THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION ON FOREIGN POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF AKURE SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NIGERIA
Abstract
Background to the Study
The media serve as a powerful tool in shaping public opinion on foreign policy by acting as
intermediaries between governments and citizens. Through news coverage, editorials, and
analyses, the media inform the public about international events and governmental foreign
policy decisions, influencing perceptions and opinions. In Nigeria, the media have historically
been instrumental in mobilizing public opinion to support foreign policy initiatives. They serve
as principal channels for articulating public sentiment and act as crucial links between the
government and the populace. Additionally, the media project the country's foreign policy
objectives and image to the international community (Nwodu & Fab-Ukozor, 2014).
Historically, the media in Nigeria has played a pivotal role in shaping public understanding of
foreign events, reflecting the nation's socio-political dynamics and its evolving media
landscape. During the colonial era, newspapers like the West African Pilot, founded by Nnamd
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