Mass
Media Exposure among Tribal Student Youth in Mizoram
Abstract
Today, we are living in the age of media and
information. The world lives on
information. People are exposed to both print and electronic media. From the
time we get up in the morning until we rest at night; either print media or
electronic media anchors us. In
particular, youth are major consumers and audience of these media. Television
is one of the most powerful media, which influences the youth. At present, it
is very difficult to enumerate since almost all the remote corners are
connected with satellite through dish antenna.
It is obvious that media are rapidly changing in the social life especially
among youth. Therefore, the paper makes an attempt to explore the mass media
exposure among Mizo youth of the age group from 14 to 24 years who studied in
the selected three educational institutions namely St.Paul’s Higher Secondary
School, Basileia Higher Secondary school and Women Polytechnique, Aizawl
purposively by using structured questionnaire.
Further, the paper identifies the perceived factors influencing media
exposure and also suggests some measures to use the mass media effectively
among the tribal youth of Mizoram.
Introduction
Mizoram is situated on the North
Eastern corner of India, having an area of 21081Sq.Km. The State is covered
with mountains and hills. It has a very
good natural resources and a pleasant climate According to 2011 census, the
total population of the state is 10, 91,014 are living in the state in which
one third of the population comprises of youth ranging from the age group of 14
to 34 years. Youth is an important segment of our society. Youth denotes in our
mind energetic, dynamic and resourcefulness. It also signifies the age group of
the people in between childhood and adulthood. The definition of youth is not
uniform; it varies from country to country.
The United Nations (1980) defined youth from the age 15 to 24 years. The Youth Policy Act in India, for instance
defines youth as the age group ranging from 13 to 35 years as youth. The
present National Youth Policy, 2014 defines youth as 15 – 29 years.
For the present
study the age 14- 24 years is taken as a youth. The population of youth in India (13-35 years)
was 459 million, constituting about 38 per cent of total population of the
country and it is expected to reach 574 million by 2020 (NYRS-2010). Youth in the age group of 15-29
years comprise 27.5% of the population (Census, 2011).
Today,
we are living in the age of media and information. The world lives on information. People are
exposed to both print and electronic media. From the time we get up in the
morning until we rest at night; either print media or electronic media anchors
people. In particular, youth are major
consumers and audience of these media.
Television is one of the most powerful media, which influences the
youth. Andrew (1992) analyzed how media
has changed the youth and governs the world.
It could be accepted that television and radio are the most powerful entertainment
instrument for the youngsters. He
highlighted from the study that more than 4 lakh homes were wired to watch
satellite channels. At present, it is
very difficult to enumerate since almost all the remote corners are connected
with satellite through dish antenna. It
is obvious that media are rapidly changing in the social life especially among
youngster.
Gosh, Subir (1991) studied Mass Media
Today in the Indian Context and he said that the early days, human beings have
communicated with their fellow beings by sending a message through any or more
of their senses like sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Modern civilization
has devised almost magical methods to carry on messages even to the remotest
corner of the world with astonishing speed, much beyond the widest imagination
of the earlier generations. This method is known as mass communication and the
means or the channel through which message are sending as mass media.
Yadava (1986) studied Mass Media and
Social Change; there he said people were looking for alternatives or
improvements in strategies for development and social change. Individual is
important but social system is equivalent for his innovative behaviour and
development processes and social change. In order to develop this new
environment, modernization, traditional society and technical, economic,
cultural, religions and other social aspects play a significant role.
On the other hand, Sushila (2005)
conducted a study with 200 youth in order to know the media and life style of
them. The data reveled that more than half of the youth are watching T.V
daily. The media exposure plays a
significant role for the change of their lifestyle, patterns of behaviour and
dress codes. The impact of media is very
high on the cultural values of youth who are already in a stage of identity
crisis, where they reject adult authority.
In addition to this changes are occurring in their culture, social
institution and interpersonal relations.
Rationale of the Study
For
the last two decades the usage of mass media has increased tremendously in our
country. Youth are very much exposed to
both print and visual media like television, radio, magazine, newspaper, comics
and other related youth magazines. The
usage of media among youth reached every nook and corner of our nation, even
among the tribal youth. The youth life style is changing due to the impact of
the mass media. In Mizoram, youth follow modern life style rather than
traditional life style, their thought process behaviour pattern and aspirations
are changing because of the impact mass media.
