Newspaper reading habits of university students: a case study of Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India.
Kumar, Devendra ; Singh, Rajkumar ; Siddiqui, Jamal Ahmad 等
Introduction
Newspapers help to improve reading habits, knowledge, and
awareness. They can be part of good study habits for students in any
area of specialization. India is a developing country with many ethnic
communities who wish to live together. Efforts to solve cultural
adaptation problems should be multi-dimensional and long term. Reading
and library use habits have an important role in building the
multicultural structure in a country. According to Stadler (1980),
reading;
* Will develop the source of word of children in both mother
language and householder language.
* Will contribute the thinking in both languages.
* Will raise the communication in both languages.
* Will help the children to learn the rules of behaviour and life
style of householder country.
Library use can have these functions in cultural adaptation:
* To develop the intercultural understanding and relationships.
* To facilitate the intercultural passing.
* To increase the cultural diversity.
* To provide social integration.
* To give an educational support to language development.
(Mylopoulos 1985)
Background on the University
Chaudhary Charan Singh University (formerly, Meerut University) was
established in 1966, to cater to the needs of higher education in
Western Uttar Pradesh. The University celebrated its silver jubilee in
1991 and now it is one of the premier educational institutions of the
country. It has a vast campus outside the city in a pollution-free
environment which sprawls over 219 acres of land with vast playgrounds
and experimental fields, botanical garden, rose garden with lifesize
statue of the late Prime Minister Ch. Charan Singh, gymnasium, indoor
stadium, well equipped library, administrative block, spacious
auditorium, guest house, community centre and medical centre. The
various teaching departments under different faculties are housed in
spacious buildings and have well equipped laboratories. It was the first
University in the country to introduce the M.Phil. Programme. A distinct
feature of the academic programme is the semester system and continuous
evaluation of the students through quizzes, tests, and seminars.
About the Library
The University library is housed in a four storied modular pattern
building in close proximity to the teaching departments. It has more
than one lakh books, 35,000 bound volumes of journals and more than 7900
theses on its shelves. Nearly 4000 documents in the form of books,
theses and dissertations are added every year. It also subscribes to
about 250 National and International journals in various disciplines,
and 17 newspapers. The library invests Rs 50 lakh per annum on the
acquisition of reading materials.
Library membership is open to students, scholars and faculty
members of the university and for the teaching staff of the colleges
affiliated to the University. Reference and Bibliographic services have
been specially planned to meet the growing requirements of library
members. Reprographic facility is also provided to the members. Online
internet access on large number of terminals is available free to the
faculty and on payment to the students/scholars of the university.
The library remains open throughout the year except on 11 closed
days. It observes working hours from 8.00 AM to 12.00 Night on all
working days and from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM on holidays.
Review of the Literature
Begum and Ramesh (1991) investigated factors inhibiting public
library use. They analyzed responses gathered from the users of the
central library, Mysore, India. Somsong (1999) looked at reading habit
promotion in ASEAN libraries. Factors limiting reading habits were
discussed, along with the role of local institutes or organizations in
helping libraries promote reading. Bndaka (2007) explored the use of
newspaper articles to develop students' reading skills in senior
high school. Arulraj and Viji (2008) found that more male staff members
at a professional college than female.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to discover:
* The first language of the students.
* The language in which mostly students read newspapers.
* How much time is spent reading newspapers.
* Sources of newspapers.
* Which newspapers are read most by students.
* Which sections of newspapers are read most by students.
* The types of news read.
Methodology
A questionnaire and personal interviews were used for data
collection. A total of 350 questionnaires were administered and 341
filled in questionnaires were obtained from the users.
A major objective for the study was to included all primary
clientele. The user populations were defined as, P.G. students, M. Phil
students and Research scholars.
Data Analysis and Interpretation
The collected data are organized and tabulated by using statistical
method, table and percentage. The data analyses are given below:
The table shows that the size of distribution and received
questionnaire from the students. Total numbers of questionnaire
distributed among PG students 200, M.Phil students 100, and Research
scholar 50. Out of these the responses from the respondents are PG
students 194 (56.89%), M.Phil students 98 (28.74%), and research scholar
49 (14.37%) from the total sample.
