Journal of Health Care Communications Open Access

Keywords

Newspaper; Coverage; COVID-19; Outbreak; Prevention; Control

Introduction

For the past three decades, Nigeria and many sub-Saharan Africa countries had been under the canopy of epidemic which shed them from rapid development [1,2]. Many citizens in most of these countries have been ravaged by diseases such as measles, whooping cough, malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, HIV/AIDS, polio, Lassa fever, Ebola, and recently COVID-19 (corona virus). The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan China in December 2019. It became known as a respiratory infection with momentous concern for public health across the globe. Starting with early suspicions of animal to the human transmission for earlier cases, the paradigm has shifted towards human to human transmission through droplets, contacts and fomites [3]. The virus is caused by a novel and more powerful type of Coronavirus known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [4]. As of 21 May 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected 213 countries around the world with about 5, 171, 936 cases worldwide. Over 2, 068, 371 people recovered from the disease, while about 333, 100 were dead [5].

In Nigeria, the first confirmed case of the pandemic was announced on 27 February 2020, when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive for the virus [6]. On 9 March 2020, a second case of the virus was reported in Ewekoro, Ogun State, involving a Nigerian citizen who had contact with the Italian citizen [7]. As of 21 May 2020, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 4971 cases, 1070 recovered and 164 deaths [8].

The widespread of COVID-19 has attracted the attention of medical and health organizations, research scientists (epidemiologist) as well as the media, who have contributed immensely in finding out the cause of this sickness, its symptoms and prevention as well as creating awareness of the necessary information that will aid in the eradication of this ailment. It is often said that education is the vaccine against every ailment [9]. Thus, many media organizations are rising to the challenge by promoting awareness of COVID-19 and educating the public on the prevention and containment measures. Unlike diseases such as the flu and other agents, media coverage has described COVID-19 as a unique threat, which further exaggerates the panic, stress and the potential for hysteria [10]. The mass media is considered a source of health information that helps to shape the way people act and react towards health issues [11].

Thus, the relationship between the mass media and the spread of disease is mutual and complex. On one hand, the mass media reports concerning the COVID-19 may influence the attitude of the public towards the epidemic as well as enhance their self- protecting awareness. People informed by the mass media reports tend to change their behaviours by taking correct precautions, such as frequent hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer, wearing protective masks and keeping social distances. Moreover, the degree of mass media interest over the COVID-19 will inform the public on the severity of the outbreak. No wonder, the mass media has long been recognized as a powerful tool for shaping how people experience the world and themselves [8,12,13].

Considering the deadly nature of this disease, the lives claimed, the damages it has cost the country, as well as the media enormous influence in educating and empowering individuals towards the prevention and control of the pandemic, it became pertinent to assess the Nigerian newspapers coverage of COVID-19 outbreak as well as the campaign of its precautionary measures towards the prevention and control of the pandemic in the Nigeria, thus, the thrust of this study.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the Nigerian newspapers’ coverage of COVID-19 cases and campaigns in Nigeria. Specifically, this study seeks to;

1. To examine the level of coverage Nigerian newspapers gave to reports and campaigns on COVID-19 issues.

2. To ascertain the degree of prominence Nigerian newspapers gave to COVID-19 issues.

3. To assess the reportorial approach of Nigerian newspapers on COVID-19 outbreak and campaigns of its precautionary measures.

This study was anchored on McComb and Shaw’s agenda-setting theory which was proposed in 1972. Agenda-setting theory describes the "ability (of the news media) to influence the salience of topics on the public agenda" [14]. Agenda-setting theory maintains that the media plays an influential role on how issues gain public attention. The theory instituted a relationship between the rate of media coverage of an issue and the value people place on such a story. This indicates that the media determine the issues to be considered more important by the public [15]. This can be achieved via frequency of reporting,reportorial approach as well the prominence given to the reports through headline display, news placement, pictures, layout/space allocation in newspapers, magazines, films, graphics or timing on radio and television.

Methodology

The study employed a quantitative content analysis to analyze the manifest content of the selected editions of four widely read newspapers: The Guardian, This Day, Daily Trust, and Daily Sun newspapers. These newspapers were selected because of their national reach and wide readership. In addition, the selected newspapers present views from both popular and elite Nigerian publics and they offer a fairly relative representation of different political, geographical and ethnic divides in the country.

