A Comparative Study of Radio and Television Stations in Rivers State Coverage of Gender Related Issues

Abstract

The global call for gender equality requires the contribution from everybody, especially broadcasters, because it is their responsibility. The study examines the extent of broadcast media sensitivity to gender issues with particular emphasis on number of programmes, type, frequency and direction of programmes, and the challenges of broadcasting gender-based issues. The study was underpinned on the gate-keeping theory. Survey research design was employed, and NTA, AIT, Treasure FM (Radio Nigeria) and Nigeria Info FM – were purposively selected based on their ownership. Findings reveal that broadcasting in Nigeria is not sensitive enough to gender- based issues seeing that the number of gender-related programmes broadcast in all four stations of study was relatively small compared to the overall number of programmes broadcast. The major challenge encountered in the broadcast of gender-based issues in the stations include a dearth of funds for the production and sponsorship of such programmes and the cultural inclination of Africans in general. The study strongly recommends the enactment of gender specific laws mandating broadcast media to be sensitive in their programming.