Solomon Islands: Understanding Audience Needs, Values, and the Role of Media and Communication
London: BBC Media Action (2023), 12 pp.
"The vast majority (87%) of survey respondents said they receive information indirectly or through word of mouth. This is higher than respondents’ reported use of any formal media platforms such as radio, internet, newspapers, or TV. This trend is also evident in which sources people rely on for information. People relied most on family and friends (43%), and their local community (24%). This was followed by radio, social media, local government, community chiefs, internet, and religious leaders (all between 9% and 15%). This indicates how formal media is still not nearly as used as informal communication sources and networks as a source of information. Reliance on informal versus formal sources of information varied between different groups. Women (47%) were significantly more likely than men (39%) to report family and friends as a source of information, as were those with lower media and information access (48%), compared to those with high media and information access (38%).
[...] The survey, conducted with people who have access to a mobile phone, showed that people access media infrequently. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents reported using radio daily, followed by social media (19%), the internet (18%), word of mouth (11%), TV (10%), and newspapers (8%). 57% of respondents said they never watch TV and 39% never use social media. Around one third of respondents never use newspapers (35%), radio (31%), or the internet (31%). Only 6% of respondents said they did not use any of these platforms at all." (Pages 5-6)
[...] The survey, conducted with people who have access to a mobile phone, showed that people access media infrequently. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents reported using radio daily, followed by social media (19%), the internet (18%), word of mouth (11%), TV (10%), and newspapers (8%). 57% of respondents said they never watch TV and 39% never use social media. Around one third of respondents never use newspapers (35%), radio (31%), or the internet (31%). Only 6% of respondents said they did not use any of these platforms at all." (Pages 5-6)
"A nationally representative mobile phone survey of more than 1,000 Solomon Islanders aged 18+ was conducted in January and February 2023 by Australia-based market research company, Tebbutt Research. Respondents were sampled via a randomly generated list of mobile phone numbers. Survey quotas were overlaid to ensure accurate representation by sex and age within each province in alignment with most recent population data available from the national statistics office. As quotas were filled, efforts were made to reach additional members of a household who may not have their own mobile phone. At the end of fieldwork, weights were applied to adjust survey proportions where needed. The survey covered media access and use, key issues affecting people in Solomon Islands at a local and national level, and information needs and barriers. Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted face to face in Honiara and Malaita by a Solomon Islands-based research company, Dignity Pasifik." (Research methodology, page 2)
What are the key concerns and issues affecting Solomon Islanders? -- How are people accessing and sharing information across Solomon Islands? -- What are the levels of media use across Solomon Islands? -- What are the barriers to people being informed? -- Media user profiles -- Recommendations
