Reportage of Science and Environmental Issues In Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

This study examined the reportage of science and environmental issues in two selected Nigerian newspapers – This Day and The Sun. 192 editions of both newspapers were randomly selected and analyzed. The study's time frame was 2011 to 2012. The unit of analysis included any news story, feature article, opinion piece, editorial comment or special report that featured science and environmental issues. The findings revealed that 65 science and environment stories were published in the two selected newspapers within the study's time frame. However, 50 (77 percent) stories were from This Day while 15 (23 percent) were from The Sun. In terms of prominence, findings revealed that the stories were not given adequate prominence as most of them were buried on the inside pages of both newspapers. In terms of slant, findings indicated that most of the stories were favourably reported.  In terms of specific issues treated, HIV/AIDS as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) topped the list. Overall, the coverage accorded science and environment issues by the selected newspapers were low compared with the coverage of other mundane issues in the same newspapers. The major conclusion drawn from the study is that the relative small percentage of science and environmental stories in the selected newspapers is indicative of the general low coverage of similar issues in Nigerian newspapers. It was therefore recommended that in view of the importance of science and environmental issues to national development, Nigerian newspapers should devote more space to the coverage of such issues. It was further recommended that this study be repeated at regular intervals in order to track changes in the coverage pattern of such issues by Nigerian newspapers.