Abstract

This research study sought to assess the extent to which and how CRTV Mount Cameroon FM amid challenges contributes to promoting rural development in Buea.

During the internship, it was witnessed that the inadequacy of the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM in contributing to rural development due to the shortage of specialized professionals in developmental issues, lack of resource persons, inaccessibility to some rural areas, and others have limited its efforts in promoting rural development in Buea.

During the research work, a survey was carried out wherein questionnaires were given to a certain amount of people to get their point of view concerning the contributions of the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM to the promotion of rural development in Buea. The data was analyzed using tables and pie charts.

We, therefore, suggest that, in order for journalists of the CRTV MT Cameroon FM to contribute to rural development, measures should be taken to recruit more reporters to the FM and more informative and interactive programs on development should be broadcast to get the audience equally involved in contributing to the growth of their communities and the nation in general.

In conclusion, based on the data analysis, though the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM faces challenges, it has to a greater extent contributed to rural development by informing, instructing and educating the general population and acting as a watchdog and an agenda-setter for the people.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The media has an important role to play in the growth of every rural community and Cameroon in general. It has gone a long way in ensuring an enabling environment in which many in the country have become involved in contributing to building the nation.

This research seeks to examine ‘The Role of the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM in Promoting Rural Development in Buea,’ the background of the study, its objectives, and the definition of terms.

1.1 Background Information of the study

1.1.1 The Media and Development

The mass media are indeed the most powerful tools in shaping the perceptions of individuals and nations about every major societal issue. A serious appraisal of the contents and forms of the media can help in building the intellectual, moral, and social standards of a nation.

Thus, a heavy responsibility resides with those who own media houses, and the ones who work in the background analyzing and commenting on rural and national issues.

It has to be acknowledged that essentially, the media reflects the societal norms and values. While it can play a positive role in developing rural areas, it is equally vulnerable to societal ills and shortcomings.

It is the role of the media to provide adequate space for everyone to live harmoniously in society while fighting against political, social, economic, religious, and gender discrimination. It also helps in ensuring equitable distribution of national resources in society.

Thus, the media plays an effective role in spreading the right kind of consciousness and awareness among the people. It opens up debates among the people and policymakers in deciding the priorities and decision-making principles and determining the possible limitations in the process of implementation. It also promotes good governance by discussing the weaknesses and bottlenecks in the process of change and resolves them through creative suggestions and in-depth analysis.

In Cameroon, a country of multiple ethnicities and languages, it becomes even more critical that the conversation and message that emerge out of these media houses bring clarity and unity rather than confusion and chaos.

This does not imply that media houses will not represent different schools of thought or be associated with different political parties. This is the very spirit of democracy. The problem arises when media houses and practitioners distort facts and present a false picture to benefit their person or the organ.

There are cases when ignorance and lack of depth among media practitioners have advanced the wrong causes, or analyzing developments superficially have resulted in drawing incorrect conclusions, making some areas more developed than others.

These aspects acquire a greater significance for Cameroon given the multiple challenges it has faced ever since its creation. Cameroon is a struggling democratic state. Its democratic institutions are fragile and they need to be strengthened and not trampled further.

In this situation, the role of the media is paramount, but if the media were placed under restrictions and challenges, then a hindrance to nation-building and development. Despite several hurdles, they hold to account government development activities and policies.

Also, Express Tribune (2019), at the domestic level (Express Tribune, 2019), by keeping a close watch on the state of economic and political events and highlighting its weaknesses and strengths, the media will be building pressure on the government to act.

The media now are creating awareness both for the immediate environment and outside the world. It is worthy to note that, the mass media do not only create awareness or serve as a means for the expression of ideas, but they are a social force to be reckoned with and a vehicle for mobilization (unity). As such, the mass media play a watchdog role in every society to keep surveillance on the citizens, government, and the state.

The media also has a significant role in society as a gatekeeper which sets the agenda for public discourse, enhances development, and tries in maintaining a balance of views.

The media always try to portray itself as ‘balanced and fair,’ even when it secretly seeks to promote a particular ideology and limits the public’s exposure to a wide array of information.

Media organs need to recognize their role in society if they are to live up to their development role.

O’Sullivan and Flanagan (2003) observe that because it is so influential, the media can be a double-edged sword; it can be negative for the society if it is selective, biased, and sensational, and inclined to propaganda and media vices like corruption, violence, and many more. Some of these features are seen in the so-called ‘gutter press.’

Even so, according to Franka (2019), the media has a principal means through which the public can address social development challenges such as unemployment, absence of infrastructure, poor construction or inaccessibility of roads, corruption, violence, crime, communal strife, public health, and related issues.

