The State and Mass Media Collaboration in Development: Issues, Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

The mass media as powerful tools come in the development process of a state through what is called development communication. This type of communication is consciously packaged by the mass media such that the message content or information sent could persuade, encourage or convince the target audience to adopt an attitude and participate in actualizing a development plan or goal. However, the contents delivered by various media channels are determined by the kind of relationship that exists between the media and the state where the media operate. This means, where the mass media do not have good collaboration with the state, development could be farfetched. The study identified issues of security, economic sabotage and corruption as factors impeding development; and how media-state collaboration could help mitigate such. The paper was anchored on the development media theory that emphasizes the role of the mass media in development. The result showed that state and media collaboration is a determining factor to achieving all-round development. It, however, observed that where the state and media do not have good relationship, media contents instead of developing, tend to antagonize state policies on development, which could lead to mistrust as often the case in Nigeria. The study recommended that the state and mass media should work as Siamese twin, if development must be achieved.