Selected Private Newspapers’ Coverage of Nigeria’s Debt Profile
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Date
2023-12
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Journal of African films and Diaspora Studies (JAFDIS)
Abstract
The media plays an important role in monitoring government actions and holding them accountable by enlightening the public about the political, social, and economic challenges facing society. In line with the functions of the press, the study looked into how the media covered President Buhari’s administration’s debt profile. Nigeria’s rising debt profile attracted public outcry, hence the need to look at the newspapers’ coverage of the debt profile. To understand how Nigeria's debt under President Buhari's administration was portrayed, this study analysed two newspapers’ coverage of the country's debt profile. The analysis focused on The Punch and The Guardian Newspapers, examining a total of 1,095 editions published from January 2019 to December 2021. From this pool, 502 editions were sampled, and findings showed that the Nigerian media, during President Buhari's government, predominantly presented straight news reports that had a negative tone when discussing Nigeria's debt profile. The researchers suggest that print media should give greater prominence to stories related to the debt profile in order to enhance public awareness about the impact of debt on the country's economy. Additionally, it recommends that the media publish more exclusive and comprehensive editorials, as well as feature stories that provide in-depth analysis, information, and insights into Nigeria's debt profile. In summary, the study underscores the importance of the media in informing the public about Nigeria's debt situation. It calls for increased coverage, in various forms, to shed light on the implications of the country's debt profile and ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the topic among the general population.