Abstract

The thrust of this paper has two foci. First, a critical insight into the media as a political resource in both developing and advanced democracies. This glaringly forms the theoretical anchor for this paper. Secondly, the paper takes a cursory look at the performance of the mass media, within the first decade of civilian rule in Nigeria. The paper, however, infers that hardly do the media hold themselves down to the standards of conduct and decency they set for others. Indeed, one confronts the irony whereby those whose professional preoccupation and social mandate touch on the criticism and scrutiny of others become overtly defensive, aggressive, panicky or retaliatory when they are criticized. The paper recommends a more boisterous media devoid of the well-known impediments for sustainable democracy in the next decade.

Key words: Press, mass media, democracy, ‘sins’, resources.