Redirecting media use for national development: A comparative study of the programming content of two radio stations in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract This study compares two radio stations serving the same community to assess whether adequate broadcast slots are given to programmes that educate and enlighten the public in ways that may motivate and empower them towards general economic growth activities. One station, Globe FM 98.5 is financed by federal government, while BRC FM 94.6 is financed by state government. The premise is; while both citizens and the government desire economic growth and development, it is the government that controls the nation’s resources and institutions and can use them for the realization of these goals. The theoretical framework is development theory which postulates that modern media has advanced to a complex interactive educational tool for development. The study used content analysis technique to sort out programming categories, while qualitative analysis of contents was conducted through listening to random samples, as well as personal interviews with stations’ staff. Results show the state station scheduled more educational and enlightenment programmes than the federal station. This appears to be a function of more funding as well as closer oversight by state government, in contrast to federal government’s increased advertisements, and its location in the federal capital, away from its 36 state radios across the country. Key Words: National Development; Media Use; Programming Content; Radio Stations; Nigeria. *Hadiza Isa Wada, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 10, No. 1, April 2018, 168 – 180