Gas Flaring in the Niger Delta Region and Its Reportage by Select Nigerian Newspapers and Magazines: A Normative Appraisal
Abstract
This study sought to ascertain the extent to which Nigerian newspapers and magazines have called attention to the dangers associated with gas flaring in the Niger Delta region with a view to stemming its veracity. The research questions predominantly bordered on finding out the depth, nature and prominence accorded the issue of gas flaring and its dangers by the newspapers and magazines studied. In other words, to what extent have the newspapers and magazines studied accorded prominence, through placement, to the dangers of gas flaring in the region with a corresponding advocacy on how to curb the menace? The peculiarities of the study necessitated content analyses of two newspapers and two magazines purposively selected based on the fact that they are foremost dailies and weeklies. The second quarter of 2014 formed the period of study. Content categories were streamlined along straight news, features, editorials and advertorials. Inter-coder reliability stood at 0.93. Analysis was done using column centimeters. Findings revealed that the newspapers and magazines studied did not accord prominence to the subject matter. Descriptively, less than 1% of the total news space of the newspapers and magazines studied was devoted to straight news and features on the subject matter. For the editorial and advertorial spectrum, a lateral 0% was observed. Deductively, the newspapers and magazines studied did not devote significant space to advocacy. The summation however was that the reportage given to the subject matter by the newspapers/magazines was not significant enough to draw attention to the menace of gas flaring and its attendant consequences. The recommendations drawn from this finding focused on the need for Nigerian newspapers/magazines to increase content on issues with ecological implications, especially gas flaring while precipitating the consciousness for environmentally friendly industrial practices.
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