Newspaper coverage of brain drain in Nigerian health sector: a content analysis of Vanguard, Daily Trust and Punch newspapers

Abstract

This study investigated the extent that the problem of migration among Nigerian health workers has been reported by Nigerian newspapers. Employing the content analysis research design, the authors of the work studied three Nigerian newspapers - Vanguard, Daily Trust and Punch newspapers. The researchers found out that the newspapers gave frequent coverage to the stories on brain drain. Similarly, the study discovered that these newspapers also gave prominence to the stories on brain drain. However, the researchers discovered that the newspapers did not actually give depth to the stories published on brain drain. Lastly, the study revealed that the newspapers did not frame the stories on brain-drain positively. It is based on the findings that the researchers recommended among others, that Nigerian leaders must not sit irresponsibly and pretend to be ignorant of the cause of brain drain. They should, as much as possible, look within, work hard, and as fast as possible, come up with realisable plans that will first deal with the decadent nature of the country, and consequently engender workable policies that will, at long run, address this quagmire.