Authors:Ben-Collins Emeka Ndinojuo Abstract: This inductive qualitative content analysis study analyzes the themes embedded in stories about biodegradable in five online Nigeria newspapers namely the Cable, the Guardian, Leadership, Premium Times and the Punch using discourse analysis. The aim of the study was to understand and uncover the themes used by journalists when reporting about biodegradables especially in relation to its adoption as one of the solutions to the problems associated with waste management and the environment generally. Agenda setting and framing theories served as the theoretical bedrocks that grounded the study. Data was collected over a five-month period between April 1, 2019 and August 30, 3019, with the consideration of June 5 each year celebrated as World Environment Day, data from two months prior and two months after can provide context into how newspapers reported about biodegradables within the backdrop of environmental coverage. Findings produced 12 news articles which aligned with the literature about the under reportage of the environment in Nigerian newspapers. The themes uncovered were; adaptation, adverse impacts, climate change, economic, legislation, mitigation, persuasion, political and pollution themes. The prevalent themes were pollution, legislation and mitigation themes. The study recommends the need for more coverage of biodegradables bearing in mind the benefits derivable from its adoption in waste management, power generation, job creation and a sustainable development for the earth’s environment and its inhabitants. PubDate: 2020-07-09 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Aghogho Joshua Erubami Abstract: The social media have become a critical component of Nigeria’s democracy, with widely acclaimed potentials for influencing public civic engagement. However, the nature and direction of such influence remains a source of debate among researchers. This study examined public perception of the contributions of social media to political participation processes in Delta State, Nigeria. It adopted the survey method using a sample of 500 respondents selected through a multistage sampling technique. A likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that although the social media were perceived to have positively influenced Nigeria’s democracy by enhancing the flow of political information and awakening public political consciousness, the news and information being disseminated on social media platforms were noted to have increased the spate of hate speech and stoked political unease. The study recommended that citizen journalists should imbibe online responsibility and be sensitive to public needs and expectations while using any of the social media platforms for political ends. PubDate: 2020-07-03 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Ecaterina Daniela Zeca, Mariana Carmelia Balanica Dragomir, Maricica Stoian Abstract: Human, in his stay on the planet, tormented by existential anguish, goes to and forth for having food and shelter, then more food and bigger shelters, fast and then faster vehicles, good medicines and more resistant to diseases. , more productive animals and plants. Man has moved beyond the natural systems that had existed in equilibrium. Aware of his power, his intelligence, human prefers to forget that the struggle for survival is a game with zero sum, one survives on the other. Economic growth has become a religion: it solves many, but not the ethical dilemmas. Dilemmas, part of them have names: Global Warming, Overpopulation, Pollution, Climate Change, Natural Resource Depletion, Loss of Biodiversity, Deforestation, Ocean Acidification, Acid Rain, Ozone Layer Depletion, Water Pollution, Urban Sprawl, Public Health, Genetic Modification of Food PubDate: 2020-06-29 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Thomas Ibrahim Okinda, Charles Ongandi Nyambuga, Benson Oduor Ojwang Abstract: Prior research reveals a positive correlation between citizens’ radio exposure and political knowledge in Africa. However, little is known about the connection between women voters’ radio exposure and political knowledge during elections in Kenya. This study, therefore, examines the influence of radio on women voters’ political knowledge on the 2013 general election within the setting of Kakamega County, western Kenya. The research is anchored on uses and gratifications theory and knowledge gap theory. It builds on scholars’ recommendations on using local, national, and gender-relevant political questions to link women’s radio exposure and political knowledge. This study adopted a descriptive quantitative correlational survey collecting data from 372 women voters using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results reveal medium to high radio exposure and low political knowledge among women voters. Radio exposure explained 22.6% of the positive variance in women voters’ political knowledge. Consequently, radio contributes to political learning and this has implications for political stakeholders in Kenya. They should harness the potential of radio to reach and enrich women’s political knowledge. This article provides directions for future research on the influence of radio exposure on women’s political knowledge and subsequently electoral participation under Kenya’s new devolved political system. PubDate: 2020-05-19 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Qodratullah Qorbani Abstract: Martyr Ayatollah Morteza Mutahhari is one of the Contemporary Iranian thinkers and intellectuals who tried to give a new definition of national identity. He believes that although there are some cultural, historical, racial, social and other factors that share in human’s identity, but the most significant factor is very religion and religious worldview that picture our tendencies to other aspects of life. In this case, Mutahhari thinks that for contemporary Muslim nations, like Iranians, the first factor of identity is the religion of Islam and the second is their geographical, national, cultural and racial factors. So, for Mutahhari, nationality is as the secondary but complementary factor for defining human identity. Regarding the role of Islam, Mutahhari’s pays more attention to the Quranic teachings, and the way of acceptance of Islam by Iranians. He believes that according to the Quran, holding theistic belief and religious faith is as the authentic criterion of our identity not belonging to a geographical nation. Concerning Iranian national identity, he refers to pre-Islamic Iran and the time of entering Islam to Iran, and studies Iranians national identity directly towards their submission to Islam, specially Shi’a school. So, his point of view concerning the relation of Islam and Iran, and historical importance of Islam in shaping Iranian identity has its special place and significance. In this, it is tried to analyze Mutahhari’s view concerning human identity and the role of religion in this case. PubDate: 2020-04-08 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Patrick Ene Okon, Chukwudi Ndukwe Cosmos, Chidinma Joan Nwekwe, Uzoma Chukwuemeka Okugo Abstract: The major focus of this study was to assess the perception and attitude of practising journalists toward e-governance in South-South Nigeria, with Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as the case studies. The theoretical framework hinged on the diffusion of innovation theory. Descriptive survey method was used. Out of a population of 702 practising journalists in the two states, 140 of them formed the study’s sample. Questionnaire was the instrumentation. Findings showed that majority of the respondents had a poor attitude towards e-governance as they did not access government information, participate in e-governance process and report/cover e-governance even though they had a positive perception of the innovation and its operations. It was, therefore, recommended that journalists should periodically upgrade their knowledge of this innovation in governance as well as participate actively in publicising it to the populace. PubDate: 2020-04-08 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2020)
Authors:Eziwho Emenike, Azunwo-Emenike Precious Uchechi Abstract: The concept of writing in all its ramifications has remained pivotally significant in the process of documentations, from the antediluvian to the contemporary times. This is asserted on power, prowess and flexibility of the playwright in carefully adapting his environment and mirroring it satisfactorily. This paper examines the art of playwriting as a medium of adaptation of the society holistically and narrowing it to the influence of the social media (Facebook and whatsapp) on English language in making modern plays. In the process of interacting with people from different educational and societal backgrounds, social media platforms have influenced their use of English language and as such, the playwright captures them. This paper through the content and data analysis examines the influence of Facebook and WhatsApp on English language in playwriting processes in particular and the society at large. This paper hinges on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s “Use Theory” and Aristotle’s mimetic wisdom theory as its theoretical fibre. This study through three Facebook groups and three Whatsapp groups provides understanding of budding playwrights’ experiences of using Facebook and WhatsApp and their view on how it affects their writing of plays in flexible English language. The paper recommends that budding and experienced playwrights should flexibly adapt the nuances of social media to stay germane, focus and creative in the contemporary theatre industry and advance the craft of playwriting in mirroring the society. PubDate: 2019-12-05 Issue No:Vol. 14 (2019)
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