The first language of nearly all respondents is Hindi.
The table shows that average 96.61% of students use Hindi for
newspaper reading, whereas 67.57% use English, and 3.25% students use
Urdu.
The table shows that nearly 60 percent of students spend 1-2 hours
daily reading newspapers..
Individual subscriptions are the most common source of newspapers
for students.
Nearly all users read Dainik Jagran, while two-thirds read the
Times of India..
About three-quarters of respondents prefer the editorial, sports,
and politics sections of the newspaper.
The table shows that a majority read newspapers for information,
while more than one-third do so to improve general knowledge.
Findings
* The majority of students read newspapers in Hindi or English
language.
* The majority of time spent reading newspapers is one to two hours
daily.
* The majority of the students read newspapers to get information
and improve their general knowledge.
* The main sources of newspapers are individual subscription,
followed by the university library and student hostels.
* The most popular Hindi and English newspapers among the
university students are Danik Jagran and The Times of India.
* Students prefer to read editorial sections, followed by sports
and politics..
Conclusion and Recommendations
Library users read newspaper to get the latest information about
what is happening around. Newspapers are responsible for creating and
generating reading habits among university students. Newspapers are
essential for university students, but due to the enormous explosion of
information published in the form of newspapers in different languages
in particular, it is impossible for libraries to subscribe all that are
published at the national and international levels. Under these
circumstances the best way of serving the users is by proper display of
newspapers and notifying users about new information related to
education. In library there should be adequate newspapers to accelerate
reading habits. This study helps librarians understand the importance of
newspapers and improve the services related to newspapers.
References
Achtenhagen, Leona & Welter, Friederike (2004).
Entrepreneurship in media analyzing the discourse in German newspapers.
Accessed on 04-82009http://www.ihh.hj.se/mmt/entrepreneurship.html
Adoni, H. and Nossek, H. (2001). The New Media Consumers: Media
Convergence and the isplacement Effect. Communications, 26(1). 59-85.
Allen, Harrell. T. (1978). New methods in Social Science Research.
New York: Praeger Publishers.
Anthony, G.C. (1980). The Impact of Television on South African
Daily Newspapers. Journalism Quarterly, 57(2). 216-223.
Arulraj, R, and Viji (2008). News Paper Reading Habit Among the
Professional College Staff Members for Various Points of View: A Survey.
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/news-paper- reading habit-among-the-professional-college-staff-members-for-various-points-of-view a-survey-295276.html
Begum, Khaiser Jahan and Ramesh, C.P. (1991). Factors inhibiting
the public library use: A case study of City Central Library, Mysore.
Library Review, 332350.
Baldwin, T, McVoy, D. and Steinfield, C. (1996). Convergence:
Integrating Media, Information and Communication. London: Sage.
Belson, W. A. (1961). Effects of Television on the Reading and
Buying of Newspapers and Magazines. Public Opinion Quarterly,
25:366-381.
Bndaka, Eleni (2007). Using newspaper articles to develop
students' Reading skills in senior high school. The Reading Matrix,
7 (1).
Bostron, Lena, and Lassen, Liv M. (2006). Unraveling learning,
learning style, learning strategies and metacognition. Education +
Training, 48(2/3). 178-89.
Datta, Saroj & Macdonald-Ross, Michael (2002). Reading Skills
and Reading Habits: A study of New Open University. Open Learning,
17(1). 2002
Filistrucchi, L. (2005). The Impact of Internet on the Market for
Daily Newspapers in Italy. EUI Working Paper, ECO No. 2005/02, European
University Institute, Badia Fiesolana 1- 50016, San Domenico (FI),
Italy.
Finholt, T. and Sproull, L. (1990). Electronic Groups at Work.
Organization Science, 1(1). 41-64.
James, M.X., Wotring, C.E. and Forrest, E.J. (1995). An Exploratory
Study of the Perceived Benefits of Electronic Bulletin Board Use and
their Impact on other Communication Activities. Journal of Broadcasting
& Electronic Media, 39: 30-50.
