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Main article: Media bias
The media has played a pivotal role in the construction and continuous reinforcement of democratic regimes, exerting a significant influence on the formation and evolution of democratic institutions and practices throughout the African continent. [1] In a democratic context, the mass media is referred to as the fourth columnist, a term that perfectly captures the significance of the media in influencing public opinion in any given society. [1] Nigerian mass media consists of print media like newspapers and magazines as well as electronic media like television, radio, and audio recordings, which appeal to both the senses of sound and image. [1] [2] The term "media bias" appears to have three main definitions: distortion bias, which refers to news that purports to be false or distorted; content bias, which is news that favours one side of a political dispute over treating the other equally; and decision-making bias, which sometimes refers to the attitudes and motivations of the journalists who are purportedly producing the skewed content. [3] Media bias has always been a source of contention in Nigeria, raising questions about the objectivity and veracity of news reporting. [4] [5]
Historical Context
The origins of mass media in Nigeria can be traced back to the efforts of Christian missionaries to evangelize, educate, and uplift the local population in their new colonies. The first newspaper, Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba ati Yoruba, was established in December 1859 by Rev. Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society. [4] Although presented as a means to introduce the indigenous people to Christianity and criticize the slave trade, a closer look reveals that Townsend used the newspaper as a tool for political disinformation and manoeuvring for dominance in Egbaland. [4] This laid the foundation for subsequent media outlets and newspapers. These publications often reflected the interests of the educated elite and newspapers owners who used them as a platform to express their opinions on current events, and the interests and concerns of the general public were only made public when they coincided with those of the government or powerful section of the population.
After the amalgamation in 1914 and in the years that followed, the main newspaper proprietors and journalists were also leaders of the two main political organisations, the Nigeria Youth Movement (N.Y.M.) and the Nigeria National Democratic Party (N.N.D.P.). During the election campaign, the newspapers sided with these parties, turning into their organs. [4] [5]
Following the 1960 independence, Nnamdi Azikiwe and his peers continued the 19th-century pioneers' tradition of utilising their journals as a platform for political messaging as well as a business endeavour. It might be argued that Azikiwe’s use of the Pilot newspaper in his political campaigns against his competitors and subsequently in his slanging dispute with the Daily service newspaper signalled the formal beginning of yet another significant component of the second phase of Nigerian journalism and media bias. [4]
These trends persist and are evident in the establishment of media outlets in present-day Nigeria, which often serve the interests of either the political elite or a particular ethnic group. [5] [6] As a result, news reports may be biased towards these interests and can influence citizens' perceptions.
Types of Media Bias in Nigeria
Impact of Media Bias
Media bias can significantly impact various aspects of society and public discourse. Some potential impacts of media bias in Nigeria include...
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Submission declined on 28 March 2024 by
Vanderwaalforces (
talk). This submission does not appear to be written in
the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a
neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of
independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid
peacock terms that promote the subject.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
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Main article: Media bias
The media has played a pivotal role in the construction and continuous reinforcement of democratic regimes, exerting a significant influence on the formation and evolution of democratic institutions and practices throughout the African continent. [1] In a democratic context, the mass media is referred to as the fourth columnist, a term that perfectly captures the significance of the media in influencing public opinion in any given society. [1] Nigerian mass media consists of print media like newspapers and magazines as well as electronic media like television, radio, and audio recordings, which appeal to both the senses of sound and image. [1] [2] The term "media bias" appears to have three main definitions: distortion bias, which refers to news that purports to be false or distorted; content bias, which is news that favours one side of a political dispute over treating the other equally; and decision-making bias, which sometimes refers to the attitudes and motivations of the journalists who are purportedly producing the skewed content. [3] Media bias has always been a source of contention in Nigeria, raising questions about the objectivity and veracity of news reporting. [4] [5]
Historical Context
The origins of mass media in Nigeria can be traced back to the efforts of Christian missionaries to evangelize, educate, and uplift the local population in their new colonies. The first newspaper, Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba ati Yoruba, was established in December 1859 by Rev. Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society. [4] Although presented as a means to introduce the indigenous people to Christianity and criticize the slave trade, a closer look reveals that Townsend used the newspaper as a tool for political disinformation and manoeuvring for dominance in Egbaland. [4] This laid the foundation for subsequent media outlets and newspapers. These publications often reflected the interests of the educated elite and newspapers owners who used them as a platform to express their opinions on current events, and the interests and concerns of the general public were only made public when they coincided with those of the government or powerful section of the population.
After the amalgamation in 1914 and in the years that followed, the main newspaper proprietors and journalists were also leaders of the two main political organisations, the Nigeria Youth Movement (N.Y.M.) and the Nigeria National Democratic Party (N.N.D.P.). During the election campaign, the newspapers sided with these parties, turning into their organs. [4] [5]
Following the 1960 independence, Nnamdi Azikiwe and his peers continued the 19th-century pioneers' tradition of utilising their journals as a platform for political messaging as well as a business endeavour. It might be argued that Azikiwe’s use of the Pilot newspaper in his political campaigns against his competitors and subsequently in his slanging dispute with the Daily service newspaper signalled the formal beginning of yet another significant component of the second phase of Nigerian journalism and media bias. [4]
These trends persist and are evident in the establishment of media outlets in present-day Nigeria, which often serve the interests of either the political elite or a particular ethnic group. [5] [6] As a result, news reports may be biased towards these interests and can influence citizens' perceptions.
Types of Media Bias in Nigeria
Impact of Media Bias
Media bias can significantly impact various aspects of society and public discourse. Some potential impacts of media bias in Nigeria include...
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)