Department of Mass Communication

The objective of this research was to investigate the function of radio in disseminating culture within the context of Nigeria. This paper presents a case study focusing on Benin City, located in the Edo State of Nigeria. The research aimed to evaluate the extent to which radio disseminates culture and the effects it has on the population in Benin City. The research was grounded on the the oretical frameworks of cultural norms theory and social responsibility media theory. The survey approach was used, with the questionnaire serving as the tool for collecting replies. The study's results indicate that radio stations have a significant role in disseminating the cultural values of the Benin population via their cultural and news programming. The researcher so suggests that radio broadcasting should persist in its efforts to uphold cultural values by delivering news and programs in local languages. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to actively engage with cultural programming on the radio

This study examines public perception of social media use for political campaigns in 2023 Nigeria elections. The study sought to discover public perception on the use of social media platforms for political campaign messages. The theories used to support this study were Uses and gratification theory and Agenda setting theory. The study employed the survey method using questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Findings reveal that social media platforms are used for political campaign messages, social media platforms are seen as a two way communication system that greatly improved feedback of political campaign messages, the users of these social media platforms are exposed to political campaign messages on social media and the general public are accepting of the use of social media for political campaign. The study then recommends that political campaign messages on social media platforms should be monitored so the rise of fake information on social media will be combated, the government should also utilize social media platforms very well as it is a form of communication that is here to stay

The study is focused on the impact of graphics on advertisement appeal, using UNIBEN students as a study. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent at which UNIBEN students are exposed to graphics in advertisements, find out the attitude of UNIBEN students towards graphics in advertisements and investigate the effectiveness of Graphics on the advertisement appeal on UNIBEN students. In terms of the theoretical framework, the Affect and Perception theory were adopted. For its methodology, the survey research method was adopted, while questionnaire was employed to gather the data used for the study. Findings of the study revealed that the use of graphics make advertisement more appealing to UNIBEN students and it makes advertising messages more persuasive. The findings also indicated UNIBEN students agreed that the use of graphics in advertisement is effective in delivering advertising messages to a high extent. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that graphical elements play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and perceptions of UNIBEN students. The researcher therefore recommended among other things that advertisers should continue to enhance the impact of advertising messages by continually refining and optimizing graphic design elements such as text, colors, images, and shapes to align with the preferences and sensibilities of UNIBEN students. It was also recommended that advertisers should not focus on only graphical elements to capture attention but also use other appeals to influence positive behavior towards products and services.

The study is focused on the impact of graphics on advertisement appeal, using UNIBEN students as a study. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent at which UNIBEN students are exposed to graphics in advertisements, find out the attitude of UNIBEN students towards graphics in advertisements and investigate the effectiveness of Graphics on the advertisement appeal on UNIBEN students. In terms of the theoretical framework, the Affect and Perception theory were adopted. For its methodology, the survey research method was adopted, while questionnaire was employed to gather the data used for the study. Findings of the study revealed that the use of graphics make advertisement more appealing to UNIBEN students and it makes advertising messages more persuasive. The findings also indicated UNIBEN students agreed that the use of graphics in advertisement is effective in delivering advertising messages to a high extent. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that graphical elements play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and perceptions of UNIBEN students. The researcher therefore recommended among other things that advertisers should continue to enhance the impact of advertising messages by continually refining and optimizing graphic design elements such as text, colors, images, and shapes to align with the preferences and sensibilities of UNIBEN students. It was also recommended that advertisers should not focus on only graphical elements to capture attention but also use other appeals to influence positive behavior towards products and services.

The conventional media journalists have diverse experiences since the influx of new media. technologies especially web 2.0 applications in journalism practice. Therefore, it becomes necessary to examine journalists’ experiences in conventionalmedia organizations in the face of emerging new media in Edo State. The tenets of agenda setting, technological determinism, and social presence theories were used in this study. Descriptive survey design was employed. with the aid of 12-item questionnaire. The sample for this study constituted 300 journalists in Edo State through the purposive and proportionate stratified sampling technique. The sample reflected and represented all the journalists in Edo State. Data generated were presented and analysed in frequency tables, simple percentages, mean scores, standard deviations and Pearson’s Product Movement Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC), which aided the answering of the research questions and testing of the hypothesis formulated. The study found that conventional media journalists make use of new media technologies to make their work easier. Also, the study revealed that new media has had a profound effect on the activities of conventional media journalists as they with the help ofnew media technologies have greater access to a wider global audience, easierprocesses of news production and the boundaries of journalism has been falling asmore people are engaged in the processesof news gathering more than ever before.The study also found that ethical, governance, the loss of advert revenues, infrastructural, and technical challenges have emerged with the new media dominance. It was also discovered that new media has profound effects on conventionalmedia news production as the new media provides multiple advantages for conventional media operations and there is a significant change in the experiences of conventional media journalists in the face of the emerging new media in Edo State. The study concluded that new media technologies constitute necessary tools for conventional media journalism practice. Therefore, it was recommended that the conventional media organizations should put in place measures to own the necessarynew media organ/infrastructure. Also, that a raft of careful legislative policies be put in place to mitigate the occurrence of ethicalbreechesin news production.