These changes are made due to the impact of modernization. They are very much westernized due to various
factors influenced by western missionaries, and other media. In addition to
that today’s youth are very much exposed of mass media because they are living
in the media world. This mass media has
got both advantages and disadvantages to develop their knowledge in all the fields.
At the same time, it has its adverse effects
that to in this internet world to see pornography pictures in the available
cyber cafe. Apart from this Mizo youths and Mass Media has now related deeply,
yet, no proper studies were conducted. There is a need to study in a particular
area from the grass roots level about the adverse effects of Mass Media. The
study focused on the relationships between Mass Media and Mizo youths and or
how the Mizo youths are exposed to different kinds of Mass Media.
Today’s youth are exposed to mass
media like radio, television, newspapers, magazines, comics etc. There was
rapid change in the social life of Mizos especially among young people due the
various exposures they get in media. As we are aware that today’s nation is the
youthful nation that the one third of the nation’s population comprises of
youth population. Thus, this paper
makes an attempt to know the mass media exposure of Mizo Youth.
Objectives
1. To study the
profile and level of mass media exposure of Mizo youth.
2. To know the
factors associating with mass media exposure and
3. To find out
the impact of mass media on the social life of Mizo youth.
Methodology
The
present study is based on the primary data collected through structured
questionnaire from the schools St. Paul ’s Higher
Secondary School , Basileia Higher
Secondary School and Women Polytechnic Institute
in Aizawl, which is the capital of Mizoram state. The design of the present study is
exploratory and a structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from
the students by using systematic simple random sampling method. From the each institutions sixty samples were selected for data collection. The collected data was
process and analysed with help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
package.
Operational Definitions
Youth
In this present study the youth
refers to the age group from 14 to 24 years, who are studying in the three
educational institutions namely St. Paul ’s Higher Secondary School ,
Basileia Higher Secondary School
Mass Media Exposure
The youth who have exposed to various media
such as television, radio, newspaper, magazine and internet.
Results and Discussion
This section includes results and discussion of the collected
data. The data would be presented in
Tables.
Profile of the
Respondents
The
Table1 shows profile of the respondents in terms age, gender, education,
sub-tribe, and denomination. As regards to the gender less than three fourth
(71.67 %) of respondents are females and they comprise more both in rural and
urban areas. As regard to the age group, age of youth is grouped into two;
14-18 years and 19-24 years. There were more than half of (58.33%) the
respondents belong to the age group of 14 – 18 years and more than one fourth (41.67%) percent of the
respondents in the age group of 19 -24 years. Among the respondents, half of (50%)
of them in both the age groups belong to rural area.
As regard, the education of respondents less than
two third (65%) were in 12th class and the remaining more than one
third (35%) of the respondents were in Polytechnique. As regards to the sub
tribe was classified into five types namely; Lusei, Hmar, Ralte, Lai and
Mara. Among the respondents more than
half (58.33%) of them belong to Lusei tribe and the least (10%) belong to Lai
tribe. The table reveals that majority of therespondents are belong to sub
tribe of Lusei. As regards to the denomination, in Christianity, there are
different denominations. They are Presbyterian, Baptist, Salvation Army, Roman
Catholic, United Pentecostal Church (UPC), Isua Krista Kohhran and Sabbath.
Among the respondents more than two third (66.67%) of respondents belong to
Presbyterian denomination and the least belong to Isua Krista Kohhran and
Sabbath denominations.
