AKSU Journal of Communication Research (AJCR)

NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF SMALL SCALE ENTREPRISES IN AKWA IBOM STATE: A STUDY OF THE PIONEER, THE MAIL AND GLOBAL CONCORD

Author:  DR OYOKUNYI OTU, DR UDUOT IWOK, & GOODNESS EFFIONG JOHN

Abstract
The study examined the newspaper coverage of small scale enterprises in Akwa Ibom State. The study sought to answer the following research questions: what is the frequency of coverage given to small scale businesses in select local newspapers in Uyo? What is the level of prominence given to Small Scale businesses in select local newspapers in Uyo? How are Small Scale businesses issues framed in the select local newspapers in Uyo? What are the major forms of small scale businesses reporting in the select local newspapers in Uyo? What is the amount of space given to Small Scale Businesses in the select local newspapers in Uyo? Employing a Content Analysis research method, with clearly defined content categories, the study had a population of 120 newpaper editions and this also was the sample size (120 copies of the newspapers) given that the entire population of the study was considered adequate enough. The finding of the study revealed as follows that most stories on small scale businesses appeared on 4-6 times monthly in the studied newspapers with a total of 45 items. while the 7 times and above monthly category has least coverage with 7 items. Small Business enterprises are under reported by the all the editions of the three newspapers. Local newspapers in Uyo: The Pioneer, The Mail and The Global Concord, did not give prominence to the coverage of small scale businesses in Uyo at all. The study recommended that the press should pay greater attention to the positive activities of the informal sector by way of greater coverage. Moreover, such coverage should be made more prominent than is currently the case.