THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze The Role of Mass Media in Crisis Management in Nigeria: A study of Anambra Broadcasting Service Awka (ABS). To achieve this, the survey research design was used. Subjects were drawn from student’s composition of five communities in Nnewi South, LGA, Anambra State, using the simple random sampling technique and purposive sampling. The sample size was 380 and 350 copies of questionnaire were retrieved. Four research questions guided the study. Research findings shows that the mass media in Anambra Broadcasting Service Awka, were exposed to crisis management and were being affected largely by the masses. To this end, the researcher recommended that parents, lecturers, and school authorities should help government to sensitize the students on the danger of so much exposure to the violent films. Students should also resolve in their minds to restrain from any film that would be injurious to their social orientation. The research study suggested that further research should be carried out on the role of film industries in eradicating negative behaviours and vices among youths.

Background to the Study
Communal clashes have over the years had a common phenomenon in the developing nations of the world, which Nigeria is inclusive.Ethnicity, religious differences, tribal, and land dispute and boundary adjustment cause these. Ethnicity refers to a group of people with a common socio/cultural identity such as language, worldview, religion, and cultural traits, Boaten(2000).
Thus, ethnic groups are social formations distinguished by the communal character (such as language and culture) of their boundaries Nnoli (1980). In other words, ethnic groups represent categories of people characterized by cultural symbols including language, value systems and normative behaviour, and whose members are anchored in a particular territory Otite (1990). Actually, the word ethnic is derived from the Greek word ethnos which means a group of people who share a common and distinctive culture.

In its classical meaning, ethnic relates to a member of a particular group, Imobighe, (2003). Hence ethnicity according to Imobighe should be seen as the feeling of belonging to a distinctive cultural or linguistic group, or a manifestation of ethnic consciousness in relation to other groups. Conflicts arise from the pursuit of divergent interests, goals and aspirations by individuals or groups in defined social and physical environments Otite (1999). As observed in the literature, ethnic conflict derives their rationale and configuration from perceived socio/cultural differences.

In fact, Otite (1990) presents a picture of ethnicity as the contextual discrimination by members of one group against others on the basis of differentiated system of socio-cultural symbols. He affirms that ethnicity has the properties of common group consciousness and identity and also group exclusiveness on the basis of which social discriminations are made. In most cases, as Nigerian experience shown results to violent intractable conflicts.
1.2 Statement Problem
This study examines the role ofmass media in crisis resolution with particular reference to Anambra Broadcasting Service, Awka (ABS).
Research on communal crisis and media role is usually difficult if not impossible. This study is examining the role of mass media in crisis resolution.