Assessment of Dependency Media Theory on the Political Development of Eastern-Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the prediction that the media audience depend on the information to meet certain needs and achieve certain goals. Dependency relationship between the media and the audience is developed through media perspectives that tend to satisfy their (audience) economic political, policy and information needs. The research adopted a survey method approach; with a purposive sampling technique to select an equal representation in each states of south eastern Nigeria; with a population of 500; using mean for statistical analysis with 2:50 benchmark to analysis data; the study further discovered that the eastern Nigeria audiences depend on the media of communication through her roles of education, information, agenda setting, propanda and awareness to meet theirs socio-political needs or goals. The study therefore, recommended that the media should effectively and efficiently integrate the eastern Nigerians with supportive and coordinated political activities or programmes that could raise the developmental opportunities of the region.