The Role of Media Relations in Shaping Public Opinion on Government Policies in Nigeria

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/11/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 6 (2026)

Article No.

099

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-Q2RGNYMK

Received

15 Aug 2026

Views

24

Downloads

16

Abstract

The paper examined the nature of media relations in the communication of government policies in Nigeria, to evaluate the extent to which media relations influence public opinion on government policy formulation and implementation, and identify the key challenges affecting the effectiveness of media relations in shaping public perception of government policies. The study is guided by the Agenda-Setting Theory, which posits that media has the power to influence public discourse and shape audience perceptions. A library research method was employed, involving a systematic review of existing literature on the topic. The findings revealed that media relations play a crucial role in shaping public opinion on government policies, and that effective media relations can enhance public trust, set the agenda, and direct public discourse. Furthermore, the study found that message framing, two-way communication, and decentralised media relations are essential for policy legitimacy. The study concludes that media relations are integral instruments for policy legitimisation, agenda formation, and public persuasion. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government ministries and agencies should appoint professionally trained media relations officers, develop tailored media relations strategies, and prioritise funding and training for media relations infrastructure.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.