Abstract:

This study examined online newspapers reportage of COVID-19 in Nigeria during the lockdown period with a focus on the frequency, depth of coverage, story format and news sources. For epidemic/pandemic disease control, knowledge is critical. For the population, public health crises like COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown instituted a challenging time, especially towards the identification of valid updates on the local and international situation, as well as avoiding rumours and conspiracy theories. Two widely read newspapers were content analysed within the month of April. However, it was observed that the coverage of COVID-19 stories was not frequently reported in both newspapers. Punch reported seventeen (17) while the Nation only reported nine (9) for the whole of April. Also, the coverage was not in-depth, as most reported stories were short and mostly straight news. It was also observed that the media cited more of the government officials, the society, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Most common topics were coverage of cases in Nigeria, death rates, closures of businesses, risk of COVID-19 to essential health workers and worries about Nigeria’s preparedness. However, there were few or no stories on sensitising the public about the virus. The online newspapers should capitalise more on educating the people on the best practices to take in curbing the spread of the virus. The Agenda Setting Theory propounded by Marshall McCombs and Shaw, as well as the Technological Determinism Theory by Thorsten Veblen, were the foundation theories for this study.