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ABSTRACT
This study aims at finding out the variables of the patrons of The Catholic Standard that has existed for more than seven-five years. There has not been a national scientific study of the readership of The Catholic Standard. Hence, qualities of readers are assumed in each diocese. This readership study of The Catholic Standard took place in Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese which happens to be the furthest from the printing press. The purpose was to unravel characteristics of readers and their reading culture. The study revealed that the readership of The Catholic Standard was male dominated. In terms of age, three out of ten were above fifty-five years. It implied that the paper was mostly read by the aged. By and large, readers of The Catholic Standard of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese were satisfied with the content. They acknowledged high interest for the regular sections of the paper. However, they spent less time reading an issue. When the reading time spent on an issue was examined, an average of thirty minutes was recorded. Most readers skimmed or scanned for information. The ratio of heavy readers to light readers was one to fifteen. How come that a newspaper’s content is preferred yet little time would be spent reading it? The Catholic Standard has to adopt modern and innovative ways of capturing and sustaining young and future readers.
TABLE OF CONTENT Declaration iDedication iiAcknowledgement iiiAbstract ivTable of content vList of Tables viiList of Charts viiiCHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION1.0Introduction11.2Background of Study11.3Problem Statement41.4Objectives and Research Questions51.5Rationale and Significance61.6Operationalisation of Research71.7Conclusion of Chapter7CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE2.0 Introduction82.1 Theoretical Perspectives8 2.1.1 Critique of UGT10 2.1.2 Relevance of UGT to the Study112.2 Review of Related Research122.3 Summary23CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY3.0Introduction243.1. Overall Approach and Rationale243.2Site and Subject Selection263.3Sampling273.4Data Collection Methods303.4.1 Operational Definitions323.5Methods of Data Analysis333.6Summary33CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS4.0Introduction344.1Findings34 4.1.1 Content analysis Results34 4.1.2 Survey Results394.3Summary47CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION5.0Introduction485.1Summary485.2Limitations495.3Suggestions495.4Conclusion51APPENDIXES 53Appendix 1: Content Coding Guide Sheet53Appendix 2: Survey Questionnaire54Appendix 3: In-Depth Interview Guide57Appendix 4: Supplementary Tables58
BIBLIOGRAPHY 67
LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Catholic population of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese282: Story Enhancement by Picture363: Type of Editorial374: Type of Story and Story Placement385: Respondents‟ gender396: How much time437: Main purpose of reading by Occupation46LISTS OF CHARTS Chart 1: Headline size342: Story Placement353: Type of Story364: Respondents‟ Age Group405: Readership by Education Level416: Readership by Occupation417: Type of Reading428: Reading Satisfaction449: Respondents‟ Expectations45INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives the background of the study by providing a historical perspective of The Catholic Standard. It is be followed by the problem statement of the research. The research was problematized in order to seek solutions. The research objectives are stated followed by the research questions. The rationale and significance of the study are also highlighted to move the work to literature review.
Background of Study
Cage and Rueda (2014) state that the printing press in sub-Saharan Africa has its origin in the Protestant missionary activity in the 19th Century. The missionaries needed to print Bibles and other educational materials for the purposes of evangelisation. This was as a result of the declaration of Sola Scriptura by Martin Luther in 1517. The establishment of printing press in sub-Saharan Africa also brought about the opening of schools for formal education. Newspaper readership became a long term effect of printing press established in sub-Saharan Africa. It also enlightened the public about governance and served as a catalyst in the struggle for independent Africa. Proximity to printing press therefore stimulated newspaper readership and political participation.
Jones-Quartey (1974) catalogues some Christian missionary newspapers in the Gold Coast as:
Church Missionary Gleaner (1850-1856), Church Missionary Intelligencer (1859-1906), and
Church Missionary Review (1906-1927). Others were: Church Overseas (1928-1934), Gold Coast Methodist Times (1886? -1898), and Gold Coast Catholic Voice (1926-1927?). Some other Christian missionary newspapers in Ghana acknowledged by Gadzekpo (2007) were: The
Christian Messenger and Examiner (1859), and Christian Messenger (1883). The Presbyterian in 1985, the Watchman in 1986, Gospel News in 2000, and The Vinefield (2011) were also registered as Christian newspapers. Just a few of these newspapers have survived up to date. Economic management became a big challenge to newspaper production in sub- Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, challenges from the political powers also affected the Ghanaian press in the late 1980s. Gadzekpo (2007: 96) underscores that the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era (1981-1993) considered the private press as opponent.
The private press came under particular pressure, with some being attacked by angry supporters of the revolution, closed down and their journalists and editors jailed, or hounded into exile.
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