The Role of Radio in Combatting Misinformation About Covid-19: An Assessment of Potters Fm in The Bono Region

Abstract

With the current situation of pandemic and the lack of information control by regulatory authorities, the research will create awareness for radio stations to come to terms with the abilities they possess to reshape people’s existing ideas and emotions about pandemics and their relating matters so as to push the correct narrative and come up with programs and activities that will help reduce the spread of the disease and educate people on the need to comply with government and health directives that are aimed at combating the crisis on all fronts. The aim of the study was to assess the role radio stations play in combatting misinformation about the current Covid-19 pandemic. The study used descriptive survey (questionnaire) to gather data from listeners of Potters FM in the Sunyani Municipality. The gathered data was further analyzed with the help of SPSS and presented using charts and graphs. Social Media and the Internet were seen to be the major sources of misinformation while TV, Radio, Newspapers and Magazines proved to be trusted sources for the dissemination of public health information. But even though radio possesses great abilities in combatting misinformation, the language used in disseminating public health information is clear and free from ambiguity. Policymakers and public health officials can also tap into the potentials of radio to push the narrative of public health safety measures.