Newspapers Coverage of Electricity Tariff increase in Nigeria: A Content Analysis of the Punch and the Nation Newspapers

NEWSPAPERS COVERAGE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFF INCREASE IN NIGERIA: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE PUNCH AND THE NATION NEWSPAPERS

Abstract
Power sector in Nigeria has been one of the challenging sectors for Nigerian development. It has faced challenges ranging from corruption, lack of infrastructure, insufficient power generation, inadequate supply of electricity to consumers, inflexible
tariff system, to non-payment of large bill arrears by the power consumers. Despite all these, Nigerians have increasingly demanded for electricity in the country. This study examined newspaper coverage of tariff increase in the power sector to know how the
issue was deemed important. The study used agenda-setting theory to buttress and explain the work while content analysis was the research design used to content analyse The Punch and The Nation newspapers for the period of six (6) months. The universe of
the study was 366 out of which 192 was the sample size while coding sheet and coding guide were the instruments of data collection. Findings revealed that the selected newspapers did fairly well in their coverage on tariff increase in the power sector. Both
newspapers gave prominence and high frequency to the stories reported. The study recommended that since so many people rely on media messages there is need for the print media to be more proactive on the interpretative function of the mass media and
that media professionals should not rely solely on media briefings, conferences and pressreleases from electricity power brokers; they should equally get the opinions of the common man on the street and know what the masses are saying on any issue of
importance.

NEWSPAPERS COVERAGE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFF INCREASE IN NIGERIA: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE PUNCH AND THE NATION NEWSPAPERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

NEWSPAPERS COVERAGE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFF INCREASE IN NIGERIA: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE PUNCH AND THE NATION NEWSPAPERS