Council for Communication Education

 

Ekran, G. (2013). How ethnic diversity affects economic development. Retrieved from www.zen-tra. de/wpaper

 

Habte, A.M. (1983). Mass media role in the third world. In J.Martins & A. Chaudhary (Eds.). World mass media systems. New York: Longman.

 

Jabbar, J. (2013). Role of media in national development in the 21st century. Criterion   Quarterly. January/March 2016. Volume 11 number (1).Retrieved from www.criterion-quarterly.com/role-of-media.

 

Kurt, J. (2001). Religion and ethnic conflict in theory. Retrieved from www.accessmylibrary.com

 

Lewis, P. & Bratton, M. (2000).Down to earth: changes in attitudes towards democracy and markets in Nigeria. International foundation for election systems and management systems international. Washington DC.

 

Macionis, J.J. (2007). Sociology: The basics (11thed.) New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

 

Media Development Investment Fund. (n.d.) Retrieved from www.mdif.org/mdif@   mdif.org

 

Mc Quail, D. (1987). Mass communication theory: An introduction. Berverly Hills C.A: Sage Publications.

 

McQuire, W.J. (1968). Personality and attitude change: An information processing theory. In Greenwald, A. C; T. C. Brock & T.M. Ostrom (Eds). Psychological foundation of attitudes. San Diego: California Academic Press.

 

National Population Commission (NPC) (2015).Rivers State Chapter. Retrieved from http://en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Port-Harco...

 

Okeke, M. I. & Obiora, C. (2008).Community conflicts and media responsibilities in building peace and social dynamism. A perspective discourse. Global Communicator, 1 (3) p.42.

 

Oteh, C. O. (2008). The ethnicity question and the challenge of development in Nigeria: A study of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. In E.M. Mojaye, E. Arhagba, E. Soola& L. Oso (Eds.), Media, dialogue, peace building and reconciliation: Conference Proceedings. Abraka: African Council for Communication Education.

 

Schramm, W. (1964). Mass media and national development. Standford: Standford University Press.

 

Ukaegbu, M. I. (2017). Development communication. Enugu: Iyke Lito Publishers.

 

Wimmer, R.D. & Dominick, J.R. (2003). Mass media research: An introduction. (7thed.)  California: Wadsworth/ Thomson Learning.