Discourse on the Challenges and Prospects of Broadcast Media Regulation in a Democratic Dispensation: The Nigerian Experience

Abstract

Regulating the broadcast industry is not only essential but a necessity to guarantee progress in developing democracies. This work examines the challenges and opportunities of regulating broadcast media in a democracy. It emphasises the necessity to regulate the broadcast media in Nigeria’s fledgling democracy. The work highlights the regulation of broadcasting in other parts of Africa and Nigeria in particular. Some associated problems identified include poor awareness of the NBC code among media practitioners and inadequate manpower to monitor the broadcast industry. Prospect includes the potency to effectively sustain the democratic system as a culture. The work recommends among others the need for improved funding and collaboration between the NBC and broadcast unions to intensify awareness on the content of the NBC code among media practitioners.