“The guiding central narrative of the book is one of power and responsibility: if, as it is assumed, that the media is tasked with shaping society and curbing the excesses of those in lead­ership positions, how successful has it been? This is an important query as it relates to the conceptual balance of power in society, an informed citizenry, and critical opinions. And as to the specific years in focus—1999 to 2016, the Nigerian Fourth Republic, the period following long interlude of military rule—the connection of the media to which democracy was both critical and crucial. In­deed, the selection of an era brings the essays into focus, whereby the book engagingly informs us of the place of the media in the Fourth Republic, covering its contributions, constraints, and chal­lenges.” 

-Toyin Falola, The Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities & University Distinguished Professor, The University of Texas at Austin 

Contents: Introduction and Overview/State-media Relations: Constraints on Freedom/The Road to the Freedom of Information Act and Beyond/Corruption in the Nigerian Media/Changing Economic, Technological and Ownership Landscapes/Democracy and the Digital Public Sphere/Television and Nigeria’s Democratic Aspiration/Talk Radio: A Democratic Tool for Citizen Engage­ment/Media and Diversity Reporting of Ethno-religious Conflicts in Nigeria: A Perspective/Media Coverage of Ethno religious Conflicts in Nige­ria: Another Perspective/Of Rattle Snakes and Grapes of Wrath: Rise, Fall and Rise of Independent Media in Kenya/Media as Watchdog: The Ghana Experience/The Media and Elections: The Nigerian and South Af­rican Experience/Conclusions: Glancing Backwards, Looking Forward/Index.