ABSTRACT
The study is geared towards finding out the role
of mass media in electoral process and coverage of political parties activities
in 2015 elections with reference to four media houses and four
political parties that is, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Gold 95.5 F.M,
Ilesa, Osun Defender Newspaper and Nigerian Tribune Newspaper. Political
parties include: All Progressive Congress (APC), People’ Democratic Party
(PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Accord Party (AP). It is revealed that the role
and contribution of media in political awareness, mobilization, education and
in the entire political development especially during election cannot be
overemphasized. Quantitative research design was used in which cross-sectional
survey method was adopted while the data collection instrument was
questionnaire. 200 copies of questionnaires were administered and 180 were
returned. Respondents were drawn using probability and non-probability
technique. Also, the data were analysed and interpreted using table, frequency
and percentage method. However, the sustainability of the democracy through
public mobilization rest on the shoulder of the forth estate of the realm
(media) which is achieved through media social responsibility and
constitutional role. Similarly, most of the people in Osun state are affiliated
to All Progress Congress and Peoples’ Democratic Party with majority of them
participate in politics serving different roles as voters, party agents,
pressmen, and election observers. It is recommended that journalist should try
as much as they can to be fair in their news coverage so as to give equal
coverage to all political parties.