Kaur, S. and Che Lah, S. (1998). The sociocultural development of
mature learners at the university. Paper presented at the Malaysia
International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures
(MICOLLAC). The Mines Resort Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 10-12 May 1998.
Kayany, J.M. and Yelsma, P. (2002). Displacement Effects of Online
Media in the Socio-technical Contexts of House Holds. Journal of
Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Spring.
Klare, G. R. (1984). Readability, in: P. D. Pearson (Ed.) Handbook
of Reading Research(New York, Longman).
Macdonald-Ross, M. & Scott, B. (1995). Results of the survey of
OU students' reading skills. Text and Readers Programme: Technical
Report #3 (Milton Keynes, Institute of Educational Technology, Open
University).
McLuhan, M. (1994). Understanding Media - The Extensions of Man,
Cambridge, MA, MIT Press.
Merrill, J.C. and Lowenstein, R.L. (1971). Media, Message, and Men:
New Perspectives in Communications. New York: David McKay and Company
Inc.
Morris, M. and Ogan, C. (1996). The Internet as Mass Medium.
Journal of Communication, 46(1). 39-52.
Mulopoulos, Chryss (1985). Trends in multicultural programming.
Canadian Library Journals, 42(1), 23-25.
Napoli, J. and Ewing, M. (1998). The Media Habits and Internet
Practices of the Net Generation. Perth, Australia: Curtain University of
Technology.
O'Brien, M. (1999). Newspaper on the Internet- With a Case
Study of the Nando Time. Research Paper.
Palmer, J.W. and Eriksen, L.B. (1999). Digital Newspapers Explore
Marketing on the Internet. Communication of the ACM, 42(9). 33-42.
Robinson, J.P., Barth, K., and Kohut, A. (1997). Social Impact
Research: Personal Computers, Mass Media and use of Time, Social Science
Computer Review, 15(1). 65-82.
Shahriza, Nor (2007). Reading habits and attitude in the digital
age: Analysis of gender and academic programm differences in Malaysia.
The Electronic Library, 25(3). 285-98.
Somsong, Sangkaeo (1999). Reading habit promotion in ASEAN
libraries. 65th IFLA Council and General Conference Bangkok, Thailand.
28 August 1999.
Sparkes, V.M. (1983). Public Perception of and Reaction to
Multi-channel Cable Television Service. Journal of Broadcasting, 27:
163-175.
Stadler, Alois (1980). Children of guest worker in Europe: Social
and cultural needs in relation to library services. Library Trends,
29(2). 325-334.
Stephens, M. (1998). Which Communications Revolution is it, Anyway?
Journalism and Quarterly, 75(1). 9-13.
Tsao, C.J. and Sibley, S.D. (2004). Displacement and Reinforcement
Effects of the Internet and other Media as Sources of Advertising
Information. Journal of Advertising Research, pp. 126-142.
Van Der, R. J.W. (2005). Impacts of the Internet on Newspaper in
Europe. International Journal of Communication Studies, 67(1). 107-120.
Yilmaz, Bulent. (2000). Reading and library usage habits of the
students whose mother tongue is Turkish in Vienna, Austria." 66th
IFLA council and General conference Jerusalem, Israel: 13-18.
