Public opinion

DEFINITION PUBLIC OPINION

This  is an aggregate of the individual views, attitudes, and beliefs about a particular topic, expressed by a significant proportion of a community. This is a belief, values and attitudes which are commonly held and expressed by majority of the people by giving of public issues.

FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION

1. Through election
2. Through mass media
3. Through pressure group and political parties
4. Symposium and lecture
5. Individual influence

MEASURE OF PUBLIC OPINION

1. Through an opinion pool
2. Through mass media
3. Demonstration by member of the public
4. Through referendum which involves people voting yes/no on an issue
5. During a general election

FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC OPINION

1. It can bring about the removal of a minister or his movement to other department
2. The people’s problems, needs and desires are known to the government

MASS MEDIA

Meaning:

Mass media are a means that is intended to reach a mass audience. It is the primary means of communication used to reach the vast majority of the general public. The most common platforms for mass media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet. The general public typically relies on the mass media to provide information regarding political issues, social issues, entertainment, and news in pop culture.

Impact and as a Watchdog on Politics and Government

The mass media’s influence on the ethics of public life, as characterized by the press’s watchdog role in monitoring the conduct of government officials, is assumed to be vital to democracy. The effectiveness of this watchdog role is less clearly understood.

Most importantly, mass media are the vehicles that carry messages in enhancing the democratic system in Nigeria political development. We must be aware that politics is the game of power acquisition and the use of such power to enhance the governance of the state and influence the authoritative allocation of resources in the society.

However the most fundamental factor or element which underlines the concept of development whether it’s political, social or economic connotation is the notion of change.

Political system undergo fundamental changes which may refers to various aspect of development and these may provide a useful basis for measuring or comparing political system or a continuum of development. Every political system is faced with certain types of problem or crisis to which it is compelled to respond one way or the other. Political development occurs when the political system successfully addresses these problems which include legitimacy, crisis, participation crisis, identify crisis, distribution crisis and integration crisis.

ASSESSMENT

1. Public opinion means:
   (a) Opinion of educated persons
   (b) Opinion of elites of the society
   (c) Majority opinion
   (d) Minority opinion
   (e) Opinion of the majority, which takes into consideration the interests of all
2. Which one of the following does not help in the formation of public opinion?
   (a) Newspapers
   (b) Educational system
   (c) Radio
   (d) Television
   (e) Playground
3. Which one of the following is not very necessary for the formation of public opinion?
   (a) Cinema
   (b) Press
   (c) Neighbourhood
   (d) T.V.
   (e) Political parties
4. Which one of the following is not true about the role of political parties in the formation of public opinion?
   (a) These hold public meetings
   (b) These spread political literature
   (c) These help in the selection of candidates
   (d) These highlight main political problems
   (d) These draw attention to national affairs
5. Which one of the following is not true about political parties in the formation of public opinion?
   (a) These help in maintaining link between the people and the representatives
   (b) These provide political education to common man
   (c) These focus attention of the people on international political issues
   (d) These highlight failings and faltering of each other
   (e) None of the above