Audience Perception of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Akure Coverage of Political News Programme in Ondo State

Abstract

This paper attempts to evaluate how audience perceives Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Akure coverage of political news programmes of the ruling party and other opposition parties. NTA is a government owned station and since studies have established a strong link between media ownership and editorial influence, this study intends to investigate whether the station show partisanship in support of incumbent government against other opponents. The study made use of survey research method and it was anchored on the „agenda setting theory.? This paper found NTA, Akure coverage of political news programmes bias, unfair and incredible. This paper argues that for the citizens to develop and be informed, the media needs to be at the centre of civic education and enlightenment. To this end, the paper recommends that all legitimate measures and strategies should be exploited by media especially NTA, Akure to make it possible for the citizens of the state to be informed on political and controversial issues before making important political decisions and also boost Ondo State residence trust in them.