Management of Radio and Television Stations in Nigeria

Abstract

Broadcasting is very important in Africa because majority of Africans get their information, education and entertainment chiefly from radio and television. Because of this vital role of broadcasting in developing countries, radio and television mediums have become the most controlled for both technical and political reasons.

The study aimed at critically examining the role of government in the management and control of radio and television stations in Nigeria, its policy thrust and impact on editorial and programming independence.

The study also examined how government strict monopoly affects programming content which in turn also affects political, social and cultural development of the country. The study relied mostly on historical data generated through documentary sources for analysis.

The study found out that mass media policy which affects media management in Nigeria has been a sensitive, undecided and unconcluded phenomenon, not only because of diversity of the Nigerian society but also because of the failure of majority of Nigerians and their leaders to visualize the role of their mass media in the development of Nigeria. Mass media development in Nigeria has not only been painstakingly slow and erratic but has also followed the western pattern.

The study therefore recommends that government must regard the media industry as an agglomeration of stakeholders all of whom are important to the business. It is improper to assume that all that is important to the formulation of media policies are government and journalists with a total disregard to the role of end-users.