Thesis Abstract

This study investigated the Punch and Guardian newspapers’ coverage of terrorism January and June 2009. The study employed the agenda setting theory and the social responsibility theory of communication as the theoretical framework for the study. The content analysis research design was adopted with the aid of a 3-content categories coding sheet. The sample comprised of 156 newspaper issues published across four months by the two selected Nigerian dailies including the Punch and The Guardian newspapers. Data generated were analysed with the aid of frequency Tables and simple percentages through the coding sheet. Findings of the study revealed that the Nigerian newspapers gave adequate coverage to reports on terrorism; despite the fact that most of the stories published by the newspapers on the issue were published on the back pages of the newspapers making it seem as if prominence was not accorded the reportage on terrorism. Therefore, the study concludes that since most of the pages devoted to the reportage on terrorism in the newspapers were placed on the back pages, the story may not have gained the deserved attention from the members of the society. The study however, recommends that newspapers management should complement the high coverage they give to issues that affect the society by featuring news stories on such issues in prominent pages such as the front pages to gain the due and deserved attention from the members of the society.

Thesis Overview