Effectiveness of communication media on awareness of fundamental human rights among rural communities: a survey of Uasin Gishu district

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Date
2007-10
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Publisher
Kampala international international: College Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
This study was centered on investigating the effectiveness of communication media in creating fundamental human rights awareness in the rural areas of Uasin Gishu District with a view of making recommendations towards effective utilization of communication media for the rural community. The main endeavor of the study was to examine the effectiveness of communication media in creating fundamental human rights awareness in the rural community. The specific objectives were: To find out if the people in the rural areas are aware of their fundamental rights; to find out the types of communication media accessible to the people in the rural areas of Uasin Gishu District as compared to the types of communication media utilized by the agents disseminating information on fundamental human rights; to identify factors that impede effective communication of fundamental human rights to the rural area; and to suggest recommendations in order to improve the effectiveness of communication media for the rural areas. The study was undertaken in Uasin Gishu district. A sample of 200 respondents aged 18 years and above was selected through multi stage cluster sampling. The data was collected through focus group discussions and orally administered questionnaires. It was supplemented by observation where necessary. Interviews were used for the key informants. Ten key informants were selected, five from KHRC and five from Amnesty International. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze the data obtained. The findings of this study revealed that the rural inhabitants of Uasin Gishu district have been disadvantaged in accessing the modem mass media. This was attributed to the fact that the communication media used to create awareness of fundamental human rights is not accessible to many people in the rural areas. It was noted that only 3.0 percent indicated that they watch television every day, 14.0 percent indicated that they read newspapers everyday while 54.0 percent listened to radio every day. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that inaccessibility of the communization media in the rural areas is due to the high levels of illiteracy, financial limitations, nature of the traditional and cultural set-up, and the available infrastructure. In the light of the above findings it was recommended that there should be a shift from concentrating on the modem mass media and a move towards a fusion of modem media and traditional media that centres on word of mouth communication.
Description
A research project submitted to Kampala international university in the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of a degree of bachelor of mass communication
Keywords
Mass communication, Communication media, Awareness, Fundamental human rights, Rural communities:, A survey of Uasin Gishu district
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