Abstract
This study evaluated the mirror and mirage: navigating trust and power in the Nigerian media landscape. The media trust theory was anchored in this study. This study is grounded in the pragmatic research philosophy, and adopts a mixed-method research design. The population of the study consists of media audiences in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which, according to the National Population Commission’s 2022 projection, is estimated at approximately 3.7 million people, reflecting a diverse mix of socio-economic, educational, and professional backgrounds. The study determines a sample size of 400 respondents, derived using Yamane’s formula. The study employs a multi-stage sampling technique, first stratifying respondents by local government areas within Port Harcourt to capture demographic spread, and then applying simple random sampling to select participants within each stratum, ensuring fairness and diversity in selection. Data collection involves a survey method through structured questionnaires to generate quantitative insights on levels of trust, ownership perceptions, and media literacy, complemented by in-depth interviews with journalists and media practitioners to provide qualitative depth on ownership, regulation, and platformization dynamics. For data analysis, quantitative data was processed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis with the aid of SPSS to establish relationships among variables, while qualitative data were analysed through thematic content analysis to identify recurring patterns and contextual meanings. The findings revealed that media ownership and government regulation significantly undermine public trust in Nigerian media, as the survey showed strong negative correlations between ownership control, regulatory interference, and credibility, while the thematic analysis reinforced this by highlighting journalists’ experiences of editorial pressure, censorship, and audience scepticism toward biased reporting. The study concluded that media ownership and government regulation remain decisive factors shaping public trust in Nigerian media, and unless editorial independence and fair regulatory practices are strengthened, trust in journalism will continue to erode. The study recommended that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and media ownership boards should enforce transparent ownership structures and strengthen editorial independence to rebuild public trust in journalism.
Keywords
Mirror, Mirage, Trust, Power, Nigerian Media Landscape
Citations
IRE Journals:
EKE, Chigozi (PhD) "Mirror and Mirage: Navigating Trust and Power in The Nigerian Media Landscape" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 5 2025 Page 382-392
IEEE:
EKE, Chigozi (PhD)
"Mirror and Mirage: Navigating Trust and Power in The Nigerian Media Landscape" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(5)
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