EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF MASS MEDIA ON MEDIA OBJECTIVITY

EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF MASS MEDIA ON MEDIA OBJECTIVITY

ABSTRACT

This project takes a look at the “Effect of Government Ownership and Control on Mass Media Objectivity. Government controlled media can be seen simply to be media that operates in a government controlled environment. There are three main concepts behind media that have emerged from such an environment. The term is often used in contrast to private or independent media, which has no direct control from any political party. Its content is usually more prescriptive, telling the audience what to think, particularly as it is under no pressure to attract high ratings or generate advertising revenue. In more controlled regions, the state government may censor content which it deems illegal, immoral or unfavorable to the government and likewise regulate any programming related to the media; therefore, it is not independent of the governing party. In this type of environment, journalists may be required to be members or affiliated with the ruling party Within countries like Nigeria, that have high levels of government interference in the media, it may use the state press for propaganda purposes.