Media Ownership And Its Influence On Content In South Sudan Television (Sstv)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which media owners control affects the

operations of media houses. The study was guided by three specific objectives and these

included; to examine the extent to which media owner and external force influence the daily

operations of media organizations, to find out how profit maximization motives of media

corporations affect the quality of content produced, and to establish the magnitude at which

media content impacts on the audience.

The study employed a cross sectional survey design including both quantitative and qualitative

forms and in-depth research interviews and questionnaires were employed in data collection.

From the study findings, it was reported that media owners influence the political direction of

society; media owners who are politicians are usually concerned with immediate problems in the

performance of the media. Further findings reveal that Some respondents said that while it may

not always be profitable to supply public affairs information, the impact of news about

government and politics creates a third motive for news outlet owners a desire to influence the

outcome of elections. One of the areas which the majority of respondents mentioned that some

people provided sympathetic papers with payments in election years. Newspapers were clearly

identified with particular parties in the same way that news outlets today have brand reputations

for their mix of hard and soft news. However, respondents argued that media is seen in a

democratic nation to ensure the free flow of information and the interplay of opinion. And of

course, to guarantee citizens the full rights of free “expression”. They said that both the issuer of

communication and the consumer enjoy these rights. Further still, respondents also argued that

the press in a democracy has a political role of providing information and to enlighten the public

so that it is capable of self governance.

The government should also enact laws that will regulate unhealthy cross media ownership trends that may eventually stifle diversity in news coverage. This can be done by enacting laws that create an enabling business environment with few barriers to new entrants and availing a level playing field to all business people. This scenario will create competition which ensures that news coverage is balanced and fair. and that there are wider opinions, views and perspectives that the greater public may use to arrive at important decisions.