MEDIA FOR MORALITY: THE ROLE OF CAMPUS RADIO IN SHAPING STUDENT CONDUCT IN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The problems of social vices are the uncertain and unsafe atmosphere it creates wherever they are perpetuated. Hence, the objectives of this study were among others to assess the effectiveness of campus radio programmes in the campaign against social vices amongst undergraduates. The Agenda Setting Theory was used as the theoretical framework for the study. The study adopted the survey research design and the research instrument used was questionnaire. The population of the study was University of Port Harcourt undergraduate students of 2021/2022 academic session put at 8205 and a sample size of273 was drawn for the study using the Australian sample size calculator. Findings of the study revealed that Unique 88.5fm radio programmes are quite effective in contributing to curbing social vices among students in tertiary institutions as its effectiveness has been felt in the area of improving students orientation about vices, proffering adequate measures to curbing the rise of vices, it advising school authority on proactive measures to adopt in order to avoid students engagement in vices. Hence, the study recommends that campus radio stations, needs to allocate more airtime to programmes that directly threats issues of social vices in order to completely eliminate the scourge of social vices among undergraduates. Also, institutions of higher learning should establish and strengthen their guidance and counseling units to make it more pro-active in rendering the various forms of formative counseling services to staff and students