An analysis of dominant health issues, voices and victims in health reportage in Nigerian national newspapers

Bello Semiu (2016) An analysis of dominant health issues, voices and victims in health reportage in Nigerian national newspapers. Journal of Media and Social Development, 4 (2). pp. 29-58. ISSN 2320-8244

Text 5-volume4issue2bellosemiufinal.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

This study examines three basic questions: (i) what health issues dominate Nigerian national newspapers? (ii) Who are the newsmakers in health news/reports in Nigerian national newspapers? (iii) Who are the victims in health news in Nigerian national newspapers? These research questions were empirically answered through the quantitative content analysis and inferential statistics adopted in this study. The author content-analysed health issues in Nigerian national newspapers from 2010-2013, focusing on 45 health issues within the purview of news, editorials, feature articles, opinion writing and letters to the editor. This study found that Nigerian national newspapers actually report health issues and the ten dominant ones include: health care delivery, health systems administration, HIV/AIDS, cancer, nutrition and balance diet, polio, maternal health, malaria, infant health and reproductive health. The health news-makers in Nigerian newspapers are health researchers through their various publications and ranked next to this group are the medical doctors. This study further found that children and women constitute the victims of health problems reported in Nigerian national newspapers. This study, therefore, concludes that given the enduring nature of newspapers, the archival quality and its comprehensive analysis, they will continue to remain a useful health resource in disseminating health information despite the explosive information and communication technologies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Health issues, Nigerian newspapers, health reporting, healthnews-makers, health victims
Subjects:	A Arts and Humanities > Sociology
Divisions:	Department of > Sociology
Depositing User:	Dr Raju C
Date Deposited:	10 Mar 2021 09:54
Last Modified:	10 Mar 2021 09:54
URI:	http://eprints.uni-mysore.ac.in/id/eprint/15773

Actions (login required)

View Item