1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The personal and unique character of radio makes it one of the most appealing and universal mass media for participatory communication and development (Teer-Tomaselli & De Villiers, 1998, p.147). Various researches aver that radio has the capacity to reach large audiences, both young and old, including those in remote, underdeveloped and impoverished areas of the developing world. According to Bosch (2007), in the absence of other forms of media such as television and newspapers, radio has proven to be a powerful and vital means of entertainment and communication that guarantees community involvement in the communication process. Further researches show that radio is renowned for providing communities with up-to-date local and international information in their own languages accompanied by various music genres that are compatible with diverse cultural inclinations (Mmusi, 2002, p.3; National University radio Forum, 1993, p.10). The development of digital radio and its capacity to integrate or network with various Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), through convergence, has arguably placed radio as the world’s most successful ICT to date that reaches millions of listeners everyday (National University radio Forum, 1993, p6). While the traditional functions of national radio, especially Public Broadcasting Service, cannot be underestimated, University radio serves as a “niche” of the media landscape that serves as a primary source of reliable information for the entire population (Dunaway, 2002, p.4). As such, the sector has continued to provide news and information relevant to the needs of community members in the form of a medium which empowers them politically, socially and economically, through locally produced and oriented media content (Wigston, 2001; Fraser & Estrada, 2001). This is evident in the kind of programming that reflects people’s needs with regard to education, information, and entertainment to all language and cultural groups in the country (Mmusi, 2002; Teer-Tomaselli, 1995).
Although radio is not a new phenomenon, private ownership, control of programming, content and operation is relatively a recent phenomenon. It has been gaining strength throughout the world in recent years most especially in developing countries. As a result, private FM and University radio has attracted the attention of many international development organizations as an optimal resource to be developed in the struggle for democracy, the fight against disease, and the preservation of local language and culture (Blackson, 2005). Furthermore, radio is scholarly proven to be the perfect medium for mass communication. The interactive appeal of radio has distinguished it as an effective medium above other tools of mass media. What makes radio particularly appealing is its interactivity, its capacity to provoke dialogue and solicit the participation of local populations (Baran, 2003).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Student Manager Perspective of managing a University Based Radio Station.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The Nigeria broadcast media industry which is Africa’s largest and the world’s fourth largest, media industry needs to strive not only in meeting with the competitiveness of the industry in the area of listenership, but strive for excellence in both qualitative and quantitative media content and programming to meet its target audience.(Simmering & Fairbairn, 2007, p.7). In
order to fully support this lofty aspiration, there is the need for the mass media to serve not only as an outlet for just information dissemination, but also for societal development, socialization of norms and values as well as agent of ethic and technological rejuvenation in the face of mounting pressure from popular culture through the media that seems to be eroding communal life and virtues around us. Insofar as this pressure remains, the prospect of the development of effective campus radio operations in Nigeria seem to hang in the balance and that is why a study of this nature is necessary in order to unravel motivations that exist in establishing campus radio and also to find out the challenges and prospects of established University radios in Nigeria universities with delimitation on B.U.K 88.5 (Bayero University, Kano Campus radio station).
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is to examine the Student Manager Perspective of managing a University Based Radio Station using Bayero University Campus Radio as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To investigate the factors responsible for the establishment of University campus radio in the area under study;
- To examine the operational nature of the radio station in the area under study;
- To find out the challenges affecting the effectiveness of the radio station (if any);
- To find out the administrative structure of the radio station in the area under study; and
- To determine if there are existing gaps between the aims of establishing the radio station and its current operational function.
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:
- What are the factors that influenced the establishment of a Campus Radio Station in the area under study?
- What is the operational nature of the radio station?
- What is the funding mechanism of the radio station?
- What is the state of the current operational function of the radio station in relation to the aims of establishing it?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no communication relevance between University based radio and Student management
- H1: There is a communication relevance between University based radio and Student management
1.6 Significance of the Study
The data and information gathered in the course of this research would help the broadcast industry, media policy makers, the legislature, federal government regulatory agency in charge of broadcasting and university management/authorities to foster a more proactive, competitive and productive ways of developing University radio broadcasting in Nigerian universities. Wherever it will be established, this work would further provide information and additional literature on the nature, challenges and the prospect of campus radio broadcast in Nigeria in particular, Africa and the rest of the developing world in general.
1.7 Scope of Study
This scope of the study is focused on the examination of Student Manager Perspective of managing a University Based Radio Station using Bayero University Campus Radio as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- 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.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Campus: A premise of learning of an academic institution, especially for tertiary education.
Radio Station: A broadcast house where mostly audio content and programming are produced and transmitted over broadcast spectrum or frequency
Campus Radio: A radio station situated at the premises of an academic institution
Community Broadcast: The way of broadcasting within a close frequency or range to a section of the society
…
