TITLE:                      Assessing propaganda content in the Nigerian media: Study of 2015 Presidential campaigns

AUTHORS: 

1.         Name: Bo, I. Daniel, PhD.

            Address: Benue State University, Makurdi

            Phone: 08065476418

            Email: bodanielx67@yahoo.com

And

2.         Name: Ogi John

            Address: Benue State University, Makurdi

            Phone: 07035592020

            Email: ogijohnliv@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Generally, the mass media seeks to enlighten the citizenry and equip them to make informed decisions. In a dynamic and complex democratic society interests and ambitions vary and often do conflict, thereby exposing an uncritical media to various vulnerabilities. Otherwise reliable sources often compromise on truth and trust. Despite these vulnerabilities, the electorate depend on the media for objective, accurate and true information about those who wish to govern them. Information often released to the media by politicians is often laced with unseen motives and may serve propaganda purposes. To overcome being a mere conveyor of disguised propaganda, the media must adopt a professional character that is constructive and critical. For this reason this paper assesses media coverage of the 2015 general elections to ascertain the extent to which the media resisted becoming mere propaganda channel. Anchored on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, the study content analyses some selected newspapers.

RESEARCH OUTLINE:

SELECTED NEWSPAPERS:

            The Nation

            Vanguard

            Daily Trust 

Unit of Analysis: stories on presidential campaigns of the two frontline parties APC and PDP

Duration: December 2014 to 27 March 2015