MEDIA CONTROL MECHANISM AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

Journal of Global Social science, 2021

This study examined media systems and operations in Nigeria with particular attention to Nigeria's democracy. The study provides a global perspective of media systems and operations and narrows it down to Nigeria. The researchers also examined the models of media systems and operations. Consequently, three models were identified. They are the polarised pluralist, the democratic corporatist and the liberal models. The researchers also examined the normative theories of the press that provides theoretical explanations on the relationship between the press and the government and how this affect the operations of the media. Therefore, the six theories examined were authoritative theory, the soviet communist theory, the libertarian theory, the social responsibility theory, the development media theory, and the democratic participants' theory. The researcher links these models and theories of media systems and operations in Nigeria's democracy and argues that Nigeria is currently practicing the liberal model with a combination of libertarian and social responsibility. It is recommended that further empirical studies should be examined to ascertain journalists' views on the media systems and operations in Nigeria.

The work examined the features of democracy and how the media has contributed to the attainment of democracy in Nigeria. The work is anchored on the agenda setting, framing and priming theories of the mass media. The impact of mass media in sustainable democracy in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, mass media must look for avenues to improve on the quality of information they disseminate in order to sustain Nigeria's democracy. The Nigerian media has an important role to play in this present democratic dispensation by allowing for orderly succession of civilian to civilian administration. It is by so doing that democracy can fully be sustained and beyond.

THE MEDIA AND THE CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA, 2019

Over the past two decades, Sub-Saharan (simply ‘Africa’) has been partly transformed by the winds of democratic change (Diamond, 2010), sequel to the collapse of Soviet Unions in the 20th century. But democratic structures and processes in Nigeria’s history had suffered debilitating distortion, and in some cases, total destruction during theprolonged period of military incursion into politics, which prevailed continuously since 1966 till 1999 before the country returned to another civil rule in May 1999 (Asobie, 2005). In all these years of dictatorship, Nigerians through the media clamoured persistently for a free debate on the grand norms, the fundamental principles and, the basic structures that would constitute the foundation for the practice of democratic politics in a post military era. Meanwhile, the media systems in Africa are still as insecure and volatile as unstable political and social structures compared to the developed nations (Hutchten, 1971). Apparently, the roles and priorities of the media in a developed nation like United States of America can never be the same in a developing nation like Nigeria with a fledgling democracy- a nation still scrambling for its own identity in the comity of nations. However, the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm carries an entrenched assumption that is often taken for granted. For not only is it made to appear as having constitutional backing, but also that our modern mass communication media as ‘neutral’ reporters and filters of news and information are an obvious necessity for democracy (Eziokwu, 2004), a condition for the nurturing and sustenance of democracy.

2010

The dissertation critically examines the still evolving process of neoliberal democratization and its impact on the philosophy and structure of the Nigerian media. The return of civil rule in 1999 following decades of military despotism naturally generated a great deal of expectation regarding the prospects of a more democratic media system that would foster popular participation in development and governance. Well over a decade into the democratic experience, not much has changed as the country’s media, particularly the broadcasting sector continue to stagnate under military era policies and legislations that automatically became Acts of parliament. The lack of substantive democratization by way of policies and regulations required of a democratic society is further compounded by the selective application of neoliberal policies relative to the political and economic interests of the ruling elite as evidenced by the contrasting policies in broadcasting and telecommunications in whic...

The paper critically analyses the perception, responsibility and challenges of Nigerian media in the process of democratization which is still evolving in Nigeria. Using the analytical approach, the paper posit that the perception of the media in the process of democratisation in Nigeria is generally negative; and that the there are lots of lacuna in the manner Nigerian media discharge their responsibility. This scenario is, according to this paper, attributable to the various challenges media organizations in the country face in the environment with many consequences for the country's democratic development. The paper concludes that the media institutions are too important in the process of democratization to be ignored. Hence, the paper suggests interventions by the actors in forms of reorientation, support, planning, among others.

The media in Nigeria developed in different stages. The print media set the stage while the broadcast media followed after some years. The psychology and modus operandi of the print media at the time was transferred to the broadcast media. At the initial stage, the colonial government had little interest in the media; hence no government regulation was put in place. However, the print media from inception was influenced by politics. Ever since the Iwe Irohin was out of circulation after the Egba uprising, subsequent media outlets were influenced in one way or the other by politics. The selfish political interest of the newspaper proprietors then forced the colonial government to establish what can be regarded as the first media regulation; the newspaper ordinance of 1903. This sets the stage for media regulation and political influence in Nigeria. This paper explores the origin of political influence and government regulation of mass media in Nigeria, paying attention to how privatization and commercialization influence the nature of media operation in the country.

