THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA IN MORDERN POLITICS

To grasp the impact of media on modern politics, it’s crucial to first comprehend the
fundamental concept of media. Media can simply be defined as the communication channels
through which people disseminate, news, music, movies , education, promotional messages
and other data. Over the years, media has actually served a very effective and fast way of
communicating information to a wide range of people. It cuts across different spheres of life
of which Modern politics is a part of it.

Modern politics encompasses the current state of political affairs, shaped by advanced
technology, changing societal norms, and the interconnected nature of the global landscape.
This advanced technologies involve internet, social media, blogs, podcasts, website amongst
others and they serve as platforms through which affairs of politics is being portrayed in the
recent times. Media has actually had both positive and negative impacts in the political
sphere.

Media, especially the social media has positively impacted modern politics has it has served
as a platform for Government or aspiring candidates to interact with the citizens of a country.
This makes for better and effective government as both government and citizens can portray
their thoughts to another. For example, In the UK, platforms such as “Fix My Street” has
been used in the UK allow citizens to report issues like potholes or broken streetlights
directly to local authorities. This collaborative approach enhances civic engagement, creating
a closer link between citizens and the government in addressing community concerns.

Media has also served as a faster, better and effective means through which matters relating
to politics and election issues are communicated. People in politics no longer have to go
through long processes before they can interact. People now have social media profiles on
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn amongst others where their ideas and manifestos are
communicated to the people. Media through newspapers, radios and television stations also
help information concerning new government policy action or election result. For example,
most Nigerians got to know that President Tinubu was the next president of Nigeria through
media rather than going to INEC. Also, Some governments have implemented digital
feedback platforms that allow citizens to provide input on policies, projects, or services. For
instance, Singapore's "REACH" platform enables citizens to share their views on various
government initiatives. This direct feedback loop facilitates a more inclusive decision-making
process, ensuring that the government takes into account the perspectives of the people it
serves.

Public opinion is another important impact that media influences in modern politics. Public
opinion can be defined as the aggregate of individual opinions within a society that plays a
significant role in shaping the direction of public discourse, influencing political decision-
making, and impacting social change. Through Media, government does not have to call
citizens together in a place before he can hear their opinion. Government can hear opinions of
the people through televisions, newspapers and even through the post of people on social
media platforms. This then makes citizens more informed and engaged with public affairs
thereby shaping the direction of social discourse and decision-making. For example, New
Zealand’s RealMe Identity Verification, South Korea’s online Administrative Service, India's
MyGov Platform , Estonia’s E Government platform have been used as platforms through
which Government and citizens relate.

Media has helped to serve as a watchdog in the modern political sphere. Media, particularly
social media, acts as a vigilant watchdog in modern politics, empowering citizens to hold the
government accountable by easily recording and sharing instances of wrongdoing online to
public knowledge. This has helped to allow for Government transparency and effectiveness.
This also reduces corruption and allow for democracy to be practiced at the core. For
example, social media and broadcasting stations played a crucial role during the “End
SARS” protest in 2020 has people had the killing and attacking of people on coverage. Also,
victims posted on social media platforms with evidence of them being attacked or injured. In
addition, Nigerian media, including organizations like Channels Television and The Punch,
have consistently reported on electoral irregularities and fraud during various elections.
Through on-the-ground reporting and investigative journalism, the media has helped expose
instances of voter intimidation, ballot rigging, and manipulation. This reporting has
contributed to public awareness and demands for electoral reforms.

Media in politics, despite its benefits, also yields negative influences, notably in
disseminating misinformation or distorting facts. Opponents exploit social media and other
platforms to disseminate erroneous information about political candidates or ongoing events.
Social media, in particular, lacks stringent validation processes for posted information,
leading to widespread dissemination of inaccuracies. Consequently, this trend has eroded
trust among the populace and swayed voters towards choosing the best candidates based on
flawed information, rather than informed decision-making. For example, during the 2016
U.S. presidential election, Russian operatives used social media platforms to spread divisive
content and misinformation to sway public opinion. Also, in Nigeria, after the previous
presidential election, news showed that Tinubu bought a 5 billion naira yacht, but it was later
found out that the yacht and been in existence since President Buhari’s tenure.

Media houses being purchased by politicians and wielded as tools to deceive the masses
represent a significant disadvantage. Media holds immense importance as a trusted source by
the populace, often regarded as a watchdog for holding power to account. However, it is
disheartening when media outlets, meant to serve as guardians of truth, are compromised by
political interests. This compromises the integrity of the media, hindering its ability to
uncover and expose wrongdoing, thus eroding public trust in its credibility. For example, in
2019, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) suspended the license of Daar
Communications, the parent company of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower
FM, citing alleged violations of broadcasting regulations. Critics argued that the suspension
was politically motivated, as AIT and RayPower were known for their critical coverage of the
government and ruling party at the time.

Media plays a pivotal role in modern politics, but its influence isn’t uniformly positive. While
it facilitates information dissemination and public engagement, it also gives room for
sensationalism and misinformation. Biases and soundbites as well as promote tribalism and
political instability at large. To address these challenges, media must prioritize accuracy and
diversity of perspectives. Promoting media literacy and holding media accountable for
truthfulness are essential. Balancing media’s power with responsibility is crucial for
preserving democracy and ensuring an informed citizenry. It is also important for Media to be
an independent body that cannot be corrupted and this can be done through proper sanctions.
Also, there need to be review and development concerning social media has a tool for
information dissemination especially in the political sphere.