BROADCAST MEDIA AS TOOLS FOR PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF HIT FM CALABAR

Abstract

The importance of broadcast media cannot be over emphasize, it has been notice through its effective reporting of broadcast programmes that are sacrosanct to the society. Broadcast media play a significant role in shaping, reforming, uniting and unravelling societal doldrums for the growth of humanity. The cardinal objectives of broadcast media is to inform educate and entertain, as well as mobilized. In other hand, indigenous language is key for communication effectiveness amongst the people. This article assesses Broadcast Media as tools for Promotion of Indigenous Languages in Nigeria. The article adopted survey method, to achieve the objectives and answer the research questions. Two sets of questionnaire were used to gather data for the study. The Agenda setting theory was employed for the study. Data gathered were analysed and presented in tables and percentages. Broadcast media, such as radio and television play a significant role in shaping the society, it is considered as a vehicle for social change. Findings shows that Hit FM Calabar does not air programmes in local languages. The study recommends that The threats of indigenous languages going into extinction is obvious, so therefore, broadcast media should design programmes that encourages the teaching of indigenous languages across schools to avoid extinction.