This study was carried out to investigate Port Harcourt Residents Perception of Media Advocacy against Kidnapping in Rivers State using selected respondents in Port Harcourt. To achieve this objective, six research questions and two research hypotheses were formulated to guide this study. The data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected with the help of a well-structured questionnaire of two sections administered to the selected respondents in Port Harcourt. The collected data were analyzed tables and descriptive statistics to analyze the research questions while t-test statistical method was used to test research hypotheses. All data were coded using SPSS software. The study reveals that there is a significant impact of media advocacy on Port Harcourt Residents Perception against Kidnapping in Rivers State and there is a significant relationship between media advocacy and campaign against kidnapping in Rivers State. The study concludes that radio campaigns against kidnapping in Port Harcourt have been ineffective due to residents' lack of engagement and support. To combat kidnapping, radio stations in Rivers state should collaborate with stakeholders and emphasize the joint effort required for enhanced security. The study suggests working with security personnel and other stakeholders to address the kidnapping problem in Rivers State, prioritizing objectivity and credibility in media reporting, concentrating on education and advocacy against kidnapping, and actively involving locals in the group effort to improve security and eradicate kidnapping.

The conventional media journalists have diverse experiences since the influx of new media technologies especially web 2.0 applications in journalism practice. Therefore, it becomes necessary to examine journalists’ experiences in conventional media organizations in the face of emerging new media in Edo State. The tenets of agenda setting, technological determinism,
and social presence theories were used in this study. Descriptive survey design was employed with the aid of 12-item questionnaire. The sample for this study constituted 300 journalists in Edo State through the purposive and proportionate stratified sampling technique. The sample reflected and represented all the journalists in Edo State. Data generated were presented and analysed in frequency tables, simple percentages, mean scores, standard deviations and Pearson’s Product Movement Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC), which aided the answering of the research questions and testing of the hypothesis formulated. The study found that conventional media journalists make use of new media technologies to make their work easier. Also, the study revealed that new media has had a profound effect on the activities of conventional media journalists as they with the help of new media technologies have greater access to a wider global audience, easier processes of news production and the boundaries of journalism has been falling as more people are engaged in the processes of news gathering more than ever before.
The study also found that ethical, governance, the loss of advert revenues, infrastructural, and technical challenges have emerged with the new media dominance. It was also discovered that new media has profound effects on conventional media news production as the new media provides multiple advantages for conventional media operations and there is a significant change in the experiences of conventional media journalists in the face of the emerging new media in Edo State. The study concluded that new media technologies constitute necessary tools for conventional media journalism practice. Therefore, it was recommended that the conventional media organizations should put in place measures to own the necessary new media organ/infrastructure. Also, that a raft of careful legislative policies be put in place to mitigate the occurrence of ethical breeches in news production

The study investigated the Differential Effectiveness of Cognitive Restructuring Therapy (CRT), Social Skills Training (SST) and Assertiveness Training (AT) Counselling Techniques in Handling Shyness using Students in Public Junior Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study determined the general level of shyness as well as among male and female students in junior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study also determined if sex influenced the efficacies of the three counselling therapies in the handling of shyness among students in junior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. To address the problem of the study, nine research questions were raised and seven of them were formulated into seven corresponding hypotheses and tested at 0.05 level of significance.
The target population of the study consisted of thirty thousand, five hundred and seventy-four (30,574) students enrolled in the 2022/2023 academic session in the Public Mixed Junior Secondary Schools Two (JSS2) in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size comprised of two hundred (200) junior secondary school students which were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Quasi experimental research design which involved non-equivalent pre-test-post-test design was adopted for the study which consisted of three experimental groups. The instrument used for pre-test and post-test was the questionnaire titled; Shyness Inventory (SI). The validity of the instrument was ascertained by three experts-the researcher’s two supervisors and one test expert in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin-City. The instrument was administered on thirty students outside the sample of the study to determine the reliability of the instrument. Cronbach Alpha statistics was used to obtain a reliability coefficient of 0.85. The Shyness Inventory (SI) was used to identify the shy students