EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIO PROGRAMME IN BRIDGING THE ILLITERACY GAP IN THE RURAL AREAS OF BAYELSA STATE: A STUDY OF NEWS IN THE LANGUAGES OF RADIO BAYELSA

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the effectiveness of the radio programme in bridging the illiteracy gap in the rural areas of Bayelsa State. The research was based on the development media theory. The survey method was used; the study’s population was 470,800, and a sample size of 385 was calculated using an Australian online sample size calculator. The study used a multistage sampling procedure, with a questionnaire as the data gathering tool. The findings revealed that 54% of respondents are highly exposed to the news in language programme, 98% of respondents confirmed that Radio Bayelsa’s use of language in information dissemination is a welcome development that should be encouraged, and 81% of the respondents attested that news in language has been very effective in bridging the illiteracy gap in the rural areas of Yenagoa metropolis. Therefore, the researchers recommended that the residents strive for more exposure to language broadcast programs in order to be adequately informed. Therefore, more language programs should be made available on Radio Bayelsa and other broadcast media organizations in the state; language broadcast should be encouraged and embraced by media organizations during news or program broadcast; and media organizations should be very creative in working with creative producers to create programmes in languages and airtime/space be allocated to such programmes.

Keywords: Radio, Rural, Programmes, Development, Illiteracy.