Book Review Communication and Rural Development in Nigeria Edited by Lai Oso and Lanre Adebayo Published by Millennium Investments, Abeokuta, Nigeria. ISBN 978 30906 0 7 170 pages Reviewer: Francis P. Kasoma Anybody editing a reader such as this one should he prepared to accommodate differences, and perhaps, contradictions among the various authors. Herein lies the strength as well as the weakness of any book of readings. The strength, because by expressing differences authors enrich the reader with various ways of looking at the same issue. The weakness, because the thread that should entwine a book of readings is often weakened in the differences, especially if they are many and substantial. The reader of Communication and Rural Development in Nigeria should, therefore, make allowance for differences in opinions regarding key concepts in development communication in general and the Nigerian rural communication scene in particular. In some chapters, for instance, development is defined in specifically economic terms. In others, it is seen as a whole-embracing phenomenon which touches every facet of human life. Similarly, the definition of communication ranges from the old linear school of transmission of information to the more recent dynamic view of sharing of human experience. CAp example of differences by authors on the local Nigerian scene is:./ which mass medium is the best for development communication? Some writers have said radio, others television, others newspapers and still others a combination of all, plus the traditional media. v^Qsfearly all the authors, however, have agreed on the following:) 1. 2. that Nigeria's mass media do not serve rural areas and there is, therefore, a need to introduce rural media; that development journalism is a critical reportage of the goings-on in a community which acts as a catalyst in improving the life situation of the ordinary people; 97 3. 4. 5. 6. that there is little or no development communication in Nigeria; that the development communicator would have to identify himself/ herself with the rural community he or she is serving; that locally-based, small media rather than urban-based, big media are more useful for development communication; and that the rural people should have an input in the agenda-setting role of the local media. ^Looking at the individual chapters,! Chapter 1 on the 'Role of the Nigerian Mass Media in National Rural Development and ransformation' by Olatunji Dare, is clearly a misnomer. The author has discussed any role of the mass media at ajl. What he has Hone is discuss the constraints on Nigerian mass media in rural development. When the writer states in the last but two paragraphs before the conclusion that 'The foregoing does not in any way imply that the Nigerian mass media cannot play any role in the effort to achieve integrated rural development', it is as if he has recognized the chapter's deficiency and is now trying to salvage it. But it is too late. Chapter 2 on 'The Role of the Mass Media in Rural Development: a ritical Appraisal' by Lai Oso is more pointed. The writer, however, fails to give an idea of how ruralites can set up local radio stations on self- reliance. But he makes the valid point that the total involvement of the rural community is an essential element in the running of countryside communication networks. £ IaChapter 3. *The Development Journalism Concept and the Nigerian Journalist: An Agenda', Lenre Adebayo argues that although the press exists to reflect the dominant view of the dominant class, when occasion demands it, it does serve the whole society. On this basis, he writes, it can, therefore, be logical to reason that where there is national consensus regarding the issue of development, the press could play the role of a development catalyst. What about where there is no consensus? Even there, the press should have a developmental role'. Hence, the importance of localised media to address the local community's rather than the national consensus. \S CThe author, however, does a good job in his exposition of development' journalism as reportage which focuses on progress being made and pointing out the areas of failures, including exposing incidences of corruption} He states that development journalism does not restrict press freedom nor advocate press censorship but rather widens the scope for innovative reporting. This is development journalism par excellence, as it should be, not as it is practised in Nigeria or, indeed, in any other African country. Andrew Moemeka in Chapter 4, 'The Mass Media of Communication and Rural Dwellers: Towards the Effectiveness of Development Messages', makes a welcome distinction between mass media used as vehicles of communication and mass media used as channels of informationxHe argues that the distinction is necessary because contrary _ to popular and sometimes professional opinion, mass media are not by nature channels of mass communication. They are merely channels of mass information, distribution and transmission. It is only when the mass media have been changed from acting as channels for distribution and transmission to asserting themselves as vehicles for participation, expression and discussion, he argues, that they can rightly be called the media of mass communication and can become effective in inducing culture-bound rural inhabitants to change their attitudes to life by accommodating new ideas. *This is a thought-provoking statements So N are the statements about the importance of traditional media and traditional approaches to communication the writer expresses/ (In Chapter 5, 'Broadcasting for Rural Development', Babatunde Folarin makes the valid pointtthat the new international information and communication order should begin in Nigeria by reducing the glaring imbalance of the flow of information between the majority rural and minority urban peoples.CThe writer, however, seems to be leader-centred^ when he suggested that the main purpose of the local rural radio stations is to be used by leaders to speak to their people since these leaders cannot go round to evervbody.''But he does a good job, unlike Qso in Chapter 2. of discussing the details of how to set up a village radio station/ 'Chapter 6, 'Policy Guidelines for the Democratisation of TV and Video Systems in Nigeria' by Olalekan Ajia.'is.a general treatise and does not address policy alternatives about Nigeria.' Chapter 7, 'Newspaper Ownership and Agricultural News in Nigeria' by Terry A. Olowu, is,a useful study of 17 newspapers whose findings are valid/.