Government Broadcast Media Ownership Pattern and Media Content in Nigeria – Its Threats to Democracy

Abstract

Media ownership pattern and content also known as allegiance, loyalty and servitude. The dominant ownership of broadcast media by governments both at the State and Federal levels does not portent well for the country’s democracy. Aladeodunewu (1985) writes “the stark truth is that every medium is in varying degrees “shackled” to its set of overlords and … its policy is largely determined by the personal spites and ambitions of its proprietors”. Further, Dokun, B. (1987) puts it that, the private owned media operators ensure that their interest, which is mainly financial or political or both are met through their publications and broadcasts. Therefore, this study seeks to unraveal the relationship and understanding between the governments owned media and threats to democracy, and how such has affected the media contents in Nigeria.

Keywords: Ownership Pattern, Media, Nigeria, Democracy, Broadcast.