Abstract

The Nigerian mass media have been accused of neglecting the rural areas in both quantitative and qualitative news coverage. Many scholars contend that what the international news organizations do to developing countries in news coverage is more than amply replicated in the urban-rural news dichotomy in most developing countries such as Nigeria. The Nigerian mass media have also responded by stating that not much news-worthy events happen in the rural areas. They also contend that it is very difficult and expensive to cover the rural areas with their difficult terrains, linguistic and other cultural differences and problems, as well as absence of infrastructural facilities like good access roads, telecommunications equipment, accommodation and others. This paper therefore, tries to provide a roadmap for a better information flow between the urban and rural areas in developing countries. This roadmap entails a holistic approach to development and close network of interactions among the key agents/players in the complicated business of rural development namely: the government at all levels; the mass media; international bodies and multinationals and the non-governmental organizations as well as private entrepreneurs.

Key Words: Nigerian Mass Media, Developing Countries, Information

                               Flow, Urban Areas, Rural Areas.

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 4, No. 2, October 2012, 181 - 193.

© Delmas Communications Ltd.

About the authors

[1]Anthony Chinedu Ekwueme is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication,

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

^**Dr. Chika Asogwa is a lecturer and Head, Department of Mass Communication; Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.

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