الملخص الإنجليزي
This study aims to identify handling social problems among Omani citizens and the live radio program. The sub-objectives of this study are identifying the main social problems in the Omani society from the perspective of public and private audience, structural dimensions (form categories) and subjective dimensions (Content categories) which the program addressed. In addition, it aims to study the major social problems mentioned in the program, and how to tackle them. Moreover, it aims to identify the consequences of the program and the audience's suggestions to improve it.
The study is based on some of the updated career direction issues and Habermas Communicative Action Theory. The study also depends on the descriptive approach and combines the quantitative and qualitative methods where possible. The survey sample is 204 items from the total of Omani citizens and 38 available episodes in the live radio program study unit). The study tools were in the form of content analysis as well as the electronic questionnaire.
The results of the field study can be summarized in the following themes: The first theme: "the main social problems in the Omani society from the perspective of public and specific audience."
The results of the questionnaire revealed that there is an agreement in the type of the social problems, which both audiences, mentioned. These problems are the increasing numbers of job seekers, high cost of living, low per capita income, recruitment problems and the incompatibility of the qualifications with work requirements.
With regard to the agreement between the sample audience and the live program concerning the social problems, it is clear that there is a matching between what the survey sample revealed and what the media released about these problems. These problems are: the increase in numbers of job seekers, weakness in recruitment percentage, the incompatibility between the qualifications and employment requirements and the increase in expatriate manpower and they affect the large segment of the Omani society which is youth. The study unit (the live radio program) has matched the survey society (public-specific) in the type of social problems which household encounters such as high cost of living, low per capita income, divorce, and marriage problems.
Second theme: "the structure dimensions (form categories) in the live broadcast program (study unit):
The results showed that the live program has a diversity in the used means to deliver the content to the listeners. It depends on using music significantly, especially in the beginning and the end of the program as well as in identifying each situation. The program also interviews citizens (inside the studio) and via phone calls.
In addition. There is a diversity in participations from the Sultanate and outside as well. Another diversity can be found in the participants such as interviewing a CEO, a specialist (inside the Studio) individuals (outside the studio), public figures and others. The open conversation between all the parties of the communication process is adopted in the program. Moreover,
given the nature of the program, the social field was the major one addressed in the programs among other fields, let alone other fields such as economic, political, and legal and many others. The third theme: "the subjective dimensions (Content categories) in the live program".
The study concluded that there is a clear diversity in the types of the target group used in the program, noting that the proportional representation considers these categories as main ones only in the message content, while the reality reflects an intersection between these categories depending on the nature of each topic. Generally, it is obvious that the program gives a major importance to the society's categories such as youth and households given their efficient role.
Regarding the classification of the topics in the programs, the results showed that the salient topics discussed are social ones, especially those concerned with youth and household, marriage, leisure time, social responsibility, expertise manpower, voluntary works and many others. In addition, the results showed that the program addressed many values such as political, religious, moral and social. The results also reveal that these problems occupy a non-compete space among other problems. With regard to the mechanisms used to tackle these problems, the results show that there is a clear diversity in the mechanisms with a clear contribution of the official institutions.
The fourth theme: "the consequences of the program and the way it can be developed from the perspective of the audience".
The listeners affirmed that there are positive elements in the program such as having qualified Omani cadres, addressing issues with different perspectives and negatives ones such as, the program does not discuss the major issues in depth, and the phone calls are not enough as they lack evidence.
The study suggested forming specialized committees to study the current social situations and discuss them in the different media channels. In addition, it suggested that the live radio program should (study unit) update the issues which it addresses as well as it should prove its subjectivity and neutrality in delivering and analyzing the facts.
The audience suggested that these problems should be tackled on the ground, making sure to provide transparency and liberty in addressing them. In addition, they suggested that these issues should be tackled continuously, and the episodes should be rebroadcasted in social medial websites.
The study concluded with a discussion of the results in light of previous studies and theoretical frameworks, presenting the main suggestions with the mechanisms used to implement them.
