Prominence in the Newspaper Coverage of Conspiracy Theories during the  COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Sunday Ogbona PhD; Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD

doi:10.5281/zenodo.14035342

Prominence in the Newspaper Coverage of Conspiracy Theories during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Authors

Sunday Ogbona PhD Department of Mass Communication Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8721-1457
Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD Advocacy, Social and Behaviour Change Consultant Professor of Development and Strategic Communication Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria and Associate Professor School of Public Health, University of Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8721-1457

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14035342

Keywords:

Conspiracy Theory, Newspaper Coverage, Gatekeeping theory, COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The researchers examined newspaper coverage of conspiracy theories during the COVID19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study was aimed at assessing one critical issue on the
conspiracy theories during the COVID-19-pandemic in Nigeria which is the prominence
in the print newspapers coverage in Nigeria. The gate-keeping theory was employed in
this regard. The researchers adopted the content analysis with the coding sheet as
instrument for data collection. A sample size of two newspapers, the Nation and Punch
published from April 2020 to March 2021 (Monday-Friday) were derived from a
population size of five hundred and twenty-two newspapers using purposive sampling
technique. Findings showed that the Punch and Nation newspapers gave adequate
coverage to the COVID-19 pandemic with 2,318 stories or 94.7%, 124 of them on
conspiracy theories representing 5.5%. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the
select newspapers reported the COVID-19 pandemic, though not so for the conspiracy
theories and no prominence was attached to the stories as more than three-quarter of the
stories (97) or 81.5% were tucked inside the pages of the newspapers analysed and 4 or
3.2% on the front page. Furthermore, 31 representing 33.7% were 21 paragraphs and
above in the Nation while the Punch newspaper had 6 stories representing 18.8% with the
same number of paragraphs. There is significant relationship between the story types of
the conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic and the prominence attached to the
newspapers coverage as the minimum expected count of .26 is less than 5. Thus, the
researchers recommended that the print media houses in Nigeria should endeavour to
focus on stories that will educate Nigerians the more on issues of conspiracy theories by
making the stories prominent by bringing them on the front burner of the newspapers.

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Published

2024-11-04

How to Cite

Sunday Ogbona PhD, & Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD. (2024). Prominence in the Newspaper Coverage of Conspiracy Theories during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. GVU Journal of Research and Development, 1(2), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14035342

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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024): GVU Journal of Research and Development

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Reference Section

Text Books

Asemah, E.S., Gujbawu, M., Ekhareafo, D.O. & Okpanachi, R.A. (2012) Research methods and procedures in mass communication. Jos: Great Future Press.

Journals

Asemah, E. S., Okpanachi, R. A. & Olumuji, E. O. (2013). Communicating corporate social responsibility performance of organisations: A key to winning stakeholders' goodwill. International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2 (4), 27- 54.

Enerijiofi, K. E., Akapo, F. H. & Erhabor, J. O. (2021). GC-MS analysis and antibacterial activities of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on selected clinical bacterial isolates. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 45 (179), 1 -10.

Conference Proceedings

Nwaoboli, E. P. Chukwu, N. V. & Asemah, E.S. (2021). Mass media and coronavirus campaigns in Benin City: Examining the status conferral approach. In E. S.

Asemah., J. U Idialu., S. O. Ajagun., M. Osemeke., E. Okwudiri., M. Oaikhena., F. Ohiokha & K. Ola (Ed.).Pandemic in the 21st Century: Multi-dimensional Approaches. Edited Conference Proceedings of the 2nd College of Management and Social Sciences 2021 Conference. Ogwa: Samuel Adegboyega University.

Edited Books

Nwaoboli, E. P. & Asemah, E. S. (2021). Textual analysis of select online media use of fear appeals in the promotion of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria. In E. S. Asemah (Ed.). Communication, Pandemic and Civil Unrest in Nigeria (pp. 5-19). Enugu: Franklead Press.

Internet Sources

Egunjobi, J. P. (2020). Wearing mask to combat COVID. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341881748_Wearing_Mask_to_Combat_COVI D.

Newspapers

Eze, J. K. (2022). Communication and development. The Daily Sun, August 24th , p. 5.

Magazines

Eze, J. K. (2022). Communication and development. The Tell Magazine, June 24th, p. 5.