ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED ONLINE NEWSPAPERS: FRAMING OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC REPORTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Despite the crucial role of Nigerian online newspapers in disseminating information during the COVID-19 lockdown period, there is a significant gap in the literature on the analysis of types and directions of frames of COVID-19 pandemic reports. There is also a gap in the frequency of the socio-economic responses to the virus. Similarly, there is a gap in understanding Nigerian online newspaper editors’ perspectives that COVID-19 reports pass through before publishing. This research examined how five Nigerian online newspapers presented stories about the COVID-19 pandemic - specifically, what angles they chose, which issues they emphasised, and explored what editors thought, how decisions were made regarding articles, alongside problems editors and reporters faced. Examining these choices reveals how information gets shaped, but also sheds light on journalistic hurdles throughout this worldwide health emergency. The theories underpinning this study were framing and gatekeeping theories. This study adopted a mixed methods approach with a sequential explanatory design. The types of analyses used were content analysis (combining framing analysis and word frequency analysis) for quantitative content analysis and thematic analysis for in-depth interviews. Data for the content analysis were sourced from online archives. The quantitative content analysis examined framing directions and types, the frequency of socio-economic responses to COVID-19, the placement of COVID-19 stories, and the published articles. The qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to find out the Nigerian online newspaper editors’ perspectives, editorial bureaucracies (processes), and the challenges during the peak era of the reportage of COVID-19. Analysis of 4,808 reports showed that different newspapers preferred different framing approaches, with some emphasising support, others distance, and empathy.” Findings for framing types showed that Daily Post Newspaper reports, Guardian Newspaper reports, Premium Times Newspaper reports, Punch Newspaper reports, and Vanguard Newspaper reports consistently implemented Episodic vs. Thematic framing. Contrary to expectations, the results showed that in all 5 selected newspapers, the COVID-19 top stories were fewer than the COVID-19 stories from other segments. In contrast, news was the most frequent type of COVID- 19 article in all the selected Nigerian online newspapers. Editors asserted that they strictly followed data from health bodies and news wires in their reportage of the pandemic to guard against misinformation and to avoid panic from the readership. They also faced new challenges, such as security restrictions and a heavier digital workload, among other challenges. The study recommends more straightforward editorial guidelines on framing to reduce bias and strengthen audience trust.