Abstract: This study focused on examining the use, gratifications and dependence on online news channels by undergraduate students of the University of Jos. This study investigated their usage pattern of online news channels; news categories or media repertoire of interest to them and their reasons or motivations for such use and dependence. Media dependency theory and Uses and Gratifications theory were the theoretical foundation of this research. The study used survey as the research design; questionnaire as instrument for data collection and stratified purposive sampling method on a sample of three hundred and fifty (350) undergraduate students who were taken purposively and proportionately from each faculty in the Institution. Data retrieved were analysed using frequency count, cross tabulation and simple percentage. The study found out that undergraduate students of the University of Jos used online news channels for various reasons such as inexpensiveness and convenience of use of such channels; ability to comment, share, post and get feedbacks but most importantly to stay updated and informed on various issues. The study therefore recommended that media content producers, University of Jos management, government and service producers all have roles to play in effective and efficient use of online news channels.
Keywords: Online news channels, Gratifications, Dependency and Media repertoire.
Title: ONLINE NEWS CHANNELS SELECTION AND USES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF JOS
Author: Kehinde Funmilayo Mefolere
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Research Publish Journals
