IMPACT OF BROADCAST MEDIA ON ECONOMY AND SOCIAL LIVES OF RURAL WOMEN

IMPACT OF BROADCAST MEDIA ON ECONOMY AND SOCIAL LIVES OF RURAL WOMEN
 
Abstract
Mass media particularly radio is able to update the rural women and the entire local farmers on how they can plant some crop in a new dimension to boost their harvest, inform them of the weather, uses of pesticide, informed them of flood situation, and environmental changes in their area. It is on this notion that the paper examined the impact of broadcast media on economy and social lives of rural women using Obokun local government area of Osun State as a case study. However, the research adopted survey method in caring out this research with 120 administered questionnaires to the selected respondents in Obokun local government who were selected from Ibokun, Iponda and Idominasi using accidental sampling procedure base on convenience. The data collected was analysed using frequency and percentage method with the findings show that community radio stations fill the gap left by national and commercial media in educating women on how to increase their daily income and how to make saves with local financial institutions such as a cooperative association, and micro- finance Bank this which has boosted their economy. The paper recommends that mass media most especially broadcast media should create unique links and good rapport with Non Governmental Organizations in society such as community extension, research extension, UNICEF, UNDP e. t. c and bring their programmes to the rural people. Broadcast media should as well design and dedicate appropriate airtime to talk on agriculture and welfare of grassroot people.