Table 1: Profile of the Respondents
Sl.No |
Characteristic |
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I
|
Gender |
|||
Male
|
11
(34.38)
|
6
(21.43)
|
17
(28.33)
|
|
Female
|
21
(65.63)
|
22
(78.57)
|
43
(71.67)
|
|
II
|
Age Group
|
|||
14 - 18
Years
|
21
(65.63)
|
14
(50.00)
|
35
(58.33)
|
|
19 – 24
Years
|
11
(34.38)
|
14
(50.00)
|
25
(41.67)
|
|
III
|
Education
|
|||
Class XII
|
26
(81.25)
|
13
(46.43)
|
39
(65.00)
|
|
Poly
technique
|
6
(19.75)
|
15
(53.57)
|
21
(35.00)
|
|
IV
|
Sub Tribe
|
|||
Lusei
|
22
(68.75)
|
13
(46.43)
|
35
(58.33)
|
|
Mara
|
0
(0.00)
|
3
(10.71)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Lai
|
2
(6.25)
|
4
(14.29)
|
6
(10.00)
|
|
Hmar
|
3
(9.38)
|
5
(17.86)
|
8
(13.33)
|
|
Ralte
|
5
(15.63)
|
3
(10.71)
|
8
(13.33)
|
|
V
|
Denomination
|
|||
Presbyterian
|
25
(78.13)
|
15
(53.57)
|
40
(66.67)
|
|
Baptist
|
1
(3.13)
|
6
(21.43)
|
7
(11.67)
|
|
Salvation
Army
|
1
(3.13)
|
3
(10.71)
|
4
(6.67)
|
|
Roman
Catholic
|
3
(9.38)
|
2
(7.14)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
United
Pentecostal Church
|
1
(3.13)
|
1
(3.57)
|
2
(3.33)
|
|
Isua
Krista Kohhran
|
1
(3.13)
|
0
0.00
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
Sabbath
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
Source: Computed Figures
in parentheses are percentages
Household Economic
Characteristics
Table
2:
Household Economic Characteristics of Respondents
Sl.No
|
Characteristic
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I
|
Occupation of
Father
|
|||
Government Servant
|
18
(56.25)
|
16
(57.14)
|
34
(56.67)
|
|
Business
|
9
(28.13)
|
7
(25.00)
|
16
(26.67)
|
|
Cultivator
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(10.71)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
Driver
|
2
(6.25)
|
2
(7.14)
|
4
(6.67)
|
|
Church Worker
|
1
(3.13)
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
II
|
Occupation of Mother
|
|||
Unemployed
|
16
(50.00)
|
17
(60.71)
|
33
(55.00)
|
|
Government Servant
|
14
(43.75)
|
5
(17.86)
|
19
(31.67)
|
|
Business
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(10.71)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
Church Worker
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
Cultivator
|
0
(0.00)
|
2
(7.14)
|
2
(3.33)
|
|
III
|
Monthly Family
Income(Rs)
|
|||
Below 5000
|
5
(17.86)
|
3
(9.38)
|
8
(13.33)
|
|
5000 - 10000
|
12
(42.86)
|
11
(34.38)
|
23
(38.33)
|
|
10000 - 15000
|
4
(14.29)
|
7
(21.88)
|
11
(18.33)
|
|
15000 - 20000
|
1
(3.57)
|
4
(12.50)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
20000 - 25000
|
5
(17.86)
|
5
(15.63)
|
10
(16.67)
|
|
Above 30000
|
1
(3.57)
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
IV
|
Residential Status
|
|||
Rented
|
4
(14.29)
|
7
(21.88)
|
11
(18.33)
|
|
Owned House
|
15
(53.57)
|
21
(65.63)
|
36
(60.00)
|
|
Hostel
|
3
(10.71)
|
2
(6.25)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
Quarters
|
6
(21.43)
|
2
(6.25)
|
8
(13.33)
|
Source: Computed Figures in
parentheses are percentages
The Table 2 shows the household economic characteristics of the
respondents. The house hold economic
characteristic includes father’s occupation, mother’s occupation, monthly
income of the family, and residential status. As regards father’s occupation, more than half (56.67%) of
their fathers were engaged in Government servant. There was no much difference
between the urban and rural respondents father’s occupation in terms of
government servant. The least percent of the respondents’ fathers’ occupation
were church workers. As regards to
mother’s occupation majority of respondents mothers were Unemployed (55 %) and
also was no much difference in urban and rural areas. On the other hand, most
of respondent’s mothers were engaged in Business (8.33 %), Cultivation (3.33 %)
and Church Worker (1.67 %). Economy is an important for family growth and
development. There were more than one third (38.33%) of respondents who belong
to income group of Rs.5000-10,000, in which more than one third (42.86%) belong
to urban area and more than one third (34.38%) in rural area. Only 5 percent of
the respondents’ monthly family income was above Rs.30000. As regards to
residential status, shelter is one of the basic human needs, majority of the
respondents both in Urban (53.57 %) and Rural (65.63 %) were live in their
owned house. As a whole around two third (60 %) of the respondents were
residing in their own shelter. Only 13.33 percent of the respondents reside in
Government quarters.
Mass Media Exposure
Table 3: Mass Media Exposure: Mean Scores
Sl.No |
Mass Media |
Urban
|
Rural
|
Total
|
1
|
Television
|
1.53 ± 0.76
|
1.29 ± 1.01
|
1.42 ± 0.89
|
2
|
Radio
|
1.53 ± 0.76
|
1.61 ± 0.79
|
1.57 ± 0.77
|
3
|
Newspapers
|
1.75 ± 1.08
|
1.79 ± 1.10
|
1.77 ± 1.08
|
4
|
Internet
|
1.13 ± 0.98
|
1.14 ± 1.01
|
1.13 ± 0.98
|
5
|
Magazine
|
2.22 ± 1.26
|
2.32 ± 1.33
|
2.27 ± 1.29
|
Mass
Media Exposure
|
1.63 ± 0.51
|
1.63 ± 0.44
|
1.63 ± 0.47
|
|
Levels of Mass Media Exposure |
||||
1
|
Low
|
13
(40.63)
|
11
(39.29)
|
24
(40.00)
|
2
|
Medium
|
11
(34.38)
|
13
(46.43)
|
24
(40.00)
|
3
|
High
|
8
(25.00)
|
4
(14.29)
|
12
(20.00)
|
Source: Computed
Mean ± S.D Figure in parentheses is Percentages
The mass media exposure refers to the students
who are exposed to radio, television, newspaper, magazine and internet. The Table 3 shows the mass
media exposure: mean scores of the respondents.
The table reveals that there is difference between urban (34.38%) and
rural (46.43%) areas at a medium level with regard to media exposure.
Purpose of Print Media Exposure
There are different print media
people get exposed in this electronic society.
Students read newspapers, magazines and other comics etc. These print media help the students to get
various exposures and also motivate to gain knowledge in their respective fields.
Here, the Table 4 shows the purpose of print media exposure of the respondents.
Among the respondents majority three fourth (75%) in urban areas and half
(50%) of in rural areas read newspapers in order to gain knowledge. Further, it
was followed less than one fifth (15.63%) in urban and less than one third
(32.14 %) rural areas read newspaper for the purpose of their personality
development.
Table 4: Purpose of
Media Exposure: Print Media
Sl.No
|
Media and Purpose
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I
|
Newspaper
|
|||
No Response
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
Persuasive Pressure
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(10.71)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
Knowledge
|
24
(75.00)
|
14
(50.00)
|
38
(63.33)
|
|
Personality Development
|
5
(15.63)
|
9
(32.14)
|
14
(23.33)
|
|
Entertainment
|
1
(3.13)
|
1
(3.57)
|
2
(3.33)
|
|
II
|
Magazine
|
|||
No Response
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
Persuasive Pressure
|
1
(3.13)
|
2
(7.14)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Knowledge
|
11
(34.38)
|
11
(39.29)
|
22
(36.67)
|
|
Personality Development
|
15
(46.88)
|
12
(42.86)
|
27
(45.00)
|
|
Entertainment
|
5
(15.63)
|
2
(7.14)
|
7
(11.67)
|
Source: Computed
Figure in parentheses is Percentages
With regards to the magazine, about
half (45%) of the respondents read magazine for the purpose of developing their
personality and one third (35%) of the respondents read magazine for gaining
knowledge.
Purpose of Electronic Media
Television is a powerful media,
which influences the youth in both rural and urban area. The Table 5 shows
purpose of media exposure on electronic media.
Among the respondents, more than one third (37.50%) in urban areas and nearly
half (46.43%) in rural areas were watching television for the purpose of
gaining knowledge. The least percent of
the respondents watch television due to persuasive pressure from their peers.
