Media roles in africa changing electoral process edited by cosmas uchenna nwokeafor - Book Report/Review Example

The media plays the decisive role in influencing the thinking process of the citizens in a country and it should be the duty of the media personnel to be responsive to the needs of the people and strive impartially to uphold the democratic values, without fear or favor. The book contains a wide collection of articles from social science disciplines, political commentaries, and issues confronting the political communication. As such it serves as a reference book for political think-tanks, media magnates, media consultants, and diplomats, officials of the election commission and students and faculty of political science.

It provides details and intricacies about the administration of the electoral process. The author writes “Elections, as competitive and transitional processes, are fraught with tension, conflict, and uncertainty. The news media, citizens, politicians, political parties, and governments are all important factors in ensuring successful, free, and fair elections”(p. v)Every election process must contribute to the rejuvenation of democracy and media’s response should contribute towards this end.

The author opines that Nigeria’s democracy demands a translucent, accomplished, and healthy media that is organized on sound managerial principles. On the basis of media’s proper projection the electorate would be educated to make the right choices. The health of democracy will depend upon the performance of the media, and its survival is important viewed from the overall health of the nation. The research design adopted by the authors is descriptive statistical with the use of a self-administered survey by collecting random samples of media administrators and the journalists who were instrumental in gathering, analyzing and providing the news content and their observations on the election process.

Though the staff of the media, journalists in particular, were