Mass Media and Democratisation in Nigeria's Fourth Republic, 2010

Media, Culture & Society, 2003

2023

The mass media in every state is a reflection of the system of governance in such state. However, some governments exercise total control on the media, using tools such as repressive laws and policies amongst others. This paper focused on the instruments of direct state control on the media by the government and its influence on media economics in Nigeria. Deregulation of the broadcast industry, repressive laws, and policies were identified as factors that led to either the sanctioning, fining or closure of some media organisations in recent times. It was concluded that direct control of the press by the government in power can influence media economics as the press becomes dependent on media owners and can be affected when there is an existing policy that places a barrier on profit making. The implication is that the demand and supply of news is greatly affected, portraying news as a commodity that could be bought.

In recent years the increasing influence of the mass media has changed the colouration and shape of politics all over the world. Consequently, it has raised provocative questions about journalism’s role in the political process. There are questions about media’s effect on the political system and the subsystems – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Bhaskar Parichha (2011) asks rhetorically: Is media power in politics a myth or an exaggeration? Who influences whom? When does the media power peak and when does it touch the bottom. According to Parichha, these and similar other questions, however, defy any clear-cut answer. Lai Oso (2011) in his book, Mass Media and Society in Nigeria contends that the press has played vital role in Nigerian politics and development in most cases. It tremendously played the catalytic and watching roles. In other instances, it was accused of derailing in playing these noble roles and toeing the line of prevarication. Umechukwu (2001) seem thinking when he says … “The Nigerian press have often been accused of aggravating the ugly situation through sinister prevarication in their reportage of events, (politics, riots, religions conflicts) etc. In spite of this, controversy and dust-raising, the press in Nigeria are known to have performed creditably in the reproduction of intangibles such as consciousness which are crucial to the development process. Agbaje (1989) said this reproduction is at three levels namely media content, media evolution and media context.

Civil society organisations (CSO's) and the mass media are critical institutions in entrenching democratic governance in the society. They serve as the conscience of the nation as well as monitor the temperature of democracy in any given society. The study explores the activities of civil society organisations and the mass media in promoting democracy in Nigeria. Using library research method, the study found that civil society organisations and the mass media were instrumental in entrenching democracy in Nigeria. The study equally shows that these institutions are vital in influencing and providing policy directives to government on important national issues. The study reveals that CSO's and the mass media are key players in exposing corruption among government officials and politicians. They were able to demand public accountability from those at the corridors of power; they as well fought obnoxious policies and programmes of government thereby consolidating Nigerian democracy. Despite these monumental efforts, the activities of CSO's and the mass media are threatened by the government through the use of harassment, intimidation, and promulgation of anti-democratic bills to gag their activities. The study concludes by reiterating that the government should reconsider its posture in the way and manner it is treating these vital institutions that make democracy to thrive in any nation. To this end government should see CSO's and the mass media as institutions that check their excesses and also provide them with the platform to communicate the yearnings, feelings and grievances of the citizens to the government.

Babcock University Journal of Mass Communication

The role of the electronic media in a nation's political development is not in doubt, but whether they are performing this role as expected is still a subject of polemics. Using the agenda-setting and two-step flow theories as supports, this paper examines the constitutionally prescribed roles of two electronic media namely: radio and television in relation to the extent of performance of those roles. Citing instances in the nation's political history, the author attempts an examination of the positive and negative impacts of radio and television on Nigeria's political development. The paper concludes with recommendations on how the media could be more relevant in the performance of those duties which society expects of them.

Asian Social Science

In contemporary times, democracy has become the political buzzword and, indeed, the basic acceptable form of government with the emergence of liberalism which links democracy with freedom, consent, and political and legal equality. The mass media – which include newspapers, radio and television – play a prominent role in governance and democratic sustainability of any state. In fact, it is a truism that the media serve as the watchdog of governmental activities, ensuring that quality information with which the governed can hold their leaders accountable is made available. The mass media were actively involved in the struggles against colonialism and military rule, as well as the eventual restoration of democratic government in Nigeria. However, in Nigeria, the mass media are fast becoming a pawn in the hands of the government and party in power in particular, and are found in conspiracy with the political elite class in general. This article takes on the contributions of the mass me...

2017

and development of every society. It is a tool which can be used to re-orientate, influence and guide the masses particularly in this democratic dispensation of Nigeria. Therefore, modern political environment cannot be sustained anywhere in the world without the presence and vibrant role of the media. The media is expected to discharge it social responsibility in the political domain of Nigeria. It is in view of this, the paper explore the pivotal role of the media in the democratic politics of Nigeria, with a view to understanding its contribution in the political development of the country. Social responsibility theory has been adopted in this paper to serve as guide in explaining the issue under investigation. The paper adopts secondary sources in generating useful data for the study, they include; journals, periodicals, articles, books, internet materials and conference papers that have direct bearing on the subject matter. It is suggested that the media should be professional ...