Abstract

This study investigated the Nigerian newspapers’ coverage of the Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic disease. Two prominent and daily circulated national newspapers: The Nation and The Guardian were chosen and content analyzed to determine the depth of coverage: size of spaces allocated to stories, positions of stories, sources of editorials, form and contents of the stories, speakers and actors interviewed and frequency allocated to Covid-19 news between 1^st of December, 2019 to April 30^th, 2020. The data analyzed revealed that 6 by 2 size and below constituted majority of the sizes, 62% in The Guardian and 50% in The Nation. Sources of stories reported in the newspapers were press conferences 18.2% in The Guardian and 22.5% in The Nation; press releases 16.7% in The Guardian and 22.8% in Nation and reporters’ analysis 27% in The Guardian and 20.4% in The Nation; both the Federal Government/ NCDC and Ministry of Health are the major actors and speakers interviewed on Covid-19 news by reporters. The press provided adequate coverage and assisted the government and health authorities to create awareness and mobilized citizens for the lock-down, social distancing practice and wearing of face masks to curtail the spread of the virus. As gatekeepers: editors, sub-editors and reporters demonstrated social responsibility in raising public awareness and consciousness about the pandemic. 

Key Words: COVID-19, Newspapers in Nigeria, Press Coverage. 

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 14, No. 2, October 2022, pp. 1-15

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

About the authors

* Olalekan Salmon Otun is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Nigerian

Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba campus, Lagos, Nigeria. His areas of research interest include: Public Relations, Advertising and Health Communication.

**   Kolade Ajilore, Ph.D. is a Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

***Karibi Benson Bobmanuel is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ken Saro-

Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, Nigeria. His areas of research interest include Development Communication, Broadcasting, Gender relations and Health Communication.

Article Citation

Otun, O.S., Ajilore, K. & Bobmanuel K.B. (2022). Nigerian newspapers’ coverage of COVID-19 pandemic: Content analysis of The Guardian and The Nation. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (2): 1-15.

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