THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN THE ENTHRONEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC SETTING IN NIGERIA

THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN THE ENTHRONEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC SETTING IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study deals with the analysis of the   role of the mass media in the enthronement of democratic setting in Nigeria. The research method used was the survey method, with the questionnaires and interview as the method for data collection. The study kicks off from the definition of democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people. Using questionnaires given to twenty (20) respondents, the study analyze the press and its revolution and power a growth and development of the Nigerian press in democracy. Analyses of the responses show that mass media have a significant contribution to the enthronement of democracy setting in Nigeria. As a recommendation the press is urged to put up expensive and effective machinery to cover the nation as a whole and not just the cities and their inhabitants the press was also admonished to work towards national cohesion and to this it should consciously purse the goal of getting Nigerian to think and reason as Nigerian rather than alongside the dividends of ethnicity.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The conventional wisdom among Third World planners today is that the mass media should integrate with the indigenous modes of communication in promoting development. This wisdom has become intuitively logical because the traditional forms of communication are innate to Third World societies and, therefore, better suited for the dissemination of culture-centred development information to people at the grassroots. However, while the intrinsic nature of the indigenous forms of communication endows them with “a high degree of credibility and acceptance by the people” (Ranganath, 1977; Adhikarya, 1974), the attitude of Third World peoples toward the modern mass media are not yet clear.

This study explores Nigerians Attitude toward the role of mass media (i.e. radio, television and newspapers) in enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. Specifically, the study addresses some questions, these questions are necessary to discern what value people at the grassroots place on the mass media in Nigeria. Such knowledge will be crucial to the efforts by development support communicators to receive maximum influence from communication resources at the project level of development planning.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem that leads to the study of Nigerians Attitude toward the role of the mass media in the enthronement of democracy since 1999 can be perceived from the rapid change in the constitution and laws that guide the activities of the media in the country. In the view of some individual, mass media has not been able to meet up with their role of upholding democracy in the country. However this is not so in the view of others, many people believe that the mass media is not empowered to carry out their function of gatekeeping in the Nigeria economy.

These studies will emphasis the attitude of people towards the activity of mass media in protecting and upholding democracy.

1.3     OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This research work seeks to examine the attitude of Nigerian to the role of mass media in enthronement of democracy since 1999.

This paper examines the role the media have played and continue to play in the socio-political and socio-economic reengineering of structures in a country faced with enormous problems which militate against its optimal performance as an emergent democracy. This study will seek to know the impact of mass media on enthronement of democracy and analysis the attitude of Nigerian to the this role of mass media

 1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• Does mass media play any role in a democratic setting?
• To what extent has mass media promoted democracy in Nigeria?
• To what extent do Nigeria value the role of mass media in the democratic setting?
• Does mass media contribute to the political development of Nigeria?

 1.5    SIGNIFICANCE TO THE STUDY

This study help us to access the power of mass media in influencing and bringing about attitudinal changes in people, especially to win support a candidate during election and to promote the enthronement of democracy in the country. It will also help political analyst and campaign managers to know the beset type of media to reach out to people during election as they fashion their campaign programmes to get maximum support and acceptance.

 1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is limited to the Nigeria Mass media. This study focuses on the role of mass media in the Nigeria Democracy since 1999. The concepts defined in this project work are mainly related to the Nigeria media. However the concepts may be well applicable to the media of other African country and the world at large.

1.7     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The following are the limitation that hinders the study of this research work extensively:

Financial Constraint: There are not enough funds to fund the study of this research work. The researcher has access to a very little source of fund.

Time Constraints: Due to the limited time available to carry out this research work, it is not possible to carry out the research extensively as anticipated by the researcher.

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.  ROLE: Role according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (6 edition) is the degree to which somebody or something involved in a situation or an activity and the effect that they have on it.

2.  MASS MEDIA: Defleui and Denhis (1981) defined mass media as the devices for moving messages across distance or time to accomplish mass communication.

3.  ACCEPTABILITY: Agreed or approved of by most people in a society

3.  CANDIDATE: A nominee or aspirants for any position or honour.

4.  ELECTION: Is a process of selecting one person or more for an office, public or private, from a wider field of candidates.

REFERENCE

Ranganath, I. (1977). Government Media Relations in the Information Age Being a paper Presented at a National Seminar on Government and Media Relations under a Democratic Dispensation Ota: Ogun State: October 11-13; pp. 6-8

Adhikarya M.E., (1974). Overcoming Civic Literacy” in Media Reader: Perspectives on Mass Media Industries, Effects and Issues, 2nd Edition, Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company,

Defleui S.J. Denhis D.K, (1981). Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future. 2nd Edition, Belmont CA: Wadworth Durodola O. Ekpo