AKSU Journal of Communication Research (AJCR)

Audience Call-In Programmes and Rural Community Development: A Study of Select Communities in Abak Local Government Area

Author:  Eneh John Wilson, PhD; Ibanga, Ofonmbuk Titus, PhD & Inyang, Happy Voice

Abstract
This study examined the role of audience call-in programmes in promoting rural community development in select communities in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The study sought to determine residents level of participation, the contribution of call-in programmes to development of Abak communities and the areas of development influenced by these programmes. The study was anchored on Development Media Theory and Democratic Participant Media Theory. The survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 400 respondents selected from Otoro, Afaha-Obong, and Abak Urban communities were sampled using the purposive and accidental non-probability sampling techniques while 390 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and data presented in tables and analyzed using frequency. The findings revealed that residents of the selected communities are exposed to audience call-in programmes on radio and that participation in such programmes exists though it varies among individuals. The study also found that audience call-in programmes contribute to rural community development to a considerable extent. Specifically, the programmes were perceived to influence development in areas such as education, healthcare, community mobilization, and road/drainage construction, with education recording the highest response. The study concludes that audience call-in programmes serve as important platforms for community participation and discussion of development issues in rural areas. It was recommended that radio stations should strengthen audience call-in programmes and devote more attention to rural development issues, while community members should be encouraged to participate more actively in such programmes.