Appraisal Of The Role Of Television In The Promotion Of Environmental Health

This study was carried out to examine the role of television in the promotion of environmental health in Andoni Local Government of Rivers State. The study was specifically carried out to determine whether television play a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State; find out whether television play a significant role in enhancing the masses knowledge of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health practices in Rivers State; find out whether television play a significant role influencing the audience attitude towards environmental health issues and practices in Rivers State; and ascertain the effectiveness of television in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised of residents of Andoni Local Government of Rivers State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 147 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency and percentage tables, while the hypotheses was tested chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the television plays a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State. Furthermore, the study revealed that the the television as a mass media is effective in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State. Therefore, it is recommended that all media houses should include Environmental Health issues in their programmes and invite experts on these issues to the programme, and create room for a phone-in segment to encourage public participation. To mention but a few.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The 21st century world is much more multidimensional and much more interrelated that the bipolar and the unipolar power syndromes are over forever. This is because the world is increasingly multi-polar and has many fronts space technology, education, medicine, sports, commerce and tourism, bio-fuel research, to mention a few, where many countries could competently and confidently hold their grounds. This scenario was unthinkable some decades ago when only the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the United States of America (USA) and a few others had political, military and socioeconomic hegemony over the world. Today with the rise of countries such as India, Iran, South Africa, China, Libya, Pakistan, Japan, North Korea and other "Asia Tigers", the world appears to be engaged in a fierce competition with itself. Apart from the continuous depletion of the ozone layer, that has been precipitated by industrial pollution and the technological craze of these countries, many of them are engaged in the economics of protectionism and military adventurism, which is threatening world peace by the day. Incidentally, this has culminated in the worst ever global economic recession the world has witnessed in recent history. People of different races, ideological persuasions and religions seem to have agreed that there is the need for global solidarity to promote the sustenance of the environment for generations unborn. The human race is now trying to explore the diversities of the world with a view to engendering community solidarity, stability and creativity, national and transnational integration as well as global peace (Joseph Eboreime in the Nigerian Television Authority programme, "One on One" , 2009). In essence, there appears to be a growing global consensus which is probably best couched in the expression, "We don"t have elsewhere to go so let"s preserve the earth for our good and the good of our children". Developing tourism prospects in different parts of the globe has been identified as one of the surest strategies to jumpstart the slowdown in the different economies of the world (Cable News Network [CNN], 2009).

Apart from ensuring sustainable growth and development, tourism promotes the preservation of natural and man-made treasures which are, in turn, capable of keeping the earth safe. It is in this sense that this paper canvasses the use of the television medium to reinvent tourism for sustainable growth and development in a developing economy such as Nigeria. Theoretically, this paper is predicated on the development media theory which advocates that the media could be used to facilitate the process of socioeconomic development of a country (Baran and Davis, 1995). The theoretical construct further holds that by supporting development efforts, the media could be an aid to society at large. In other words, the media particularly the broadcast media could and should be used to rally people, infrastructure and institutions in aid of national development in modern societies. Hence, the media particularly the television medium can help to prioritize societal issues, including tourism development issues in Nigeria. The World Book Encyclopaedia (1987) explains "television" as a derivative of the Greek, "tele" meaning "at a distance", and the Latin "videre", meaning "to see". Thus television means "a seeing at a distance". It is considered to be one of the greatest technological strides of 20th century which possesses the ability to take viewers out of this world to explore the outer space. The television medium is such a captivating medium that has created an intimate relationship between the audience and itself. Through television programmes, "we (the audience) gain insights into politics, history, current events, and culture (Awake!, 2006). It has a variety of applications in society, business, and science. The most common use of television is as a source of information and entertainment for viewers in their homes. Security personnel also use televisions to monitor buildings, manufacturing plants, and numerous public facilities. Public utility employees use television to monitor the condition of an underground sewer line, using a camera attached to a robot arm or remote-control vehicle. Doctors can probe the interior of a human body with a microscopic television camera without having to conduct major surgery on the patient. Educators use television to reach students throughout the world. Perhaps, it is this awesomeness of television in terms of functionality that impelled Antonoff (2008) to assert that Television is a system of sending and receiving pictures and sound by means of electronic signals transmitted through wires and optical fibres or by electromagnetic radiation. These signals are usually broadcast from a central source, a television station, to reception devices such as television sets in homes or relay stations such as those used by cable television service providers. Television is the most widespread form of communication in the world. Though most people will never meet the leader of a country, travel to the moon, or participate in a war, they can observe these experiences through the images on their television.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Television is a system of sending and receiving pictures and sound by means of electronic signals transmitted through wires and optical fibres or by electromagnetic radiation. These signals are usually broadcast from a central source, a television station, to reception devices such as television sets in homes or relay stations such as those used by cable television service providers. Television is the most widespread form of communication in the world.

