The media play active roles in politics with different media channels serving as bridges that link the politicians and citizens together. It is clear that what the media emphasize as important may be seen as such by the public. Hence, it is likely that the media may impact voter decisions during electoral processes and even during the elections. As such, it is imperative that research is collected on the impact of the media and the role it plays in strengthening party loyalty, improving public knowledge on elections, and swaying apathetic citizens to become involved in the electoral process. Global Perspectives on the Impact of Mass Media on Electoral Processes provides relevant theoretical frameworks and research findings that evidence the impact of the media in specific elections in different countries around the world. The book supports professionals who want to improve their understanding of the strategic roles that the media play in electoral politics as well as political candidates who may want to know if their heavy expenditures in paying the media to carry their political messages bring in returns on their investment. Covering topics that include social media, political cartoons, and media influence, this book seeks to provide fresh insights on the media’s impact on elections whether at the national, regional, or local levels. It is ideal for politicians, campaign managers, media analysts, government officials, professionals, researchers, students, academicians, and individuals involved in electoral management, political parties, advertising agencies, and marketing companies.

Popular Media, Democracy and Development in Africa examines the role that popular media could play to encourage political debate, provide information for development, or critique the very definitions of ‘democracy’ and ‘development’. Drawing on diverse case studies from various regions of the African continent, essays employ a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to ask critical questions about the potential of popular media to contribute to democratic culture, provide sites of resistance, or, conversely, act as agents for the spread of Americanized entertainment culture to the detriment of local traditions. A wide variety of media formats and platforms are discussed, ranging from radio and television to the Internet, mobile phones, street posters, film and music. As part of the Routledge series Internationalizing Media Studies, the book responds to the important challenge of broadening perspectives on media studies by bringing together a range of expert analyses of media in the African continent that will be of interest to students and scholars of media in Africa and further afield.

The constitutions of most countries frown at gender discrimination. Local, multinational and multilateral organizations in many developed and developing nations have instituted policies and taken actions that address cases of injustice against women. But gender inequity appears to be an issue beyond what constitutional provisions and corporate strategies can address. How, for instance, does a statutory provision guarantee the equal visibility of men and women in a news report, especially in a neoliberal democracy where the general patriarchal character of the media aligns with the logic of commercialism which prioritizes profit and targets mainly those who have the means of purchase? The invisibility of women in the media is a global issue, and a great concern in Africa. Women’s Political Visibility and Media Access: The Case of Nigeria, however, is about a country of over 160 million people; a population roughly divided equally between male and female. The book, through empirical analyses and qualitative discourses, agglomerates several perspectives regarding the visibility of women in the turbulent Nigerian political terrain and the response of the media in that direction, in a concerted effort to resolve the burning issues of gender equality in Nigeria. The book assesses the impact of aggressive tactics from women in the political arena, “conscious reporting” of women by journalists, and the increased use of ICTs by women as practical ways of bridging this wide gap.

Media outlets play a pivotal role in fostering the positive and beneficial development of countries in modern society. By properly informing citizens of critical national concerns, the media can help to transform society and promote active participation. Exploring Journalism Practice and Perception in Developing Countries is a crucial reference source for the latest scholarly material on the impacts of development journalism on contemporary nations and the media’s responsibility to inform citizens of government and non-government activities. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics such as media regulation, freedom of expression, and new media technology, this book is ideally designed for researchers, academics, professionals, policy makers, and students interested in the role of journalist endeavors in developing nations.

An introduction to the politics and society of post-colonial Nigeria, highlighting the key themes of ethnicity, democracy, and development.

This collection of essays originates from discussions at various fora about the need for Nigerian media scholars to analyse the country's media industry and practice. Some of the areas covered are: Socio-historical context of the development of Nigerian media; A critical analysis of state press relations in Nigeria, 1999-2005; Journalism ethics in Nigeria; and Newspapers' cartoons portrayal of human rights abuses in periods of economic deregulation in Nigeria.