The Media as a Political Resource in Nigeria: A Rear-View Mirror

In virtually all climes and regions of the world, the mass media in all guises is a political resource. The paper explores the public goals which the media can be used to serve. Most especially national integration and political education in a plural and deeply divided society like Nigeria coupled with her babel of voices that hinders the media to wear the toga of national outlook. The paper also took a dim view of functions of the mass media in the society cum the traditional and constitutional roles of the fourth estate of the realm. Attention was also paid to the historical metamorphosis of the mass media in Nigeria. The paper however infers that the many ‘sins’ of the media as highlighted in the piece must be taken care of to enhance developmental journalism.