1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Since every society, organisation, club, institution, etc. depends on communication for its survival, effective information services are essential to human life. Without them, none of these would be able to operate as intended. In order to keep up with the world's constant changes, communication has kept civilization evolving. Our capacity to take in and process information about our environment has been enhanced by the continuous flow of ideas and knowledge made possible by this.
Today's more sophisticated communication methods are the result of scientific and information technology advancements, allowing events and information to be concurrently broadcast throughout the electromagnetic spectrum, or airwaves, to a diverse and scattered audience. Due to this progress, separately functioning communities have become a part of a larger entity known as the "global village." Consequently, the phrase "mass media" is now widely used. On the other hand, mass media pertain to the mediums of mass communication that are often divided into print and electronic media.
Television, films, and radio are examples of electronic media. Tucker (2000) provides a definition of the television that this research is looking at. is the method of remotely creating a brief visual picture of a real or recorded scene utilising an electrical or communication infrastructure. Because it blends voice, visual, and motion, this medium is more social than print and radio. Due to these charms, television programme packaging and scheduling have developed into a painstaking process of breaking up broadcast time to suit the diverse tastes of the audience. Among these numerous projects are those meant to meet the social needs of young people.
However, some youth programmes may not fully achieve their desires objectives because of any combination of some problems faced by Nigerian television operators. These problems range from lack of fund, technical adequate production facilities and skilled problems. Youth programmes should aim at inculcating in youth; those social, cultural and moral values that will enable them function as effective members of their society.
MacBride et al. (2001) assert that television has a strong socializing impact and has the ability to influence viewers' thoughts and actions. It has the ability to influence opinion and contribute to the formation of attitudes in addition to reflecting. This is what led to the idea to research Youth Rendezvous Cooperation (AKBC) channel 45 in order to determine how much they have contributed to moulding young people's personalities in Uyo City to fit in with the norms of acceptable conduct.
Television in Nigeria is supposed to provide the kinds of shows that would assist raise awareness, particularly among young people, and encourage expression and skill mastery, according to Mboho (2002:102). This viewpoint must be based on an appreciation of the significance of young in any given society and the necessity of guiding their personal lives in a way that will benefit society as a whole. This is due to what journalism instructor John Denvey correctly points out in Vol. 33. Society shapes its own destiny via guiding the youth's actions. Considering that the young of a certain era will eventually make up the society of that era.
This implies that youth programming need to be able to mould young people into patriotic, responsible leaders who can guide their societies' affairs in the proper directions.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that despite the best of intentions, television cannot force individuals to think and act in ways that conform to societal norms. Instead, mediating variables like selective exposure and the authority of communicators must be considered. Thus, television operators need to be aware of the characteristics of the societies in which they operate as well as the unique needs of young people in order to play a part in forming the values and character of youth in that community.
This will enable them to understand how to go about meeting those needs through thoughtfully planning and putting together youth programmes. These shouldn't be put together quickly or as a regular daily practice, but rather should involve in-depth research and analysis of the sociological and psychological needs of young people, as well as what society expects of them and how it satisfies those needs.
The producers of these youth activities are restricted in their ability to create and package them to adhere to legal standards enshrined in the constitution as well as other socio-cultural and ethnic behavioural norms that provide individuals with a sense of belonging. And at other times, they tend to be merely informative tools. One them wonders if the provision of entertainment and informative are sufficient assistance towards the moulding of youth characters.
Therefore, given the inherent objectives of television youth programmes as an attempt at moulding their character to conform with societal approved ways of behavioral, this study possess the question to what extent have youth rendezvous helped to shapes the characters of youths in uyo metropolis to conform with acceptable behavior patterns?
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the research is to examine the selected AKBC Programmes and Character Moulding Amongst Youth in Uyo Metropolis. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Determine the extent to which youth rendezvous programme are acceptable by youths in Uyo metropolis;
- Determine the extent to which these programmes have helped in the inculcation of moral in youths in uyo metropolis
- Ascertain the extent to which the programmes under study have helped to promote our culture, norms and values among youth in Uyo metropolis
- Know the extent to which youth rendezvous programmes encourage good social relationship in youths in uyo metropolis and
- Determine which of the programmes is geared more towards character moulding.
1.4 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Do this programmes geared more towards youth’s character moulding?
- To what extent is youth rendevouz programme accepted by youths in uyo metropolis?
- To what extents have youth rendevouz programmes helped in the inculcation of good moral behaviour in youths in Uyo metropolis?
- To what extent does this programme promote our culture, norms and values among youth in Uyo metropolis?
- To what extent do the programmes under study encourage good social relationship in youths in uyo metropolis?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of this research entails that, since youths make up a sizable section of the population, the media likely views it as worthwhile to cater to their interests. Considering young people of today will be tomorrow's leaders, it became even more important for the mass media to offer a suitable platform for educating, entertaining, informing, and shaping them into respectable members of society.
Despite the increasing difficulty of developing competent future leaders, several youth television programmes, like the one being examined in this case, have been able to contribute significantly to the solution. But the goal of this research is to enhance adolescent’s rendevouz programmes in order to achieve better success. To that purpose, it will thoroughly examine the programming and then provide feedback to the creators.
1.6 Scope / Delimitation of the Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Study of select AKBC Programmes and Character Moulding Amongst Youth in Uyo Metropolis.
For wider applications of the result of this study, it would have been work while to extent the study to other states. But due to cost, study is limited to the literate youths in Uyo metropolis.
The choice of only the literate youths stems from the fact that youth rendevouz programmes is broadcast in English languages. This makes the non literate youth unable to comprehend fully, the intellectual contents of these programmes.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint:
The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint:
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents:
A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The definition of some recurring words and phrases in this work will be undertaken thus:
Programmes:
They are the broadcast station activities which they offer to the public inform or informing educating, entertain.
Youth:
Young is a person between the ages of fourteen and thirty (14-30 years).
Character Moulding:
Inculcating in youths acceptable moral behaviours and other socio-cultural norms to en able them function effectively in a given social systems.
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