The Influence of Mass Communication on Social Change: A Study of Press Reports on Child Labour and Women Trafficking

Abstract

This study is on the influence of mass communication on social change: a study of press reports on child labour and women trafficking. The study is aimed at addressing the problem of child labour and women trafficking in Rivers State. A total of 16 press reports were collected through purposive sampling from Rivers State University of Science and Technology Library and Newspaper morgues. These press reports on child labour and women trafficking were studied for 10 months at an interval of 2 months from September 2003 – June 2004. The press reports collected was content analyzed to determine their nature of report. All the press reports analyzed were favourable, they were in support of the fight against child labour and women trafficking; that government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the media have a role to play in putting an end to child labour and women trafficking; that child labour and women trafficking persist because parents and children are not adequately educated on the dangers of child labour and women trafficking;. From the summary of the finding, it was discovered that, some parents see their children as source of income because of poverty and ignorance, that majority of victims of child labour and women trafficking are born to parents of lower class. The researcher then recommends that the government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the media should join forces to educate the masses on the dangers of engaging in child labour and women trafficking and the suffering of trafficked children.