The study examined broadcast media sensitization on violence against women and children in Port Harcourt. The broadcast media have been sensitizing the members of audience on violence against women and children that happens in form of rape, domestic violence, among others. The social cognitive theory and aggressive cues media violence theory were adopted for the study. Three objectives which include to determine the frequency of broadcast media sensitization on violence against women and children in Port Harcourt and to examine the perception of residents of Port Harcourt towards broadcast media sensitization on violence against women and children and three research questions were adopted. Research methodology used was the survey design with the Taro Yamane formula used in deriving the sample size of 400 from the population size of 1,148,665. The convenience sampling technique was used and questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Simple frequency distribution tables and percentages were used in the interpretation of data. Findings revealed that reports and programmes on violence against women and children in Port Harcourt are not broadcast regularly. Findings also revealed that residents of Port Harcourt find reports on violence against women and children to be scary, unreal and far. In conclusion, the broadcast media -radio and tv are great tools to influence sensitization because of their audio and audio-visual qualities. The study recommended that members of the audience will appreciate the adequacy of sensitization on violence against women and children when perpetrators are made to face the full weight of the law to serve as deterrent to others.
Keywords: broadcast media, sensitization, violence against children, violence against women
