PLASU JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES Vol 1 (3) June 2024.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20370/8qra-qz17
Newspaper Framing of COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage in Nigeria: A Study of the Guardian, Daily Trust and Nation Newspapers
Directorate of Information, Protocol and Public Relations (DIPPR) Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; Department of Journalism and Media Studies Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Taraba State University, Jalingo.;Head, Department of Journalism and Media Studies Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Benue State University, Makurdi.
Abstract: This study of Newspaper Framing of Covid-19 Vaccine Coverage in Nigeria: A Study of the Guardian, Daily Trust and Nation Newspapers. The study lasted seven months and fifteen days (March 2 to October 15, 2021). This period encompasses critical stages of vaccine rollout and public discourse, offering a comprehensive view of how news framing influenced vaccination campaigns. The study anchored on Framing Theory. The research adopted content analysis of three widely read Nigerian newspapers: The Guardian, Daily Trust and The Nation. The reason for choosing these newspapers was that they reported COVID-19 vaccines compared to other newspapers. Seventy-three (73) stories were coded out of 228 editions of newspapers under review. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study found that the framing of COVID-19 vaccines was not accorded the prominence they deserved. Prominence in this study was measured by the placement on the front page, but the stories were buried inside pages, suggesting that the newspapers in Nigeria did not give adequate attention to the vaccination campaign. The study also revealed that COVID-19 vaccine stories were not reported frequently as expected. Even though there were more COVID-19 vaccine-related stories for the period under review in the three selected newspapers, little was said about the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The study concluded that the framing of COVID-19 vaccines in the newspapers has not been given adequate prominence in the vaccination drive. This was evident as COVID-19 vaccine supply/delivery was emphasised, yet only 4,680,000 Nigerians had been vaccinated against the virus, representing 2.34% of a population of 200 million. The study, therefore, recommended, among others, that newspapers should place COVID-19 vaccine stories on the front pages to give prominence to vaccine information. It could have encouraged people to get vaccinated instead of burying information inside pages of newspapers, and emphasis should be placed on the safety of the vaccines instead of supply/delivery. Nigerian newspapers should endeavour to frame vaccination stories in such a way as to stem the tendency of creating rumours and misinformation.
Keywords: Framing, COVID-19 Vaccination, Newspaper, Vaccination
Published: June 2024
Issue: Vol 1 (3) 2024: PLASU JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES