A Study of Newspaper Reading Habits Among Members of the Debaters’ Club of Okuapemman School, Akropong-Akuapem.

Abstract

The study sought to find out newspaper reading habits of the Debaters’ Club of Okuapemman School, Akropong-Akuapem. Two theories, the Uses and Gratification Theory; and the Dependency Theory underpinned this qualitative study. Purposive sampling and convenient sampling techniques were used to select participants. In all, twelve students were purposively and conveniently selected. Four participants were interviewed and the eight were taken through the focus group discussion. The findings are that the school library is the main source of getting newspapers for the members of the debaters’ club. Also, members of the school’s debaters’ club had varied newspaper reading habits (styles). They scanned or skimmed as well as did an intensive reading. They engaged in silent reading at the school library or engaged in reading aloud when they had the opportunity to read newspapers outside the library or when at home. To them, newspaper reading has been a means of gratification. Since the students who read newspapers could be described as ‘scanners,’ the paper recommends that teachers should sensitize students on the importance of newspapers in education, and the need to develop good newspaper reading habits as well as overall reading. Keywords: newspaper, reading habits, media, gratification, dependency.