The Impact of Mass Media on Political Socialization in Fourth Republic Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the role of mass media on political socialization in Nigeria. Specifically, the study focused on to ascertain the influence of mass media on the political process in Nigeria, and the nature of the impact of the mass media on the political socialization in Nigeria. The study is based on the uses and gratifications theory (Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch, 1974) which explains the relationship between an audience and how this audience uses the media. The source of data collection for this study is the secondary data. The data collected will be analyzed using qualitatively. The results of the analysis show that mass media plays a role in political process in Nigeria from empirical studies reviewed, also the result revealed that there is impact of the mass media on the political socialization in Nigeria from the reviewed studies. The study concludes that listening to radio social media, television and newspaper significantly influence political socialization.. It is recommended that radio stations and other traditional media should take advantage of social media as that is where young people are active and because social media is the future of media. The cover prices of newspapers and magazines should be reduced on campuses to make the print media more accessible.