MASS MEDIA: A UNITING FORCE FOR EFFECTIVE INDIGENES AND SETTLERS RELATIONSHIP IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The series of clashes between indigenes and settlers in Nigeria have become so alarming that it urgently calls for concern. The paper examines the role of the media in helping to unite indigenes and settlers for harmonious living. The primary roles of the media are education, information, entertainment and socialization among others. Through these functions, the media can achieve unitary living between indigenes and settlers in various communities in Nigeria that are usually prone to clashes of all sorts. The media can report clashes without sensational headlines that can aggravate further clashes. The theoretical perspectives of this paper are the Dependency and Agenda setting theories. The paper concludes that the media as agents of change can be used to change attitude and behaviour that degenerate to clashes between indigenes and settlers in Nigeria communities. The paper recommends among other things that the mass media of communication should focus their features articles and broadcast news on the fostering of unity between indigenes and settlers in Nigeria.