MASS MEDIA AS AN INSTRUMENT OF POLITICAL MOBILIZATION (A CASE STUDY OF EDO BROADCASTING SERVICE (ESSBS)
ABSTRACT
The various literature studies intended to the mass media role in the national development and this clear in the area of political leadership. In this study, the researcher decided to draw home the Tourism that without a national political consciousness and viable political participation resulting in good leadership, there could be no genuine national development. The mass media is the fourth estate of government had been assigned the various responsibilities in the society including the watch role, the educator and entertainer of the various segments of the people. The role of the mass media as an instrument of political mobilization in the modern of more or less formalized institutions that deals with communication of al types. Normally, this required considerable capitals as the case with the radio, television and publishing houses. Necessarily, they have to carter for the mass audience. For this reason, those who control the mass media usually suggest that they have the ability and capacity to manipulate and mobilize the people during the transition era. The alternation of primary social relationship under the impact of industrialization has left the population and social lacking in sense of group identity and social control. The Nigeria democratic system having been bastardized and destroyed by certain disgruntled elements, look into the mass media as the way out to correct the abnormally and injustice the Nigeria democratic dispensation. This work tried to identify the functions, problems and prospects of the mass media of communication and equally highlights their ability to carry out this enormous responsibility to an enviable height in the mobilization of the people towards a viable and sustaining democratic polity. The work highlights the impacts of the mass media in informing educating and entertaining the masses towards polity. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations suggested in this work would have a lean way an ending and lasting political culture.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This research touches on the various aspect of the mass media as instruments of political mobilization. In other words, it explores into the mass media as a mobilization agency during the political transition period. It is thus, an important assumption of the work that a systematic study of political mobilization by mass media, should include an examination and the nature of operation of the mass media of communication in the Enugu state broadcasting service (ESBS) Enugu. The mass media generally referred to both the print(s) and electronic media as supported in section 22 of the 1989 constitution of Nigeria. The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media should at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and highlights the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people. The role of the mass media according to General Abacha in his maiden independence broadcast on the 1st October 1995 was to unform, educate and entertain the citizen.
Onyishi (1996) while highlighting on the role of the mass media in democracy notes that the press not only sustains the democracy principles but also end with transaction period. The media should help an ushering in democracy they should play a crucial role in nurturing and sustaining the success or failure of our practice of democratic government. To large extent, their success depends on how well the mass media carries out their function as the mid wife of democracy. This research therefore is intended to investigate how far the mass media had fulfilled this allowed obligation. It is hoped that the result of the work will be useful to media practitioners in the proper performance of their duties.
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