Though most people will never meet the leader of a country, travel to the moon, or participate in a war, they can observe these experiences through the images on their television. It is in light of this that prompt the researcher to investigate the role of television in the promotion of environmental health.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to ascertain the role of television in the promotion of environmental health, but to aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following objectives;

Determine whether television play a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State.

Find out whether television play a significant role in enhancing the masses knowledge of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health practices in Rivers State.

Find out whether television play a significant role influencing the audience attitude towards environmental health issues and practices in Rivers State.

Ascertain the effectiveness of television in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State.

1.4 Research Question

The following questions will guide this study.

Does the television play a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State?

Does the television play a significant role in enhancing the masses knowledge of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health practices in Rivers State?

Does television play a significant role influencing the audience attitude towards environmental health issues and practices in Rivers State?

What is the level of television effectiveness in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The television does not play a significant role in the promoting environmental health in Rivers State.

Ha: The television play a significant role in the promoting environmental health in Rivers State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study is significant because it will bring to the understanding of the reader the true position of television in the management of environmental health issues in Rivers State. However, the significance of this study cannot be overemphasized, considering the fact that rapid development of good health contribute immensely to the development of any nation. Upon completion, the study will add knowledge to students and other researchers, policy makers, citizens who can expand it by conducting research in the same field. The study will help to know how radio campaigns have usually been one element of broader health promotion programs with mutually reinforcing components. The study will help to Mobilize and support local agencies and professionals who have direct access to opinion leaders within the target population also bringing together partnerships of public, voluntary and private sector bodies and professional organizations.

The study will help to inform and educate the public, and also setting the agenda for public debate about the health topic, thereby modifying the climate of opinion surrounding through encouraging local and national policy changes so as to create a supportive environment within which people are more able to change their behaviour. The findings of this research work will be of great relevance to the following categories of people. The academics, this includes lecturers, teachers, researchers and students would find this study as a good reference material for related and further studies on this issue. The study will be beneficial to households and health service providers, in the sense that it tends to expose all forms of challenges and prospects they are likely to encounter with lack of good health.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the role of television in the promotion of environmental health in Rivers State. The study borders on the level of television effectiveness in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State. Geographically, this study will be delimited to Andoni Local Government Of Rivers State.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.9 Definitions of Terms

Media

Media is the collective communication outlets or tools that are used to store and deliver information or data. It is either associated with communication media, or the specialized mass media communication businesses such as print media and the press, photography, advertising, cinema, broadcasting (radio and television) and publishing

Television

Television or TV is a telecommunication medium used for transmitting moving images in monochrome (black-and-white), or in color, and in two or three dimensions and sound. The term can refer to a television set, a television program ("TV show"), or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for entertainment, education, news, politics, gossip, and advertising

Environmental health

Environmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other terms referring to or concerning environmental health are environmental public health, and public health protection / environmental health protection

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the role of television in the promotion of environmental health in Andoni Local Government of Rivers State. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was to examine the role of television in the promotion of environmental health in Andoni Local Government of Rivers State. The study specifically was aimed at to determine whether television play a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State; find out whether television play a significant role in enhancing the masses knowledge of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health practices in Rivers State; find out whether television play a significant role influencing the audience attitude towards environmental health issues and practices in Rivers State; and ascertain the effectiveness of television in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents are residents in Andoni Local Government of Rivers State.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following conclusion.

Television plays a significant role in the dissemination of environmental health issues in Rivers State.

Television plays a significant role in enhancing the masses knowledge of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health practices in Rivers State.

Television play a significant role influencing the audience attitude towards environmental health issues and practices in Rivers State.

The television as a mass media is effective in contributing to management of environmental health issue in Rivers State.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

All media houses should include Environmental Health issues in their programmes and invite experts on these issues to the programme, and create room for a phone-in segment to encourage public participation.

Mother tongue should be used more often by the media when addressing environmental health issues, to enable everybody understand the message.

The public should be effectively informed about waste management laws and made aware of the legal implications and consequences of not obeying environmental laws, rules and regulations.

The public should be informed about ways to combat environmental health issues.

The people should be enlightened on ways of separating waste, separating the recyclables from the unrecyables.

Industrialists/ Hospitals should be warned against disposal of toxic materials by the Waste Management Authorities.

A Regular sensitization programmes should be carried out by the media.

Broadcasters should be trained on Environmental health issues, so that they will be able to educate the audience properly.

The authorities should provide more waste containers and waste disposal sites at strategic locations.

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Content

List of Tables

Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Research Hypothesis

1.6 Significance of the Study

1.7 Scope of the Study

1.8 Limitation of the Study

1.9 Definition of Terms

1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample Size Determination

3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure

3.5 Research Instrument and Administration

3.6 Method of Data Collection

3.7 Method of Data Analysis

3.8 Validity of the Study

3.9 Reliability of the Study

3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation

4.2 Analysis of Data

4.3 Answering Research Questions

4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

• Appraisal Of Attitudes And Behaviours Of Elderly People Towards Television Programmes

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials