Education, Healthcare, and Security took the back seat in the election coverage.
Dataphyte, an organisation dedicated to providing access to data, research services, and training, has released a comprehensive study examining the agenda-setting role of the Nigerian media, particularly in election coverage.
Titled “The Media’s Agenda-Setting Role: Insights from Coverage of Nigeria’s 2023 Elections,” the study assessed the nature of media coverage during the 2023 elections in Nigeria, aiming to identify key elements shaping narratives and assessing the media’s effectiveness in providing education and information during the electoral process.
Covering 10 national and 36 state media outlets across 18 strategically selected states, the study monitored online/print, TV, and radio platforms. The national media outlets monitored include Arise TV, Channels, DailyTrust, NTA, Premium Times, and The Cable.
Analysis of the topics covered by the media during the 2023 Elections revealed a significant focus on non-programmatic issues, such as election logistics, party politics and campaigns, corruption scandals and controversies, comprising 80% of news items monitored. Programmatic topics like education, health, vulnerable groups, humanitarian issues, and security received less focus, accounting for only 20% of coverage.
The report also highlighted the underrepresentation of women in media coverage, with only 0.4% of news stories focusing on gender-related topics, indicating a gap in mainstreaming gender discourse in Nigerian politics. Other findings in this report include the origin and sources of the voices that shaped the election narrative and their political affiliations.
“The outcome of this research underscores the media’s vital role in shaping public discourse and influencing electoral outcomes,” said Oluseyi Olufemi, Insight Lead at Dataphyte. “With this media monitoring exercise, we aim to stimulate dialogue and encourage self-assessment within the media industry on its role in sustaining democracy and the responsibility of information and education that rests on its shoulders.
In conclusion, the report emphasises the need for greater focus on programmatic issues like education, healthcare, and gender equality to foster informed public discourse during elections. Media organisations are urged to represent diverse voices and viewpoints, ensure balanced coverage, and highlight more gender-related issues.
The full report, “The Media’s Agenda-Setting Role: Insights from Coverage of Nigeria’s 2023 Elections,” is available on Dataphyte’s website: https://bit.ly/The-Medias-Agenda-Setting-Role
Signed byJoshua OlufemiFounder, Dataphyte