Relationship between Media Freedom and Development in the Nigerian Society

Abstract

This paper examines media freedom and its relationship to development in the society. The media is a general term for the Radio and television, books, magazines, billboards, stop road advertising et cetera, this also encompasses the social media - the internet, cable, and mobile technologies.  In other words the media is a vehicle of information that conveys messages and disseminates it to heterogeneous society where information could be used and ideas could be shared among people. Media actually participate fully in development particular the social media which is itself a development. Media is any physical object that communication. Media in development played a greater role that almost every society felt its impact and of course a promoter of development. Section 39(1) of the constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees press freedom, the constitution offers that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.” Section 39(2) of the constitution provides every Nigerians to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information ideas and opinion. This will help Nigerian society to grow. Development cannot exist in isolation they must be machinery that can foster development, which can be seen in diverse ways, such as infrastructure, roads, banks, organizations, pipe-borne water, electricity, et cetera.

Key words: Media, Freedom, Development, Nigeria and society.