Function of the Media in Shaping the Future of Democracy in Nigeria: Enhancing Electoral Integrity through the Nigerian Print Media

Abstract

The media is pivotal in democratic consolidation, particularly during elections, ensuring transparency and credibility. In Nigeria, the print media plays a vital role in supporting democracy by facilitating political discourse, educating voters and watchdogging electoral processes. This paper examines the responsibilities of the print media, including voter education, campaign facilitation and ensuring electoral transparency. It also addresses challenges such as maintaining impartiality in a diverse society, competing with digital media and navigating the mistrust between the electorate and political actors. While the print media has contributed significantly to democratisation, issues like electoral violence, voter apathy and media manipulation persist. The findings emphasise the need for the print media to adapt to new technological realities and maintain unbiased reporting to support Nigeria’s democratic growth, offering recommendations to enhance its capacity as a credible platform for electoral processes.

Keywords: Print media, elections, democracy, voter education, Nigeria, electoral process, political participation, media transparency.

DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/107-03

Data of Publication: January 30th 2025