Mediatization and Politics in Nigeria: A Review

Mediatization has often been viewed as a western phenomenon with scholars focusing largely on the relationship between the media and politics, especially in the United States and Europe where the concept originated. However, globalization and its attendant impacts have allowed for the intercourse of ideas and disciplines across borders. The concept of mediatization is not an exception in this regard. The rise of television news, increased media influence, and dependence on media logic have arguably become a global trend. Mediatization is a perspective that can be used to understand the roles of the media in society and politics, especially electoral campaigns and their dynamics across the world. This paper attempts a review of mediatization and politics in Nigeria. It examines the nature of political news journalism in the country; the character and structure of media ownership; the influence that the media wields on the Nigerian society among other key features that reflect meditatization of politics in the country. The paper argues that indeed, the Nigerian media reveals different dimensions of the mediatization of politics.