Content Analysis of Top 5 Newspaper Coverage of Gubernatorial Election in Anambra State
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to analyze newspaper coverage of the 2017 gubernatorial election in Anambra state: a content analysis
The specific objectives of this study are
To examine the tone of the coverage of the Anambra gubernatorial election by newspapers.
To analyze the extent to which the newspaper covers the Anambra gubernatorial election
To investigate if newspapers gave accurate reportage of the election result
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS.
NEWSPAPER AND POLITICS
In a study on the power of the newspaper by both Habermas (2006) and Castells (1994) where it was revealed that there is an underlying assumption of a pivotal role for the newspaper publications in politics and political participation. They also raise the question of newspaper and power processes in the society. Downing (1995) stressed that the newspaper content are dictated by structures of power in any society. The newspaper company does not stand independent of a given social system but instead provide channels of communication between elements within it. To varying degrees this has meant that they are instrumental to dominant institutions and interests within the society (Randall, 1998). The newspaper also act as the platform through which people and interests in the society express their views (Ibraheem, et.al., 2013).
The newspaper are universally referred to as agents of power and political control, such that those who hold sway of political power and authority are always conscious of the fact that information management and control is central to the capturing, retention and exercise of political power. The larger implication of this is that the ownership, control and accessibility to the newspaper are considered to be critical to the wielding and sustenance of political power. This recognition of the role of newspapers as agents of power and political control is partly responsible for the decision of the governments of developing countries (Nigeria inclusive) and state governments to either own their own newspaper or regulate news and information flow within and into their countries (Sussman, 1989).
In Nigeria, the mass media generally (particularly the press) since its inception in 1859 have played significant roles in shaping the social, political and economic landscape and setting the agenda for the country’s political development. It is a widely held notion that Nigeria’s political history is inextricably intertwined with that of its media history because of the prominent role the newspaper have played at every strategic point in the country’s political development and the influence of politics on the development and focus of Nigeria’s newspapers (Ibraheem et al., 2013).
MEDIA AND ELECTIONS
Elections can be a key element either in both conflict resolution and conflict escalation. Therefore, free and fair elections are essential for democracy consolidation and conflict prevention. The professionalism of media is crucial during election periods. To promote fair, safe and professional media election coverage, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supports advocacy to encourage full, fair and efficient disclosure of information to journalists covering the elections; training to enhance professional election reporting; training on the safety of journalists and their right to work without threat; and the production and distribution of election guidelines reflecting principles of professional reporting during elections, journalists’ rights, election processes and safety information, as well as briefing notes on international human rights law with emphasis on freedom of expression.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
The quantitative content analysis research method was used to study the newspaper coverage of the 2017 gubernatorial election in Anambra state.
AREA OF THE STUDY
This study is on newspaper coverage of the 2017 gubernatorial election in anambra state a content analysis. It were carried out Anambra state.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The following newspapers were selected for the purpose; vanguard, sunnews, dailypost, the nation, the premiumtime,punch newspaper.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter tends to deal on the data entry and analysis for this study.
This is where the use of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), a computer-assisted data handling device, is important. It is available in the contemporary computing age, and being used in the social science research centres of universities and research institutes across the world, because of the powerfulness and flexibility of its programme in social science research as well as communications research for statistical analysis (Hansen et al 1988.290, 316).
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY,CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
In this research, from the initial stage, a number of issues have been touched upon. The topic was introduced as “newspaper coverage of the 2017 gubernatorial election in anambra state, however, The seven newspapers studied within the research period are; The vanguard, The Observer, The nation, The dailypost, The dailysun, premiumtime and The punch.
The findings also indicate that the coverage was unfavourable, describing the election process as chaotic and undemocratic for instance ; the chairman of our great party(APC), Emeka Ibe was arrested by security agents on the eve of the election. In the days of yore, a federal ruling party chairman will be parading the town with soldiers and policemen. A lot of our canvassers and sundry officials were harassed and hounded. It was the theatre of absurd. (November 17/2017) IPOB not to succumb to intimidation, insists on boycott of Anambra election
In the end, the researcher concluded that the newspaper on the election result was fair and unbiased because the figure gotten from INEC returning officers was adequate and corresponds with the final reportage of the election results.
CONCLUSION
The media coverage of the electoral process has contributed towards developing democracy, particularly that of developing nations. This study, therefore, demonstrates the power of the press in protecting the democratic electoral process worldwide and Nigeria in particular.
However, the press as a political institution is a good instrument of organisation, information and even campaign propaganda and the election process in general, because the expansion of the size of the national dailies in the UK gave the press the opportunity to make a sophisticated analysis of the election process (Seymour-Ure 2001;107).
It was realised during this study that some of the newspapers devoted more space in analysing the elections and the situation of the Nigerian democracy especially the issues of importance relating to Biafra agitations whose group-IPOB had vowed to stop at nothing even to an extend of promoting political apathy in Anambra state and other south-south/ south-east region
During this study, many things have been learnt about the media election coverage and the press’ political relations, including:-
- For a newspaper to make international news more interesting, conflict, violence and crises have to be included.
- The picture of Africa internationally and Nigeria in particular as suffering from unrest is reflected in most of the events covered by the press within the continent.
- Newspapers mostly cover the pre-election period more than the post-election one, unless violence, protest, killings or similar events occur.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The topic, newspaper coverage of the 2017 gubernatorial election in anambra state, is worth exploring, especially the comparison of the coverage in targeting free and fair election and issues of national concern.
In future, it would be useful to study the coverage Nigeria elections.
REFERENCES
- Adejumobi S (2000) “Elections in Africa, A Fading shadow of Democracy” International political science Review 21/1/59
- Amoko, A. O. (1999) “The Missionary Gene in the Kenyan Polity: Representation of the contemporary Kenya in the British Media”; Callaloo 22/1/223-239
- Arnold, S. (2004) South Africa, in Lange, B. and Ward, D. (Eds) the media and election; a handbook and comparative study, LEA London
- Christensen, C. (2005), “Pocketbooks or prayer beads? US/UK Newspaper coverage of the 2002 Turkish elections” The Harvard International Journal of press/politics 10 /1/110-125
- Commonwealth Observer Group. (April 2007) report on Nigerian elections, available at www.news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/frt/-/1/hi/world/africa/6582979.stm (accessed 21/03/2008)
