The Role Of Media In Shaping Public Discourse In Nigeria Today: A Focus On Politics, Social Economic And Cultural Development

EMMANUEL PETER ADAYEHI 

The Nigerian media landscape has been bedeviled by unprofessionalism, particularly during the military era. The hierarchy of the military and the period of military interregnum have had a lasting impact on the media industry. To date, media personalities and media houses have allowed themselves to be bystanders, rather than holding those in power accountable.

This has led to a culture of complacency, where journalists and media personalities sometimes act as bystanders instead of challenging authority.

1. *Historical Context*: The military interregnum created an atmosphere of fear and censorship, stifling journalistic integrity and independence.

2. *This has Impacted on Accountability*: The reluctance to confront power has resulted in a media landscape that often fails to hold leaders accountable for their actions, affecting public trust.

3. *The Media Needs for to be Professionals*: The pressing need is for media professionals to embrace ethical standards and accountability, ensuring that they serve the public interest.

4. *Future Directions*: To revitalize the media’s role in democracy, there must be a concerted effort toward training, ethical journalism, and fostering a culture of critical engagement with power.

Addressing these issues is important for the evolution of a robust and accountable media landscape in Nigeria.
The media’s role is essential in ensuring good governance, promoting and institutionalized democracy, and holding politicians accountable to the public. However, the media often allows politicians to determine the news angles, rather than providing objective reporting. An example the appointment and selection of leadership in the National Assembly, Senate, and House of Representatives are internal matters, and not for public discourse but every time the media will give a coverage of these events as it has know bases of shaping public opinions.

This kind of activity has created a proliferation of paid advertisements in media which has created a huge competition among media houses, radio stations, and television stations, particularly in the print and electronic media. Media moguls should avoid engaging in unprofessional activities, such as having one person involved in multiple media spaces. This has eroded the respect we have for media professionals.

To promote good governance and social economic development, media professionals should focus on media laws and ethics. They should engage in professional journalism practices that promote accountability and transparency in leadership. By doing so, they can help stabilize the system, promote democracy, and ensure that the media plays its role in shaping public discourse.

Professional journalism is about more than just making money; it’s about being an expert in promoting good governance and social economic development. Many media journalists in Nigeria are not focused on promoting good governance, instead engaging in side hustles that compromise their professionalism. The media industry needs to prioritize professional journalism practices to regain the trust and respect of the public.

 

 

©Emmanuel Peter Adayehi, PhD