The role of mass media in political mobilization

Code No: 378120

₦5,000.00

ABSTRACT

The various literature studies intended to the mass media role in the national development and this is clear in the area of political leadership. In this study, the researcher decided to draw home the tourism that without a national political consciousness and viable political participation resulting in good leadership, there could be no genuine national development.

The mass media is the fourth estate of government had been assigned various responsibilities in society including the watch role, the educator and the entertainer of the various segments of the people. The role of the mass media as an instrument of political mobilization in the modern of more or less formalized institutions that deal with the communication of all types. Normally, this required considerable capital as is the case with the radio, television and publishing houses. Necessarily, they have to cater for the mass audience. For this reason, those who control the mass media usually suggest that they have the ability and capacity to manipulate and mobilize the people during the transition era.

The alternation of primary social relationships under the impact of industrialization has left the population and society lacking in a sense of group identity and social control. The Nigeria democratic system having been bastardized and destroyed by certain disgruntled elements, look into the mass media as the way out to correct the abnormality and injustice of the Nigeria democratic dispensation. This work tried to identify the functions, problems and prospects of the mass media of communication and equally highlights their ability to carry out this enormous responsibility to an enviable height in the mobilization of the people towards a viable and sustaining democratic polity.

CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This research touches on the various aspect of the mass media as instruments of political mobilization. In other words, it explores into the mass media as a mobilization agency during the political transition period.

It is thus, an important assumption of the work that a systematic study of political mobilization by mass media, should include an examination and the nature of operation of the mass media of communication in the River state broadcasting service (RSBS) River state

The mass media generally referred to both the print(s) and electronic media as supported in section 22 of the 1989 constitution of Nigeria.

The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media should at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and highlights the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.

The role of the mass media according to General Abacha in his maiden independence broadcast on the 1st October 1995 was to unform, educate and entertain the citizen.

Onyishi (1996) while highlighting on the role of the mass media in democracy notes that the press not only sustains the democracy principles but also end with transaction period. The media should help an ushering in democracy they should play a crucial role in nurturing and sustaining the success or failure of our practice of democratic government. To large extent, their success depends on how well the mass media carries out their function as the mid wife of democracy.

This research therefore is intended to investigate how far the mass media had fulfilled this allowed obligation. It is hoped that the result of the work will be useful to media practitioners in the proper performance of their duties.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS:

In democracies, the mass media are the watch dog of the people. The citizen are usually mobilized and unformed to created awareness on the political culture.

By political culture, I refer to a system of politic in which sovereignty is vested on the people rather than a small clique, or an oligarchy, a political arrangement that places emphasis on the accountability of polity where the rule of law, majority rule and constitutionalism is the basic guiding principle.

Perhaps, it could be argued that the political crisis that pervaded our recent past points to the fact that most of our people are ignorant of an apathetic towards the countryâ€™s observe that in Nigeria electioneering and voting pattern cannot be validated, in the voting pattern of Nigerians and the possible estimation of the voter attitude towards political

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The level of political participation in Nigerian and Enugu state in particular seems to be very low. Also the political crisis occurring in this country has equally been attributed to several factors. The purpose of this study is to identify the reasons or reasons that have contributed to this low political participations in Nigeria politics.

In doing so, what usually comes to mind is to ask the question what is the reason for the low political participation in Nigeria politics and equally the causes of the constant political crisis? As usually, it may be traced to several factors like low level of awareness and tribalism, how can this awareness be obtained? This will lead us to this research topic.

Therefore, this study is intended to inquire into how political participation in Nigeria politics and equally trace the genesis of the political crisis that identifies the factors responsible and solution sought.