AN APPRAISAL OF THE PRACTICE SOLUTION JOURNALISM: IN NIGERIA AT SUNSET ON JAY FM JOS

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the practice of solution journalism in the radio programme Nigeria at Sunset on Jay FM Jos, Nigeria. The study was guided by three primary objectives: to determine the extent to which listeners recognize the use of solution journalism, to assess their personal perception of its effectiveness, and to examine the influence of listenership frequency on this evaluation. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire distributed online with a valid response of 201 listeners in Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a One-Way ANOVA. The findings reveal that listeners strongly identified the presence of key solution journalism pillars in the program (e.g., focus on responses, evidence, and insights). Furthermore, the analysis established a statistically significant relationship between listenership frequency and evaluation, with daily and weekly listeners rating the program's solution journalism more highly than those who listened rarely. The study concludes that Nigeria at Sunset successfully integrates the principles of solution journalism, but this technical adoption does not automatically translate into a strong perceived impact among all listeners. The positive correlation between frequent exposure and positive evaluation suggests that the benefits of solution journalism are cumulative. Recommendations are offered for the program to enhance narrative depth and audience engagement strategies to bridge the gap between recognition and perceived effectiveness.