The study employed a quantitative content analysis to analyze the manifest content of the selected editions of four widely read newspapers: The Guardian, This Day, Daily Trust, and Daily Sun newspapers. These newspapers were selected because of their national reach and wide readership. In addition, the selected newspapers present views from both popular and elite Nigerian publics and they offer a fairly relative representation of different political, geographical and ethnic divides in the country.

A number of content categories were developed to aid the coding of the newspaper materials analyzed. They were as follows: Newspaper Title, Study Time Frame, Geographical Focus of COVID-19 Campaigns/News, Reportorial Approach, News Placement, Volume of space allotted for the story, source of the report, tone of reportage (alarming’, ‘neutral’ or ‘reassuring’) as well as frequency and depth of daily reportage of COVID-19 issues. For inclusion, articles that reported on COVID-19 in Nigeria; thus, articles on COVID-19 that focused on other countries were excluded. More so, articles that only mentioned COVID-19 in the body were also excluded. Descriptive analysis was employed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to interpret the statistical relationships among the relevant variables.

Results

Level of Nigerian newspapers coverage of COVID-19 issues

In examining the level of coverage Nigerian newspapers gave to reports and campaigns on COVID-19 issues, the data gathered were analyzed and presented in the Table 1 below:

A total of 1300 articles were published between March and August 2020. However, the data n table one indicates that after categorizing the newspapers contents, 389 articles were found useful for analysis. The analyzed data comparatively shows a significant difference in the coverage of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Daily Sun (M=3.48, SD=1.82, P<0.001) (n=111, 28%) reported more stories on COVID-19 than The Guardian (M=3.19, SD=1.53) (n=98, 26%), This Day (M=2.59, SD=1.48) (n=93, 26%) and Daily Trust (M=2.46, SD=1.42) (n=87, 22%). Generally, Nigerian national dailies significantly covered the pandemic in Nigeria (F(4, 389)=11.72, P<0.001).

The degree of prominence Nigerian newspapers offered to COVID-19 issues

To ascertain the degree of prominence Nigerian newspapers gave to COVID-19 issues, the data gathered on the news placement, space allocation and frequency of daily reportage of COVID-19 issues were analyzed and presented in the Table 2 below:

Table 2: COVID-19 news placements on the selected newspapers.

The data in table two shows that majority of COVID-19 news items published were placed in the inside pages of all the selected newspapers. The data also reveals that 19%, 14%, 12%, and 9% of the news items published were placed at the back pages of The Guardian, This Day and Daily Trust and Daily Sun newspapers respectively, while 16%, 15%, 12%, and 12% of the news items published were placed at the front pages of This Day, The Guardian, Daily Sun, and Daily Trust newspapers respectively (Table 3).

Table 3: Volume of space allocated for COVID-19 news items.

The data in table three shows that majority of the COVID-19 news items published in the selected newspapers were allocated quarter pages, followed by the news items that were allocated half a page, one column and classified pages. The data also shows that in The Guardian and Daily Trust newspapers, only 2% and 1% of the COVID-19 news items were allocated full pages respectively (Table 4).

Table 4: Frequency of daily reportage of Lassa fever news items.

The data in table four shows that 1-2 COVID-19 news items were mostly published in each edition of all the selected newspapers, followed by 3-4 new items and lastly 5-6 news items in each edition of the selected newspapers. The analyzed data indicates that the selected newspaper gave regular and wide coverage to COVID-19 issues in Nigeria over the period of study.

Therefore, results in tables 2, 3 and 4 suggest that the selected Nigerian newspapers do not give a significant prominence to COVID-19 issues covered and published in their newspapers.

Reportorial format used in the coverage of the COVID-19 issues in Nigeria

To assess the reportorial approach of Nigerian newspapers in covering COVID-19 issues, the data gathered were analyzed and presented in Table 5 below:

Table 5: Lassa fever news reportorial approach.

The type of new contents identified in table five were hard news, features, advertorials/campaigns, editorials, columns, pictorials, cartoons, and other news items that relates to COVID-19. The data in table five reveals that COVID-19 news items published in all the selected newspaper were mostly reported in the form of hard news, with The Guardian newspaper rating the highest. This is followed by COVID-19 issues reported in the form of advertorials/campaigns, features, pictorials, editorials, columns, cartoon, and other news items.

The findings therefore suggest that majority of COVID-19 news coverage in the selected Nigerian dailies were published in the forms of hard news, followed by features to advertorials/ campaigns.

