ABSTRACT
The media or the Fourth Estate plays a crucial role in public accountability and influencing policy agenda. Using the agenda-setting theory, this chapter explores the relevance of this argument in Africa with specific reference to South Africa and Nigeria. It assesses how the media in the two countries influenced economic development policy and institutional stances in response to the 2008 world economic recession and the 2019/20 COVID-19 pandemic. While agreeing with the fundamental premise that South Africa and Nigeria have a vibrant media landscape, this chapter focuses on a larger question: the need for the media to address the lack of educational value in the realm of economic development. It contends that the media fraternity in both countries failed to educate citizens about economic development processes in the public policy arena. Moreover, the apparent poverty and misuse of economic development resources speak to the poor educational value of the media fraternity in both states. It concludes that the media hardly impacts economic development policy and institutional arrangements.