Sl.No
|
Media and Purpose
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I
|
Television
|
|||
No
Response
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(10.71)
|
5
(8.33)
|
|
Persuasive
Pressure
|
2
(6.25)
|
1
(3.57)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Knowledge
|
12
(37.50)
|
13
(46.43)
|
25
(41.67)
|
|
Personality development
|
4
(12.50)
|
3
(10.71)
|
7
(11.67)
|
|
Entertainment
|
12
(37.50)
|
8
(28.57)
|
20
(33.33)
|
|
II
|
Radio
|
|||
No Response
|
3
(9.38)
|
0
(0.00)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Pressure
|
2
(6.25)
|
1
(3.57)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Knowledge
|
20
(62.50)
|
18
(64.29)
|
38
(63.33)
|
|
Personal
development
|
7
(21.88)
|
8
(28.57)
|
15
(25.00)
|
|
Entertainment
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
III
|
Internet
|
|||
No Response
|
1
(3.13)
|
3
(10.71)
|
4
(6.67)
|
|
Pressure
|
5
(15.63)
|
5
(17.86)
|
10
(16.67)
|
|
Knowledge
|
7
(21.88)
|
10
(35.71)
|
17
(28.33)
|
|
Personal
Development
|
10
(31.25)
|
8
(28.57)
|
18
(30.00)
|
|
Entertainment
|
9
(28.13)
|
2
(7.14)
|
11
(18.33)
|
Source:
Computed Figure in parentheses is Percentages
Radio
is one of the cheapest electronic media and also it is a very important for
rural people in Mizoram. Among the
respondents less than two third (62.50 %) in urban areas and less than two
third (64.23 %) in rural areas were listening radio for gaining knowledge on
various aspects. One fourth (25%) of the respondents listen to radio for the
purpose of developing their personality development by hearing different speech
programmes. Among the respondents more than one fourth (30%) of them use
Internet for personal development and more than one fourth (28.33%) of the use Internet
for purpose of gaining knowledge. The
least percent of the respondents did not give response on the exposure of
internet use.
Perceived Factors Influencing Media Exposure (Print Media)
The Table 6 shows the perceived factors influencing media
exposure: print media. Among the respondents more than two third (67%) of them
said that the perceived factor of influencing to read newspaper and magazines
due to their personal interest and also there is no much difference in terms of
the rural and urban areas. The next important perceived factor for influencing
print media from the respondents was their family. By analyzing the data, we
come to understand that urban youth have more exposure on print media rather
rural youth.
Sl.No
|
Media
and Factor
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I |
Newspaper use
|
|||
No Response
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
Personal
|
22
(68.75)
|
18
(64.29)
|
40
(66.67)
|
|
Family
|
9
(28.13)
|
4
(14.29)
|
13
(21.67)
|
|
Teachers
|
1
(3.13)
|
2
(7.14)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Peer
Pressure
|
0
(0.00)
|
3
(10.71)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
II |
Magazine use
|
|||
Personal
|
18
(56.25)
|
21
(75.00)
|
39
(65.00)
|
|
Family
|
7
(21.88)
|
2
(7.14)
|
9
(15.00)
|
|
Teachers
|
5
(15.63)
|
2
(7.14)
|
7
(11.67)
|
|
Peer
Pressure
|
2
(6.25)
|
3
(10.71)
|
5
(8.33)
|
Source: Computed
Figure in parentheses is Percentages
Perceived Factor Influencing Mass Media Exposure (Electronic
Media)
Sl.No
|
Media and Factor
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
n = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
I
|
Television use
|
|||
Personal
|
15
(46.88)
|
16
(57.14)
|
31
(51.67)
|
|
Family
|
8
(25.00)
|
9
(32.14)
|
17
(28.33)
|
|
Teachers
|
1
(3.13)
|
2
(7.14)
|
3
(5.00)
|
|
Peer
pressure
|
8
(25.00)
|
1
(3.57)
|
9
(15.00)
|
|
II
|
Radio use
|
|||
Not
Mention
|
3
(9.38)
|
3
(10.71)
|
6
(10.00)
|
|
Personal
|
19
(59.38)
|
9
(32.14)
|
28
(46.67)
|
|
Family
|
7
(21.88)
|
10
(35.71)
|
17
(28.33)
|
|
Teachers
|
2
(6.25)
|
6
(21.43)
|
8
(13.33)
|
|
Peer
pressure
|
1
(3.13)
|
0
(0.00)
|
1
(1.67)
|
|
III
|
Internet use
|
|||
Not
Mention
|
3
(9.38)
|
5
(17.86)
|
8
(13.33)
|
|
Personal
|
14
(43.75)
|
13
(46.43)
|
27
(45.00)
|
|
Family
|
3
(9.38)
|
3
(10.71)
|
6
(10.00)
|
|
Teachers
|
5
(15.63)
|
6
(21.43)
|
11
(18.33)
|
|
Peer
Pressure
|
7
(21.88)
|
1
(3.57)
|
8
(13.33)
|
Source: Computed Figure
in parentheses is Percentages
Majority
of the respondents (51.67 %) viewing TV without any control or pressure but by
their own personal interest. There was difference between urban (46.88%) and
rural (57.4%) respondents who watch TV for their own Personal. More than one
fourth (28.33%) of respondents watch TV due to the factors of family
influences. Radio was listened mainly due to the factors of personal in urban
(59.38%) and rural (32.14%) and on the whole 46.67 percent. Internet is also
used for personal interests and nearly half of respondents (45%) used for it.
