Radio Drama As A Tool For Social Change

Project and Seminar Material for Theatre Arts

Abstract

The study was focused on radio drama as a tool for social change in Onitsha LGA of Anambra state. The sample size of this study is five hundred and twenty-three (523) which was arrived at by getting the 5% of the population of Onitsha north local government area. Data collected in the research process was analyzed in descriptive statistics.

The findings revealed that radio brought about the extent of social change in Onitsha north local government area. And if the radio stations are better managed and reformed, they can facilitate social change of the rural areas to a greater level. As a matter of fact, it is the conclusion of this study that radio is a powerful tool for rural social change and equal social change in the third world countries and Nigeria in particular.

Table Of Content

Preliminary Page(s)

Title page
Certification page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of content

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background To The Study
1.2 Statement Of Problem
1.3 Scope Of Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Objectives Of Study
1.6 Rationale
1.7 Significance Of Study

Chapter Two

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Conceptual Review
2.2 Social Change As A Concept
2.3 Social Change Communication
2.4 The Modes Of Mobilization For Social Change In The Rural Area
2.5 Theoretical Framework Of The Study

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population Of The Study
3.3 Sample Size
3.4 Sampling Technique
3.5 Method Of Data Analysis

Chapter Four

4.0 Results And Findings

4.0 Results
4.2 Discussion Of Findings

Chapter Five

5.0 Conclusion And Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendations
References

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

Radio is regarded as the blind man’s medium. However, it has the ability to stimulate the mind. It was invented by a great Italian electrical engineer, Guglielmo Marconi in 1895 (Brittnre, 1989) and from its first tentative experiments, it has expanded into an almost universal medium of communication.

It is a medium that leaps around the world on short waves, linking the continents, the nations, states, regions and communities in a fraction of a second. It brings the world to those who cannot read and helps maintain a contact for those who cannot see.

Okigbo points out the popularity of radio in Nigeria stating that:

“The attraction radio has for rural dwellers is derived from its cheap price and cost of operation” (57).

He further explains that:

“Radio sets are portable and can be used by both the educated and the illiterate” (58).

Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acostic performance broadcast on radio or published on audio media such as tape or compact disc. With no visual components, radio drama depends on dialogue, music, and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story. It is auditory in the physical dimension but equally powerful as visual force in the psychological dimension. By the 1940s, radio drama became a leading international popular entertainment.

The Roman playwright Seneca has been claimed as the forerunner of radio drama because his plays were performed by readers as sound plays, not by actors as stage plays, but in this respect, Seneca had no significant successor until the 20th century technology made possible the widespread dissemination of sound plays.

However, radio drama can be traced back to the 1900. In 1901, French Engineer Clement Ader had filed a patent for improvements of telephone equipment in Theatres. (Theatrophone). English language drama seems to have started in the United States.

Meleish Ponts that:

The radio medium has a distinguished History of turning thoughts, words and actions into satisfying pictures within the listeners mind by using techniques of drama (221).

This no doubt helps to place in perspective the concept of radio drama, which is using sound and words to create vivid pictures in the minds of listeners and which must satisfy some objectives.

Duno (2002) explains that the objectives of these programmes are “relaxation” and entertainment. He adds that local stations use drama to propagate societal norms values and systems. It can also be used as satire to correct societal ills and clarify gross misconception held about prevailing societal issues.

The importance of radio drama can not be over-emphasized because it can serve as a corrective tool for social change. In Nigeria, there are several radio drama aired across the nation. But “one thing at a time” is broadcast nationwide in both public and private radio stations, hence, it is the focus of this study.

1.2 Statements of Problem

The need to reform the societal behaviour has become paramount. The decadence in the Nigerian society is on the high side. But in the theatre today, most theatre directors/producers do not see the need of producing a radio drama. Hence radio drama has been overlooked not only in the educational theatre but also in the general society. This has made people not to pay attention to radio drama. Hence, the main thrust of this work is to proffer solution to this problem. Change is the only thing that is constant in nature, so humans must adapt to favourable social changes for a better and healthy living. However, radio drama is an effect tool though which these changes can be achieved.

1.3 Scope of Study

This study focuses on “effectiveness of radio drama as a tool for social change” using “one thing at a time” as a case study. It tends to point out the importance of drama/radio drama in our society. The scope of this study would show how drama helps the society to see themselves through the characters in their right form.

1.4 Research Questions

Can radio drama be used as a corrective tool?
Can radio drama serve as an enlightenment purpose?
Is radio drama effective?
Does the audience/listeners appreciate radio drama as entertaining and educative medium for social change?
Is radio drama well-structured and produced to achieve its desired goal?

1.5 Objectives of Study

The aim of this study is to create the awareness that radio drama is a vital tool in effecting social change in our society.

This work is also intended to;

state the fact that radio drama is an effective tool for social change
See how a well-structured radio drama can bring about a desired change.

1.6 Rationale

Radio has a wide coverage of audience. It has also recorded huge success in communication sector. Drama is a recreation of human actions and feelings. It is a play to be acted. Drama reaches the hearts of people where real changes manifest from, hence, radio drama can bring about the expected social change.

1.7 Significance of Study

The significance of this study is to provide the society with the knowledge that radio drama is very effective and important in bringing about positive social change.

Since this study intends to show the effectiveness and importance of radio drama as a tool for social change, it will go a long way to provide radio drama producer with further knowledge on how to produce a well-structured and packaged radio drama. Also, it will provide the educationist, parents and the general public an appropriate means in their quest to correcting the ill social behaviour in the society.

Lastly, the researcher intends to make her findings and recommendation as a good starting point for further research in related fields in the near future.

Chapter Five

5.0 Conclusion And Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion

This study was embarked on in order to find out the role of radio drama as a tool for social change. So far the researcher’s findings revealed that radio brought about the extent of social change in Onitsha north local government area. And if the radio stations are better managed and reformed, they can facilitate social change of the rural areas to a greater level. As a matter of fact, it is the conclusion of this study that radio is a powerful tool for rural social change and equal social change in the third world countries and Nigeria in particular.

5.2 Recommendations

In order to bring about even and equal social because communication is vital in the process of social change, the recommendations are as follows:

All the staff, especially radio managers, editors and reporters, should be given some form of training on some social change journalism. It is important, that the more the media people get expertise skills on social change journalism, the better they can perform in the rural areas and should be free from partisan politics.
The government should come up with a ‘‘reasonable salary package’’ law to ensure that the radio crew get not less than a certain amount of wages/salaries.
The radio crew should find ways of encouraging more ordinary people and grassroots leaders to take part, either as guests or contributors, in the talk shows, phone-ins and other programmes.
To promote local and national identities, the government should come up with a national policy that local content constitutes not less than 50 per cent of the radio daily programmes. Local contents are programmes, drama or songs produced by the rural dwellers, in the local language, sometimes using locally made instruments, and aimed at promoting local themes, ideas or causes.