Discussion

The study examined the Nigerian newspapers’ coverage of COVID-19 issues in Nigeria over a period of six months (27th February-27th August 2020). The presentation and analysis of the data above shows in clear terms the level of coverage the Nigerian newspapers gave to COVID-19 issues. Specifically, the study focused on the level of coverage and prominence given to COVID-19 issues by the four selected Nigerian dailies (The Guardian, This Day, Daily Trust and Daily Sun). The study also assessed the reportorial approach the selected newspapers used in reporting COVID-19 issues.

In assessing the frequency of coverage of COVID-19 issues in Nigeria, the study found that 389 (5%) out of 8,213 news items in the four selected newspapers between February 27 to August 27, 2020, were classified as COVID-19 stories, while 7,824 news items representing 95 percent of the news items were reports that covered other aspects of human life. During the first month (February 27-March 27) of the out-break in Nigeria, the media had fewer stories; in the second and third month (April and May), there was an increase in media coverage; while the fourth, fifth and sixth month (June, July and August) triggered a huge news wave. The study observed that newspapers based in the Northern part of Nigeria had more stories on COVID-19, and a possible explanation for this could be because the northern part of Nigeria has witnessed increased cases of COVID-19. By implication, it could be deduced that the Nigerian media increased their interest on the reportage of the pandemic because the pandemic intensified from March.

More so, the data in table four shows that 1-2 COVID-19 news items were mostly published in each edition of all the selected newspapers, followed by 3-4 new items and lastly 5-6 news items in each edition of the selected newspapers. The clear implication of this is that the selected newspapers relatively gave regular and wide coverage to COVID-19 issues within the period under study. In other words, the four selected Nigerian Newspapers have published many articles and news about the outbreak, spread, symptoms, prevention and control of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The sensitization programmes and media fight against the spread of the epidemic were assisted by these newspaper house in order to enlighten the citizens on the deadly nature of the virus and how to detect, prevent, cure and control the spread. These findings concur with the findings made in earlier studies that Nigerian newspapers give wide coverage to health issues in Nigeria [18- 22].

To examine the depth of coverage, the study found that though the Nigerian media had a considerable number of stories on COVID-19 outbreak, yet, most of these stories were short, suggesting a lack of in-depth writing to explain more about the virus. In the contemporary digital news environment, journalists are under pressure to deliver content quickly, and this may be the reason why most of the newspapers had shorter stories.

In an attempt to find out the prominence given to COVID-19 reports by the selected Nigerian newspapers, the data analyses in table two shows that majority of these COVID-19 reports were placed on the inside pages of the selected newspaper, followed by the back page placement to front page placement in the selected newspapers. More so, the data in table three shows that majority of the COVID-19 news items published in the selected newspapers were allocated quarter pages, followed by the news items that were allocated half a page, one column and classified pages respectively. On the other hand, the data in table 4 shows that 1-2 COVID-19 news items were mostly published in each edition of all the selected newspapers, followed by 3-4 new items and lastly 5-6 news items in each edition of the selected newspapers. The analysed data indicates that the selected newspaper gave regular and wide coverage to COVID-19 issues in Nigeria over the period of study.

Therefore, results in Tables 2, 3 and 4 suggest that though the selected Nigerian newspapers gave wide coverage to COVID-19 issues, they fail to give a significant prominence to those issues covered and published in their newspapers.

In assessing the reportorial approaches used in the coverage of COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, the study found that majority of the entire stories studied were presented as straight news stories, followed by features to advertorials/campaigns. This outcome is consistent with the research of Apuke and Omar that found that the newspaper examined essentially made use of straight news in reporting the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerian economy [12]. Thus, the study therefore maintained that Nigerian newspapers used more of straight news because they are more concerned with delivering the first hand news on COVID-19 to the public.

Conclusion and Recommendations

COVID-19 is an endemic and a highly contagious disease that can result to critical health conditions and death. Hence, the role of the media becomes very crucial to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Nigeria. From the research findings, the study therefore conclude that Nigerian newspapers have been instrumental to providing vital information to the public on the nature, symptoms, prevention, control and medication of COVID-19 pandemic.

Considering the news placement, space allocated for the news and frequency of reporting of such issues in the selected newspapers, the study therefore concludes that though Nigerian newspapers gave wide coverage to COVID-19 issues, they did not give a significant prominence to COVID-19 issues in the country.

The study also concludes that the majority of COVID-19 coverage and reports in the selected Nigerian dailies were published in the forms of hard news, advertorials/campaigns, features and pictorials.