There is no difference between urban students (43.75) and rural (46.43%)
students who use internet.
Frequency of Exposure to
Different Types of TV Programmes
Today people
are living in the Media world, there has been opening uncountable number of
channels coming up everyday in the Television. Here, Table shows that frequency
of exposure of different types of programmes, namely, Music, News special,
Western, Sport, Love Story, Comedies, Quiz, Cartoon, Action-Adventure, Science,
National News, Children, Documentaries, Advertisement Programmes are shown in
the table. The Programmes can be classified into two broad categories viz.
Education and
Sl.No
|
Programme
|
Urban
n = 32
|
Rural
N = 28
|
Total
N = 60
|
1
|
Music Programme
|
2.53 ± 0.76
|
2.50 ± 0.58
|
2.52 ± 0.68
|
2
|
News Special Programme
|
2.06 ± 0.72
|
2.21 ± 0.83
|
2.13 ± 0.77
|
3
|
Western Programme
|
2.06 ± 0.88
|
2.00 ± 0.77
|
2.03 ± 0.82
|
4
|
Sports Programme
|
2.06 ± 0.91
|
1.89 ± 0.83
|
1.98 ± 0.87
|
5
|
Love Story Programme
|
1.97 ± 0.65
|
1.96 ± 0.96
|
1.97 ± 0.80
|
6
|
Comedies Programme
|
2.00 ± 0.92
|
1.89 ±
0.69
|
1.95 ± 0.81
|
7
|
Quiz Programme
|
1.78 ± 0.71
|
1.82 ± 0.61
|
1.80 ± 0.66
|
8
|
Cartoon Programme
|
1.88 ± 0.94
|
1.46 ±
0.88
|
1.68 ± 0.93
|
9
|
Action Adventure Programme
|
1.50 ± 0.84
|
1.75 ± 0.89
|
1.62 ± 0.87
|
10
|
Science Programme
|
1.50 ± 0.88
|
1.64 ± 0.73
|
1.57 ± 0.81
|
11
|
National News Programme
|
1.63 ± 0.75
|
1.32 ± 0.90
|
1.48 ± 0.83
|
12
|
Children Programme
|
1.56 ± 1.08
|
1.39 ± 0.92
|
1.48 ± 1.00
|
13
|
Documentaries Programme
|
1.44 ± 0.91
|
1.43 ± 1.10
|
1.43 ± 1.00
|
14
|
Advertisement Programme
|
1.31 ± 1.00
|
1.14 ± 0.93
|
1.23 ± 0.96
|
Source: Computed Mean
± SD
Entertainment
Programmes. Educational Programmes compose of News, Children, Documentaries
Programmes and Entertainment Programmes includes Music, Western, Love Story,
Comedies, Cartoon, Action-Adventure, and Advertisement Programmes.
Among
these programmes, the youth were very exposed to Music Programmes i.e. Standard
Deviation of Table shows that 2.52 ± 0.68. As Mizos love singing very
much, because they watch more programme on
music.Next majority of respondents would like to get knowledge on informational
programme (2.13±0.77 S.D).
Watching
Pornographic Movies
The age group of 15-18 years, there
were 40 percent respondents who never watch any Pornographic Movies. One fourth
of respondents (25.71) have watched at least one Pornographic Movies. But it
can be assumed that those who don’t want to say whether they watch or not are
34.29 percent. This means that once they
may watch and may feel shame, if it is like that, there will be 60 percent who
watch Pornographic Movies. Therefore the significance level at one percent
level is 9.51. Hence, there was no association between the age group and
watching Pornographic Movies.
