Mass Communication and Mass Incommunication: A Revisit

Abstract

The need to revisit Adesanoye’s view on the prevailing communication gap between the urban and the rural areas over twenty-five years ago which he termed “mass incommunication” was as a result of the fact that the situation, rather than improving is increasingly deteriorating. The authors in analyzing the situation discovered that even when and where concerted efforts are made by the media industry to involve the Nigerian populace in a participatory and interactive communication process, the success is always limited by factors such as poverty, illiteracy, infrastructure, ownership, legal constraints, technology and media commercialization. The writers suggested and agreed with other media scholars on the establishment of rural radio and community newspaper. The government must revive the Adult Literacy campaign to improve the literacy level among the populace. Finally, there should be a return to the era of public service broadcasting. In essence, government news media should be well funded so as to accommodate the interest of everybody in participatory and interactive process of communication. Keywords: Mass Communication, Mass Incommunication