A Comparative Study Of Newspaper Coverage Of Rural/urban Problems In Imo State
[A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF DAILY CHAMPION, THE SUN AND VANGUARD NEWSPAPERS]

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1    SUMMARY
From the study, two facts have been established:
a.    The ownership of a newspaper is a very important and crucial factor in the extent of coverage of rural and urban problems in a developing society. This is reflected in the editorial policy and the attention, though grossly inadequate, which the ownership o f the Daily Champion which gave the largest coverage to urban and rural problems in the study, is from Imo state, speaking volumes for this submission.
On the other hand, the other two dailies,    The Sun and Vanguard whose owners are non -indigenes of Imo sta te, de- emphasized the urban and rural problems being faced by Imo state. The reason is not far -fetched, as they are not directly by the socio-economic and political fortunes of the area (vis -à-vis their    own    states    of    origin).    Simply    put,    they    are    not stakeholders there. This assertion is buttressed by the little importance they attach to urban and rural problems in terms of story placement and length.
b.    Another important finding is that newspapers with a proximity advantage over their rivals in rivals in r elation to rural settings, have the capacity to report more on the problems facing those localities they operate within than newspapers reporting such localities from afar. The reason for this is simple: there is access and familiarity with the locals. In the light of this realization, there id the urgent need for more state and community-based (municipal) newspapers to be established for thorough coverage of rural developmental problem in the society generally, and Imo state in particular.
5.2    CONCLUSION
The result of this study lends credence to the view in most quarters that the ownership of a newspaper, to a large extent, is a determination of the depth of reportage given to rural and urban problems. This is evidence by the Daily Champion experience in this study, where the daily by virtue of its ownership root covered rural and urban problems in Imo state more than the other two dailies used in the study.
Besides, this research discovered that proximity, nearness or attachment of a newspaper of a part icular locality entails better reporting and reflection of the developmental aspirations of such entities. To put it tersey, therefore, the location of a newspaper determines the extent of coverage of community development projects.
The    Daily    Champion ,    though    with    headquarters    in    Lagos, almost practically operate from Imo state.
Moreover,    the    findings        reveals    that    the    apparently    little economic potential of rural areas in terms of revenue generation from    advertisements,    generally,        dissuade        privately -owned newspapers from venturing into the sphere of rural reporting. It is this fact that compels them (privately owned dailies) more often than not, to give extensive coverage to urban issues at the expense of their rural counterparts.
Be that as it may, it is im portant to note that lack of infrastructural amenities like good road networks, communication facilities, and even production equipment all militate against the smooth operation of the press in the enterprise.
Worse still, the professional deficiencies as well as flaws which some journalists exhibit like lack of objectivity, honesty, fairness, balance, impartiality as well as strict adherence to myopic, egocentric editorial policies, all fetter their access and coverage of rural problems in the society.
He foregoing notwithstanding, this study takes a step further to point out that the prevailing situation in the country under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has forced most private newspapers to avert attention from rural issues and now focus maximally on the religious and political travails in the contemporary Nigerian society. A cursory look at the dailies would reveal how and religious crises in the country while rural -oriented matters sink into oblivion.
5.3    Recommendation
With the successful inauguration of Oba sanjo for a second term as Nigeria’s President and commander -in-chief of its armed forces, in May 2003, the government must strive to create an enabling and conductive atmosphere necessary for the private sector to embark on the establishment of community newspapers. This is with a view to giving adequate coverage and publicity to the developmental aspirations and needs of the ruralites who makes up the highest percentage of Nigeria’s population. Such an enabling environment could be created by way of subsidies on printing materials as well as machinery.
Again, a healthy operating environment can be provided through the construction of tarred roads, uninterrupted power supply as well as the provision of communication and health facilities in the rural areas. An effective means of achieving this developmental enterprise is the establishment of functional liaison by the federal government. The local government can be particularly helpful in the area of land acquisition, appropriate locations or sites for projects and identification of most essential needs of the people. When this is done, coverage will increase and urban migration appreciably checked.
As has already been stated above, a drastic reduction of tariffs on imported newsprints and other production mat erials will make newspapers affordable to virtually everyone and in the same breath, encourage more active involvement of the private sector in community news papering.
With urban migration assuming a monstrous dimension and the attendant population explos ion and high crime wave in the cities, government is left with no choice but to see rural development as its cardinal objective if the general insecurity of lives and property in the cities is to be abated, and not abetted. The present administration can i ll-afford to record more loss of live than it has already done.
Better still, national dailies in Nigeria, today such as, The Sun, The Comet, Vanguard, Hallmark , Guardian , Daily Champion, This Day, A.M. News, Punch, Daily Times, Post Express, New Nigerian and The Tribune, etc are hereby encouraged to establish functional offices in the localities for down-to-earth accurate and timely coverage of rural development activities/needs.
Furthermore, media houses should employ, re -train and equip journalist for r ural reporting to enable the grassroots take advantage of even development that the new democratic dispensation may inform.
Besides, more journalists should be deployed to the rural areas to highlight the socio -economic potential of the grassroots for potential investors and policy makers.
To ensure adequate feedback, government media should be more objective in presenting their views to the public and allow the right to reply. In other words, communication has to be two way and participatory.
Rural areas should be reported in such away that will attract government attention for development rather than play up the other dimensions that will lead to undue exploitation.
In the word of a prominent communication scholar, Prof. Nwosu, “For one thing, locally ba sed small newspapers not only contribute to the betterment of life in the communities they serve, but also contribute to overall national development by helping to reduce the rural -urban dichotomy and, using the concept    of    instrumentalism ,        to    spread        innovative    and developmental        ideals    across    communities    and    nationality. Therein lies the current importance of the rural and community newspaper in the development of developing countries.”