Sl.No
|
Factor
|
Watching Pornographic Movies
|
Total
|
||
No
|
Yes
|
No Opinion
|
|||
I
|
Age Group
|
||||
15 - 18
Years
|
14 (40.00)
|
9 (25.71)
|
12(34.29)
|
35(100)
|
|
18 and
Above
|
20 (80.00)
|
2 (8.00)
|
3 (12.00)
|
25 (100)
|
|
Total
|
34(56.67)
|
11(18.33)
|
15(25.00)
|
60(100)
|
|
Chi-square
|
9.51*
|
||||
II
|
Sex
|
||||
Female
|
32 (74.42)
|
6 (13.95)
|
5(11.63)
|
43(100)
|
|
Male
|
2(11.76)
|
5 (29.41)
|
10(58.82)
|
17(100)
|
|
Total
|
34(56.67)
|
11(18.33)
|
15(25.00)
|
60(100)
|
|
Chi-square
|
20.88**
|
||||
III
|
Locality
|
||||
Rural
|
17 (60.71)
|
6 (21.43)
|
5 (17.86)
|
28 (100)
|
|
Urban
|
17 (53.13)
|
5 (15.63)
|
10 (31.25)
|
32 (100)
|
|
Total
|
34(56.67)
|
11(18.33)
|
15(25.00)
|
60(100)
|
|
Chi-square
|
1.50
|
||||
Source: Computed Figures in parentheses are
percentages
There
were females 13.95 percent who watched Pornographic Movies and among male,
there more than one fourth (29.41%) of the respondents who watched pornographic
movies. Therefore, the significance
level at 5 percent level is 20.88. Hence there is no relationship between gender
and watching pornographic movies. Based on Locality, majority of rural and urban
youths never watched Pornographic Movies (56.67 Percent).
Conclusions
and Suggestions
The research
was conducted to study the Mass Media Exposure of the Mizo Youth in three
educational institutions in order to know the students various levels of media
exposure in the Mizo society. In this
contemporary society even the six month unborn baby is also exposed to music
and television in the mother’s womb.
Therefore, the influence of mass media is very much in this present
society. Keeping in view of these things the researcher wants to know that the
levels of mass media exposure among the youth.
Today in all the houses we can see either television or radio and any
other print media. From the findings the
researcher wants to give some suggestion in order to use the mass media for
constructive and educative purpose rather than entertainment.
In this study the researcher studied three educational institutions and
found out that majority (78%) of the respondents come from rural background and
most of the respondents belongs to the age group of 15 to 18 years i.e. 65
percent. The respondent’s exposure to
Mass Media is not high, and 40 percent of the respondents were each in low and
medium level. The various levels of Mass
Media Exposure and its purpose the respondents said that (63.33%) read newspaper for gaining knowledge,
nearly half of respondents (45%) uses magazines for their personal development,
and over all knowledge development is the main
purpose of Media Exposure among
respondents in T.V. (41.67%), Radio (63.33%) and Internet (28.33%). This
research helped the researcher to know the various levels of mass media
exposure, associating factors and the impact on their social life style. From
the objectives the researcher comes to know that the mass media exposure of
respondents was watching more Music Programmes of Television than other
Programmes, News and Western Programmes follows. Educational Programmes of
Television like News Special, Quiz, Science, National News, Children,
Documentaries ranked lower as an average than Entertainment Programmes
In India Mass
media exposure has been increasing since one decade the various media like
television, radio, newspaper, magazine, comics and other print media. At present the Government of India has given
one television to each panchayat and also established libraries in local
self-government. A part from that every
nook and corner Internet centers are available.
So that the researcher wants to known Mass media exposure of Mizo
students
·
It is very important to educate the students
about the usage of Internet services in the educative system especially in the
post Matriculation level.
·
With regard to the exposure to media, proper
guidance is necessary to the students in educational institutions from their
teachers.
·
Apart from this, good educative programmes should
be broadcasted in the television and radio in a more convenient time for the
students and also if any informative programmes like model question paper of
the Board Examinations of Higher Secondary and other national level quiz
programmes could be made available by their television which they have in the
school for the students.
·
Most of the students watching television in
their homes roughly two to three hours per day.
Giving awareness to their parents can reduce this and also the school
and other educational institutions should take initiative to increase the
reading habit of their students.
- Moreover, the educational institutions should conduct a training programme on the effective usage of mass media in the school level. Besides that the educational institutions can conduct sex education programmes to the students through that awareness can be created to some extent in order to avoid of watching pornographic movies.
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- C. Lalneihkima[1] : Former student, Department of Social Work, Mizoram University, Aizawl – 796 004 email ID:helplife07@gmail.com
C. Devendiran[2] Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Mizoram University, Aizawl – 796 004 email ID:devbhupa@gmail.com
and Muthulakshmi[3] Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Mizoram University – 796 004 email ID:muthumzu@gmail.com
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