It is significant that these problems form a big part of the daily news agenda. Thus, the media is required to foster balance over bias, communication over confrontation, and insight over ignorance, especially when reporting critical issues.

The study established that the media as the Fourth Estate watches over societal happenings and sets an agenda for public discourse to ensure stability in the country in times of crisis.

This is an important responsibility of the media as the absence of bias in reporting can enhance social, political, and economic development in the rural community and Cameroon as a whole.

Equally, the media’s role includes the creation of a stable environment. It grants the public the opportunity to participate in their society by discovering, forming, and sharing opinions with respect to social, political, and economic policies that enhance national development.

1.1.2 The Media and Rural Development

The rural community is mostly characterized by mass poverty, low levels of literacy and population density, unemployment, poor nutrition, and health status, infrastructural challenges, and others. For this reason, the role of the mass media is essential to upgrade rural society.

Chandra Pati (2017) posits that rural development implies both the economic betterment of the people as well as greater social transformation.

In order to provide the rural people with better prospects for economic development, increased participation of people in the rural development programs, decentralization of planning, better enforcement of land reforms, and greater access to credit are needed.

This section provides complete information on initiatives taken by the government in bridging the rural and urban divide by upgrading the standard of living of people in the rural areas. Information about programs, schemes, employment opportunities, drinking water, sanitation, road construction and electrification of villages, food supply, and more is provided.

Thus, rural development is one of the important factors for the growth of a country’s economy.

The mass media, the fourth pillar of democracy plays a pivotal role in keeping the socio-political system of a country sound and healthy.

Due to the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT), the role of the media has been multiplied to a higher order. The print and electronic media remain at the helm of affairs in every nook and corner of the world.

Media touches the remotest village and unfolds the irony behind the scene. They connect the whole universe with the aim of sharing the sorrows and sufferings, pains and strains, success stories of society. If properly managed, takes a vital part in political affairs.

To Chandra Pati, the development of a country depends upon political willpower; it fires not only the spirit of legislature but also the other two pillars of democracy. As such, the analysis of a country is highly essential for smooth progress.

The mass media perform the role of a dynamic watchdog and erects its fingers towards any backlog in a system. It diagnoses the system, opens the pitfalls, and tries to rectify it.

It should be noted that the mass media play a very important role in promoting rural development amidst some challenges. The mass media help in promoting development in that; Firstly, they act as a watchdog by bringing to the limelight the issues that could be hindering the growth of rural communities and the country in general.

Also, the media contributes greatly to developing the rural community by providing a broad range of information that stimulates persons on various developmental issues in the country. The media equally emphasize and re-emphasize on the problems and challenges of the people in every given community. This creates an atmosphere for public discourse and it breeds growth.

They provide their audience with lots of informative and educative content credible for public consumption and enlightenment.

In a nutshell, it is worthy of note that, rural areas have communication needs, and these needs can influence their development to a very large extent. Communication will positively impact the agricultural sector and, will ease the movement of persons in search of greener pastures and agricultural products from rural areas to other parts within and out of the country.

This can only be possible with the help of communication outlets, hence the positive influence the mass media have in promoting rural development in Cameroon.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The inadequacy of the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM to effectively contribute to rural development in Buea because of the shortage of specialized professionals in developmental issues, inaccessibility to some rural areas, inadequate resource persons, equipment, and other production logistics has led to the underdevelopment of most rural communities in the country.

CRTV Mount Cameroon FM has not been committed to promoting rural development reasons being that, just very few programs that may promote rural development are been broadcast on the airwaves.

My reason for carrying out research on this topic is to examine how and the extent to which CRTV Mount Cameroon FM report and promotes issues that may either be plaguing or improving the development of rural communities in Buea.

The study established that the media as the Fourth Estate watches over societal happenings and sets an agenda for public discourse to promote growth and to ensure stability in the country in times of crisis. Thus, this research is piloted by the underneath research questions.

1.3 Research Questions

The questions gotten directly from our research topic include two types of research questions which are primary and secondary research questions.

Primary Research Question;

To what extent has CRTV Mount FM contributed to developing rural communities amidst challenges?

Secondary Research Question;

How does CRTV Mount Cameroon FM contribute to promoting rural development in Buea?

1.4 Objectives of Study

1. To examine the extent to which CRTV Mount Cameroon FM amid challenges promotes rural development in Buea.
2. To evaluate the role of the CRTV Mount Cameroon FM in developing rural communities in Buea.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H0: CRTV Mount Cameroon FM has played a vigorous role in promoting rural development in Buea.

H1: CRTV Mount Cameroon FM has not played a vigorous role in promoting rural development in Buea.