COVERAGE OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE BY SELECTED NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS (JANUARY 2016- DECEMBER 2018)
COVERAGE OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE BY SELECTED NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS (JANUARY 2016- DECEMBER 2018)
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Date
2021-03
Authors
AWULU, Eleojo Blessing
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Abstract
The study focuses on the coverage of sickle cell disease by selected Nigerian national
newspapers. Four newspapers were selected using simple random sampling through balloting
from a list of high circulation and widely read national newspapers. The study adopted the
quantitative content analysis and adopted a census study of four Nigerian newspapers; the
Guardian, Vanguard, Daily Trust and Punch. The agenda setting theory was used as the
theoretical framework and the instrument used for data collection was a self-designed code
sheet. The study covered a three-year period (January 2016 to December 2018). Analysis was
done using frequency and percentage scores and presented in tabular form. The findings
revealed that the selected newspapers reported issues of sickle cell disease. However, the
coverage was low with a total of two hundred and three (203) news stories by the four
newspapers during the period studied. In addition, findings show that prominence was not
given to the coverage of sickle cell disease since most reports were found on the inside pages
of the newspapers. Articles emphasized on genetic causation, effect of the disorder and
prevention of the disease. It was revealed that the newspapers‟ source for information are
majorly from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Ministry of Health as well as the
World Health Organization (WHO). The study concludes that the coverage of sickle cell
disease by the four newspapers was under low. Therefore, it recommended that Nigerian
newspapers should give prominence to sickle cell disease to adequately fulfil their Agenda
Setting role to the Nigerian populace as far as educating the people on the causes, effects and
prevention of sickle cell disorder,
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MASS
COMMUNICATION, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER
DEGREE IN MASS COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
COVERAGE,, SICKLE CELL DISEASE,, SELECTED NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS,, (JANUARY 2016- DECEMBER 2018).