Newspaper Coverage of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Judgement

Abstract

The researchers investigated the coverage of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judgement by two major Nigerian newspapers - The Nation and This Day. The key research objectives of this study were to ascertain the level of coverage given to the 2023 PEPT judgement, find out what prominence was given to the 2023 PEPT judgement, ascertain the possible position of the select newspapers in their coverage of the 2023 PEPT judgement, determine the pattern of reports given to the reportage of the 2023 PEPT judgement, and to ascertain the frequency of publication of stories on the 2023 PEPT judgement by the select newspapers. The study was anchored on the agenda-setting theory and the framing theory. The methodology adopted was content analysis, while a coding sheet was employed as the instrument of data collection. The findings revealed that the select newspapers provided a substantial level of coverage. It was also found that the coverage was balanced, with a mix of positive, neutral, and negative stories, while straight news was found to be the most common format, among others. The researchers concluded that both newspapers successfully fulfilled their role as watchdogs and informants, contributing to the democratic process by ensuring transparency and accountability in reporting the PEPT judgement. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that newspaper organizations should maintain consistent follow-up coverage on major events even after the initial peak to keep the public informed about ongoing developments and long-term implications.