Media power in Nigeria: Real or imaginary?

Abstract As dynamic social institution, mass media impact on socio-political lives of Nigerians is tangible. Known as purveyor of information, education, enlightenment, awareness, tools for mobilization, socialization and surveillance. One thematic manifestation in these roles is the exercise of media power which attracted interpretations from social scientists. Questions of interest in this study are: what are the roles of the media within Nigeria’s socio-political milieu? What are the dimensions of media power within Nigeria’s socio-political context? And what are the implications of media power within Nigeria’s socio-political sphere? This article is anchored on Gate-keeping and Agenda Setting theories juxtaposed with Des Freedman’s four paradigms of media power: consensus, chaos, control and contradiction. Secondary data gathering approach; complimented with in-depth interview method were adopted. 10 Lagos based top journalists were purposively selected. Findings reveal among others that media power in Nigeria is real. Media power manifests in the productive and legitimating roles of the mass media. The dimensions include: circulation of meaning, the production of texts, and characteristics of media forms. Recommendations made include: continuous scholarly engagement of the subject matter emphasising on ownership and control, policymaking and regulation, corporate strategy and definition of the public interest. Key Words: Media Power, Gate-Keeping, Agenda Setting, Social Life, Political Life * Kabir Alabi Garba is an Assistant Editor with Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria. ** Joseph Adepoju Tejumaiye, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. © AMCRON Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2019, pp. 86 – 97