Thesis Abstract

This research project aims to conduct a content analysis of the newspaper coverage of foreign news in Nigeria, focusing on the Daily Champion and Vanguard newspapers. The study seeks to examine the extent and nature of the coverage of foreign news in these two prominent Nigerian newspapers, with a specific focus on the types of foreign news stories covered, the countries and regions featured, and the framing of these stories. The importance of foreign news coverage in Nigerian newspapers cannot be understated, as it plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and understanding of global events and issues. By analyzing the content of the Daily Champion and Vanguard newspapers, this study seeks to shed light on how foreign news is presented to Nigerian audiences and the implications of this coverage. The research will employ content analysis as the primary methodological approach, utilizing a systematic and objective coding scheme to analyze a sample of foreign news stories published in the Daily Champion and Vanguard newspapers over a specified period. The coding scheme will capture key variables such as the prominence of foreign news stories, the topics covered, the geographic focus, and the framing of the stories in terms of tone and perspective. Through the content analysis, the study aims to provide insights into the patterns and trends in the coverage of foreign news in the Daily Champion and Vanguard newspapers. By comparing the two newspapers, the research seeks to identify any differences or similarities in the way foreign news is presented, including the prioritization of certain countries or regions, the framing of key issues, and the overall tone of the coverage. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to our understanding of the role of Nigerian newspapers in informing public opinion on global affairs and the challenges and opportunities associated with foreign news coverage in the Nigerian media landscape. The research may also have implications for media practitioners, policymakers, and scholars interested in the dynamics of media representation of foreign news in Nigeria. In conclusion, this research project on the newspaper coverage of foreign news in Nigeria, focusing on the Daily Champion and Vanguard newspapers, seeks to provide valuable insights into the nature and extent of foreign news coverage in Nigerian newspapers and its implications for public understanding of global issues.

Thesis Overview

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The concept of news, journalism and freedom of press have for many years now been a major sources of disagreement between developing countries eg. African and developed nations of the world. Developing countries often feel ill served by the western news media claiming that foreign writers distrust the story about African growth and development or at times failed to report it at all.

The developing nation at other hand often see the developing nation as hindering the report of news. Members often from the news media in industrialized nations say a free press as it existed in the United States of America (U.S.A) and Great Britain is virtually unknown in Africa and other part of the developing countries. They argue that information and communication has a vital note to play in the development of any nation.

          In about mid 70s, there was a cry over the poor coverage of event in the industrialized world by the African press while the African press has said the same thing about the industrialized world. As a result of this problem, the maintenance of an open flow of information across national boundaries lies assists to create and maintain a source of nations hood, it also perform development task such as improving educational, health care delivery, science and technology, political stability and offers inter-cultural information. It also help information public opinion as well as acts as a form of entertainment. It also acts as watch dog on government in a country where such is permitted.

          The developed countries have been accusing the third world. They claim that the third world countries used their media primarily for economic and social development and to promote the government inn power. These arguments have had poor coverage of foreign event by many newspapers.

          They argue further that news about developed countries are often published negatively and started to suit the ideology of the third world news agencies. The nature of news is always changing as a result of national interest and standards are always changing and because of this, the structure of news for the developing nation’s especially African countries must be redefined to reflect the effort being made by different government in Africa to transform their societies.

          The Western definition of news on the other hand emphasizes on events that is out of the ordinary, exceptional, existing, sensational of “man-biting the day” varieties. This concept of news has influenced Western consensus.

          Sequel to this 1997 meeting was a new international commission on communication problem was set up. The commission was headed by Seen Macbridge, former risk foreign Minister. The commission submitted its reports in 1990.

          However, apart form the commission’s recommendation, the committee was surprise after analyzing the content of the third world newspaper to team that the developed countries newspaper radio and television ahs the same bias reportage of foreign events. The developed nation argues that the bulk of information said to developing nations were saluted to suit the power that be.

          In addition to that, the commission pointed out that there is a tendency for journalists in developing countries to write in a manner in which facts are distorted to perpetuate pejorative attitude and also to use terms that is dividing and insulting.

          The study therefore analyze the coverage of foreign news by Daily Champion and vanguard newspaper to see whether the two dailies has the same reportorial bias as was discovered by the international commission on communication problem.