LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF IKOT EKPENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

ABSTRACT This study was on Local Newspaper and Community Development, a study of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The objectives were to find out the extent to which Ikot Ekpene residents are exposed to local newspaper. To identify the types of local newspaper contents that Ikot Ekpene residents read. To determine if local newspaper influence community development in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. To ascertain the areas in which local newspaper influence community development in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The theories that suits the study were Development Media and Agenda Setting Theories. The study adopted survey method, the Cluster Sampling technique was employed to select 384 sample size from the population of the study. At the end. The study found the types of local newspaper content they read centre on agricultural development, small-scale business issues, political mobilization and health care development. Local newspapers have exerted influence in community development of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The areas local newspaper influenced community development in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area are in agriculture, and small scale business. Hence, it was recommended that the government both at the state and local government levels should consider the idea of establishing community media centres where newspaper, radio and television sets are provided to encourage local populace access the media at minimal or no cost to them. Editors and reporters of local newspaper in Akwa Ibom State should be given the necessary training through seminars, workshops and the like to update their knowledge with a view to serving the readers better.