ABSTRACT
This study, The Influence of Government Policy on Broadcast Media Freedom, notes that the government policies on broadcast media especially as it relates to broadcasting freedom and gate keeping, has an influence on Alausa Community Radio. Research has shown that, community radio broadcasting is an important medium of cultural transmission and socialization. Thus, the concern on government policy Influence has led to the development of different communication theories in an attempt to explain the relationship between government policies on community radio broadcasting and their Influence on media freedom. This study employs two theories of the press, authoritarian theory and the social responsibility theory. Furthermore, the thrust of this work was therefore, to examine the Influence of Government Policy on Broadcast Media Freedom using Alausa Community Radio as a case study. The survey research method was adopted, with a sample size of 16 broadcasting staff .From the research and findings ascertained from the responses of the 16 staffs from the broadcast department of Alausa Community Radio, the researcher is able to conclude that, government policies have an influence on broadcast media freedom.
In Alausa Community Radio. The questionnaire was the research instrument for the collection of data. Findings showed that the respondents who are staffs of Alausa Community Radio agreed that government policies pose an influence in broadcasting; hence, it is to a very large extent. It was also noted that the influences of gate keeping are positive for community radio programming... The study recommends among other things that Media and broadcasting regulatory frameworks must continue to be vigilant in screening contents of community radio broadcasting so as to ensure the preservation of the ethics and cultural values both in the content and the media freedom… also, that the Nigerian Broadcasting agencies, should take advantage of community radio programming medium to address issues of defiance, attitude and patriotism among radio broadcasters.
