| Title: | Analysis of the Performance of Private and Government Press in the Quest for Nigerian Fourth Democratic Republic |
| Author(s): | Dr. Okpoko John I. |
| Abstract: | It is widely believed that ownership of media houses contributes in shaping editorial policies of media houses. Some acknowledge that private media were more prone to promote democracy than government media; others had contrary opinion on the issue. The study compared the role of private and government press in the quest for democracy in Nigeria during the Fourth Republic. The study made use of content analysis research method and found out that there was a significant difference in the way or manner private media reported democratic activities from that of the government owned media; as the government media were less critical to the government and its obnoxious laws, policies and programmes. The study recommends that journalists should always know that their social responsibility is to act in the public interest irrespective of the ownership of the media under which they operate. |
| Keywords: | performance, government, press |
