Assessment of the Influence of Broadcast Media Decision-Making Determinants on News Content Selection and Public Opinion Formation in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper assessed the influence of broadcast media decision-making determinants on news content selection and public opinion formation in Nigeria. This was aimed at ascertaining the salientfactors that influence and shape broadcast news content in Nigeria besides the journalistic criteria, finding out the reasons permeating the influence ofthe factors during the news selection process, and how such influences affect Nigerians' perceptions of the broadcast media and opinion regarding issues reported as well as influence of such perception on public opinion formation and democratic participation in Nigeria. Survey was employed as the research methodology with questionnaire as the instrument. The findings show that ownership interest, organizational orientation, personal biases of the reporters, commercial interests of the stations, sensitivity to the culture ofmedia audiences, relationship with news sources, and the event itselfare the factors that influence news content selection decision-making other than the journalistic criteria. Furtherfindings reveal that news selection, the broadcast media news content selection decision-making, is acomplex process that takes into account an array of factors ranging from partisan affiliation of ownership, business interest ofthe media organisations, personal interests ofreporters, poor remuneration and welfare amongst others. The study also found that as a result of the interplay ofthe determinants, the audiences have different views ofpublic issues in Nigeria and their opinions regarding the state ofaffairs also differ. Based on the findings, the study concludes that the Nigerian broadcast media need re-orientation. As a result, enhanced monitoring and regulation bythe NBC amongst others are recommended by the study.