Based on the research findings, the following recommendations were made:

1. Nigerian newspapers should intensify publications on outbreak, symptoms, prevention and control of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

2. Media houses, by means of corporate social responsibility, should organize enlightenment programmes on COVID-19 in local languages in order to disseminate vital information to the rural dwellers who cannot afford to buy or read newspapers.

3. The government, health institutions, non-governmental and private sector organizations should actively partner with media houses in a bid to providing steady and relevant information and updates on COVID-19 to the public.

Ethical Considerations

Not applicable

Conflict of Interest

None

Funding

This work was funded by the authors.

Author’s Contributions

Chinedu-Okeke led, conceptualized, and wrote the paper; Agbasimelo reviewed the relevant literature; Onyejelem and Obi analyzed the data. Chinedu-Okeke and Agbasimelo supervised and critically reviewed the manuscript. All the authors have read and agreed to the final version of the paper.

References

1. Tejedor S, Cervi L, Tusa F, Portales M, Zabotina M (2020) Information on the COVID-19 pandemic in daily newspapers’ front pages: Case study of Spain and Italy. Int J Environ Res Pub Health 17: 6330.
2. UNICEF (2020) South Africa COVID-19 Report.
3. Sahu KK, Mishra AK, Lal A (2020) Comprehensive update on current outbreak of novel coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV). Ann Transl Med 8: 393.
4. Ozili PK (2020) COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis: The Nigerian experience and structural causes. SSRN Electron J.
5. World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report-114.
6. Mustapha JO, Adedokun KA, Nasir IA (2020) Public health preparedness towards COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Asian Pac J Trop Med 13:197.
7. Nigeria centre for disease control. Update on coronavirus in Nigeria.
8. Zhou W, Wang A, Xia F, Xiao Y, Tang S (2020) Effects of media reporting on mitigating spread of COVID-19 in the early phase of the outbreak. Math Biosci Eng 17:2693-2707.
9. Ilesanmi OS, Omotoso B, Alele FO, Adewuyi P (2015) Awareness of Lassa fever in a rural community in South West Nigeria. J Commun Health Res 4: 1-10.
10. Ebenso B, Otu A (2020) Can Nigeria contain the COVID-19 outbreak using lessons from recent epidemics?. Lancet Glob Health 8:e770.
11. Asaolu AO, Ifijeh G, Iwu-James J, Osayande O (2016) Newspaper coverage of Ebola virus disease epidemic in Nigeria: Implications for prevention and control. Int J Commun Health 10:53-58.
12. Apuke OD, Omar B (2020) How do Nigerian newspapers report COVID-19 pandemic?. The implication for awareness and prevention. Health Edu Res 35:471-480.
13. Onwe EC, Chukwu J, Nwamini SC, Nwankwo SU, Elem S, et al. (2020) Analysis of online newspaper’s framing patterns of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Euro Sci J 16: 217-237.
14. McCombs M, Reynolds A (2002) News influence on our pictures of the world. (eds), Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers: Routledge, pp. 11-28.
15. Gever CV, Essien CF (2019) Newspaper coverage of the herdsmen-farmers conflict in central Tiv Land, Benue State, Nigeria. Media, War & Conflict 12:102-120.
16. Msughter AE, Phillips D (2020) Media framing of COVID-19 pandemic: A study of daily trust and vanguard newspapers in Nigeria. Int J Health, Safety Environ (IJHSE) 6:588-596.
17. Basden BH, Basden DR, Bryner S, Thomas III RL (1997) A comparison of group and individual remembering: Does collaboration disrupt retrieval strategies? J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 23:1176-1191.
18. Adefisan AK (2014) The level of awareness that rat is a vector of Lassa fever among the rural people in Ijebu-North local government, Ogun State, Nigeria. J Educ Pract 5:166-170.
19. Shigute Z, Mebratie AD, Alemu G, Bedi A (2020) Containing the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia. J Glob Health 10: 010369.
20. Gever VC, Ezeah G (2020) The media and health education: Did Nigerian media provide sufficient warning messages on coronavirus disease? Health Educ Res 35:460-470.
21. Asogwa CE (2021) Nigerian media coverage of medical progress on the development of COVID-19 vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 1-6.
22. Adebisi YA, Rabe A, Lucero-Prisno III DE (2021) Risk communication and community engagement strategies for COVID-19 in 13 African countries. Health Promot Pers 11:137-147.