Devendra Kumar
Chaudhary Charan Singh University Library, and
Faculty, Department of Library & Information Science
Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP, India
Rajkumar Singh
Librarian, Govt. Mahila Degree College
Aurai, Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadoh, UP, India
Jamal Ahmad Siddiqui
Coordinator
Department of Library & Information Science
Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP, India
Table 1: Size of the Sample
Total Total
S. Questionnaire Questionnaire Sample Population
N. Users Distributed Received in percentage (%)
1 P.G 200 194 56.89
Students
2 M. Phil. 100 98 28.74
Students
3 Research 50 49 14.37
Scholars
Total 350 341 100
Table 2: First language of users
P.G M.Phil Research
Students Students Scholars
Average %
Responses Responses Responses of Users
S.N. Language (%) (%) (%)
1 Hindi 185 (95.36) 95 (96.94) 48 (97.96) 96.75
2 Urdu 9 (4.64) 3 (3.06) 1 (2.04) 3.25
Total 194 (100) 98 (100) 49 (100) 100
Table 3: Preferred languages
P.G M.Phil. Research
Students Students Scholars
Average %
Responses Responses Responses of Users
S.N. Language (%) (%) (%)
1 English 130 (67.01) 63 (64.28) 35 (71.42) 67.57
2 Hindi 194 (100) 96 (97.95) 45 (91.83) 96.61
3 Urdu 9 (4.63) 3 (3.06) 1 (2.04) 3.25
Multiple responses allowed
Table 4: Time spent reading Newspapers
P.G M. Phil. Research
Students Students Scholars
Responses Responses Responses Average %
S.N. Time Spent (%) (%) (%) of Users
1. Less than 39 (20.10) 19 (19.38) 13 (26.53) 22.00
one hour
2. 1 to 2 134 (69.08) 61 (62.25) 22 (44.90) 58.75
hours
3. More than 21 (10.82) 18 (18.37) 14 (28.57) 19.25
2 hours
Total 194 (100) 98 (100) 49 (100) 100
Table 5: Sources of Newspapers
P.G. M.Phil. Research
Students Students Scholars
Responses Responses Responses Average %
S.N. Sources (%) (%) (%) of Users
1. Individual 113 (58.25) 63 (64.28) 41 (83.67) 68.73
Subscription
2. Library 64 (32.99) 31 (31.64) 6 (12.25) 25.63
3. Hostel 17 (8.76) 4 (4.08) 2 (4.08) 5.64
Total 194 (100) 98 (100) 49 (100) 100
Table 6: Read Newspaper Daily
P.G M. Phil. Research
Students Students Scholars
Responses Responses Responses Average %
S.N. Newspaper (%) (%) (%) of Users
1 The Times 129 (6.49) 61 (62.55) 34 (69.38) 66.14
of India
2 Hindustan 117 (60.30) 27 (27.55) 22 (44.89) 44.25
Times
3 The Hindu 30 (15.46) 13 (13.26) 11 (22.44) 17.05
4 The Indian 9 (4.63) 10 (10.20) 10 (20.40) 17.74
Express
5 Dainik 189 (97.42) 91 (92.85) 44 (89.79) 93.35
Jagran
6 Amar Ujala 122 (62.88) 61 (62.24) 30 (61.22) 62.11
7 Hindustan 155 (59.28) 63 (64.28) 32 (65.30) 62.95
(Hindi)
8 Navbharat 21 (10.82) 13 (13.26) 9 (18.36) 14.14
Times
9 Others 15 (7.73) 9 (9.18) 8 (16.32) 11.07
Multiple responses allowed
Table 7: Which Sections of Newspaper Do You Like Most?
P.G M.Phil. Research
Students Students Scholars
Average
Newspaper Responses Responses Responses %
S.N. Section (%) (%) (%) of Users
1 Sensational 150 (77.31) 69 (70.40) 17 (34.69) 60.80
news
2 Editorial 153 (78.86) 63 (64.28) 46 (93.87) 79.00
3 Advertisement 27 (13.91) 12 (12.24) 7 (14.28) 13.48
4 Letter to 36 (18.55) 11 (11.22) 4 (8.16) 12.64
editors
5 Politics 161 (82.98) 58 (59.18) 37 (75.51) 72.55
6 Sport 174 (89.69) 79 (80.61) 24 (48.97) 73.09
7 Cinema news 56 (28.86) 23 (23.46) 11 (22.44) 24.92
Multiple responses allowed
Table 8: Motives for Reading of Newspapers
P.G M.Phil. Research
Student Students Scholars
Responses Responses Responses Average %
S.N. Motive (%) (%) (%) of Users
1. To get 119 (61.34) 57 (58.16) 29 (59.18) 59.56
information
2 To improve 69 (35.57) 34 (34.69) 17 (34.69) 34.98
my general
knowledge
3 It is my 6 (3.09) 7 (7.15) 3 (6.13) 5.46
hobby
Total 194 (100) 98 (100) 49 (100) 100
