Nebula 3.4, December 2006 Adesoji: Globalization of the Media… 38 Globalization of the media and the challenges of Democratisation in Nigeria. By Abimbola O. Adesoji Abstract Without gainsaying, Globalization has impacted tremendously on the media. One important implication of this development is the revolution in information dissemination. The Print Media, which is the focus of this study, is not left out of this information revolution. With the new wave of democratisation witnessed in Africa in the 1990s, the press became active participant in the tasks of promoting, projecting and supporting the process. In Nigeria where the political landscape became confusing as a result of the ambiguities that characterised the military-supervised democratisation, the press was not found wanting despite the travails of the media during the period in question. It would appear that the ability of the press to play the watchdog role creditably derives from its antecedents, particularly during the period of the nationalist struggle for political independence. However the contention is that the Nigerian Media, if placed in the context of global experience, still has a long way to go in bringing the opportunities of Globalization to bear on its contribution to democratisation. More importantly, this paper contends that the varied nature of the press has affected its response to democratisation. The paper examines the impacts of globalisation on the print media and how the impacted press promoted democratisation. The paper also highlights some of the challenges that Nigerian press has to face as far as democratisation is concerned in a globalised world. Introduction The Nigerian Press has remained a vibrant institution since the 1920s. Beginning with the emergence of the West African Pilot in 1937, the press has played a pivotal role in promoting political awareness, sensitising the populace and moulding and directing public opinion. 1 Expectedly it was a strong force in the struggle for the attainment of political independence. Not even the long period of military rule and its attendant risks could deter the press from playing its ascribed roles. In fact, more than any other period, the press became more vociferous and even took to guerrilla journalism, a practice of publishing and circulating newspapers and magazines underground, in order to prosecute a cause that it believed in. 1 Fred I.A. Omu, Press and Politics in Nigeria, 1880-1937, London: Longman, 1978, 204-240.