AN ANALYSIS OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND THE CREDIBILITY OF NEWS REPORTING IN NIGERIA

AN ANALYSIS OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND THE CREDIBILITY OF NEWS REPORTING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The issue of media ownership and media control can never be overemphasized as the landscape surrounding media practices in Nigeria is shrinking. The media are said to take on the colors of where the practice takes place. In other words, the way media works in Nigeria cannot be the same as in other countries such as the Soviet Union, the United States, or the United Kingdom. works. The purpose of this research is to explore the different types of media ownership and how it is controlled, privately or publicly, and how control affects media operations and how it is viewed by Marxists and Consider whether it ties in with the pluralist theory. Among other things, the study found that while private media in Nigeria is thriving, its survival depends on not overriding or overriding the powers of the government. Yes, government policies affect how individuals operate. The study recommends allowing both private and state media to operate freely without internal or external restrictions. Media should not be left to the rich at the expense of the poor.

chapter One

Foreword

1.1 Research background

As guardians and mirrors of the nation, the media play an important role in society and influence editorial policy. Lazar Field and Kendal (2002, p. 32) argue that crowds reach all sections of the population more than other media, and thus are practically applicable to radio media, but before proceeding with this work does not contain only mechanical elements. It includes not only the devices that send messages, possibly messages (television cameras, radio microphones, printing presses), but also the institutions that use these machines to send messages. When we talk about mass media such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, sound recordings, and movies, we are referring to the people, politics, organizations, and technology involved in their production. Mass media is technology designed to reach large audiences. It is the primary means of communication and reaches the majority of people. The most common platforms for mass media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet Ngoa (2006). The general public usually relies on the mass media for information on political issues, social issues, entertainment, and popular culture news.

Through the mass media, news organizations have a great influence on the general public and greatly influence public opinion on a particular issue. Mass media are often the only source of news that the general public relies on. For example, when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969, the mass media allowed the public to witness this historic event.

The media house’s sponsorship, its management, and the recruitment of key employees do not form the influencing factors resulting from the media house’s editorial policy, as media house owners typically do or do the above factors. (Nordenstreng 2005). Media ownership therefore has some impact on editorial policy, which poses a problem for professional journalism. In this case, the editorial letter must be in line with the political framework and editorial principles. Nothing exhausts an editor more than giving him the choice to follow the dictates of politics, to resign, or to fire him in some other way. The impact of media ownership on editorial policy has led many newspapers to collapse operations

According to the report, “There are codes of conduct that regulate how media managers (editors and broadcaster managers) interact, as determined by regulators.” Are owners adhering to these norms? In Africa, governments have consistently used state media to silence dissent. Many governments have used this media to their advantage in presidential election campaigns across the continent, especially when a government in power has taken office.In such cases, the opposition must work miracles to God . Melody in Meier says: To meet the demands of media owners’ financial obligations,” Giddens said in Meyer. “Media has a dual relationship with democracy. On the one hand the emergence of a global information society is a powerful democratising force. Yet, television, and the other media, tend to destroy the very public.” Within the context of supporting democratic transitions, the goal of media development generally should be to move the media from one that is directed or even overtly controlled by government or private interests to one that is more open and has a degree of editorial independence that serves the public interest.

Omu, F. (2000) stated that “the earlier mass media of press and broadcasting were widely seen as beneficial (even necessary) from the conduct of democratic politics.” Considering the fact that those who have the resources to own media organisations will always have the upper hand in terms of prominence in the news, McQuail (2009) said “the typical organisation and forms of mass communication limit access and discourage active participation and dialogue.” Government control of print and broadcast media in many African countries leave little scope for discussing opinions and therefore, public debate. According to a document produced by the Office of Democracy and governance in the United States of America in 1999, access to information is essential to the health of democracy for at least two reasons:
First, it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. Secondly, the information has an “administrative” function, ensuring that elected officials keep their oaths of office and carry out the elected officials’ wishes. In Africa, the recognition of the importance of the mass media in strengthening democracy on the continent gave rise to the African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation, developed in Arusha, Tanzania, in 1990.