Background Of The Study
The mass media have always played significant roles across the globe as the general public typically relies on it to provide information regarding political issues, social issues, entertainment and news in pop culture. In advance democracies, the media is freer and more independent when it comes to journalistic content. The media are generally defined as those channels of communication which are capable of reaching heterogeneous audiences simultaneously with uniform messages (Oyesomi, Oyero, and Okorie, 2017). This diversified communication technologies are divided into traditional media and new/digital media. The three forms of traditional media are broadcast (television, radio), cinema (movies, documentaries), and print i.e. books, magazines, and newspapers, which is the major focus of this study.
The notion of the media(Newspapers included) as the fourth branch of government, as watchdog, as guardian of the public interest, and as a conduit between governors and the governed is widely claimed.
Newspaper is a mass media which communicates current information released at regular interval of time. As a mass medium, newspapers are beneficial for education, information, enjoyment, relaxation and entertainment. This is why Ola and Ola (2016), note that newspapers are crucial because they contain current information and they keep the readers aware of events and activities inside and beyond their local contexts. Okunna (2019) confirms this stance by arguing that the newspaper is crucial in that it acts as a transporter of current information or news. Obaid (2019) concurs that newspapers are the textbooks that provide up to date information on local, state, national and world affairs, the most current analysis and criticism of the executive and legislative decision making, the latest in music, theatre, television, fine arts and even column and comics to make readers laugh. Babalola (2021), believes that newspapers encourage literacy empowerment; it unavoidably fosters critical thinking, retention of knowledge, problem solving and the questioning of information source. Furthermore, newspaper consumption permits one to become a person who holds civic-conscious ideals, tolerance and connectedness to the community (Edegoh, Asemah, and Okpanachi, 2020). It is believed that an informed citizenry is beneficial to democracy.
The review and readership of newspapers(which is the major interest of this study), has been considered very vital in promoting citizens involvement in Nigeria politics. The newspaper in Nigeria are sources of political information, and avenue for political participation and discussion, right from the colonial era to the present democratic dispensation. Obasanjo (1992) cited in Babalola (2021), described it as any agency that operates for the articulation and dissemination of ideas and information, generally with the intent to influence an audience or the institution that constitutes legalized power and authority. Against this background, the contributions of newspaper to the political knowledge of citizens over time have been a focus of social scientists and media scholars.
Additionally, citizens who are informed and knowledgeable about politics tend to make decisions that reflect their real interests. Citizens only need to listen to the radio for news headlines, read the newspaper or browse the internet or social media to view online newspapers to be politically informed, and engaged (Snyder and Stromberg, 2020).
Citizens’ engagement in the political process is an important element of a democratic political culture. The engagement of members of a political community is usually influenced by the political information, attitudes, feelings and skills they possessed. Cognitive orientation or political knowledge about the political system of a nation is important to the quality of citizenship and health of the collective (de Vreesea and Boomgaarden, 2016). High political knowledge helps citizens to better understand the current affairs shaping their societies, contributes to more stable and consistent political attitudes. It also helps citizens to achieve their own interests and make decisions that conform to their attitudes and preferences, promotes support for democratic values, facilitates trust in the political system, and motivates political engagement(Galston, 2015). From the aforementioned, this study seek to examine the influence of newspaper review on citizens political engagement.
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