The Impact of Privatized Media on National Development and Programme Quality: A Nigerian Case Study

This work studied the trends set so far by privately owned radio stations after almost thirty years of operation in Nigeria. The Nigerian professional media history goes back a long way, with the recording of the first modern style newspaper in 1859. Radio came in the early 1930s, and television in 1959. But it was not until August 24, 1992 with the proclamation of a military decree No. 38, more than a century later, that media professionals in Nigeria were able to officially register privately owned radio and television stations through the National Broadcasting Commission. It’s been almost thirty years of privatized media operations, but not much empirical studies have been conducted to measure the impact of privatized media on the industry, trends established so far, as well as impact on the nation’s economic, political and social development. A survey of employees of two private radio stations was conducted. Program quality in comparison to government owned media was rated very high by the respondents, while ownership influence in programming decisions was a major hindrance, so also financing problems. Data was analysed within the framework of developmental media theory. It was recommended that the government generate and commit to solid short, medium, and long term development plans for the media to complement with advocacy and programming content. And for the stations to find alternative ways of fundraising to allow them function more in line with their professional calling and expectations, while serving public interests.