National Newspaper Coverage of Health Issues in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was set out to ascertain the national newspaper coverage of health issues in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the frequency of health issues in Niger Delta covered by The Sun, The Vanguard and The Nation among others. The population of the study consisted of 312 editions of the three newspapers published between 6th of June, 2021 to 5th of June 2022: a study period of one year, (each newspaper contributing 104 issues). Philip Meyer’s guide for sample selection was adopted to select 248 issues of the three newspapers as the sample of the study. Data were presented in tables and analysis done using simple percentages. Findings of the study revealed that The Sun newspaper carried the most number of stories on the health issues in Niger Delta; that the health issues in Niger Delta were mostly portrayed in a positive way by the three newspapers under study and that the major health issues covered by the three newspapers under study were soot related issues. The study concluded that the three newspapers gave the health issues in Niger Delta positive portrayal in their reportage, but projected the health issues in a positive light. It was therefore recommendedbe alive to their social responsibility and agenda setting functions by offering a balanced and neutral reportage of issues in Niger Delta or negatively portraying them unnecessarily.