ABSTRACT

This study analysed local newspapers’ coverage of child rights matters in Akwa Ibom State. The specific objectives of the study include to: determine the frequency of coverage of child rights matters by local newspapers in Akwa Ibom; ascertain the prominence of the child rights stories published by the select local newspapers; determine the depth of child rights matters published in the select local newspapers; and determine the direction of the child rights stories published in local newspapers in Akwa Ibom State. Affixed on Agenda-Setting Theory and Social Responsibility Theory of communication, the study adopted the content analysis research method. The population of the study was 182 editions of The Pioneer, The Informer and The Nigerian Pulse newspaper published within the time frame of the study, July to December, 2017. The units of analysis included straight news stories, features, editorials and opinions. The findings of the study are as follows: there was high frequency of coverage given to child rights matters in Akwa Ibom State by local newspapers; child rights stories were published more on the inside and pages of the local newspapers in Akwa Ibom State; there is shallow depth in the report of child rights matters by local newspapers in Akwa Ibom State; most media reports of child rights were neutral/unfavourable and the aspect of child rights covered most was ones related to good and accessible health care and other forms of care. Based on the findings from the study, the researcher recommended that Editorial boards of the local newspapers should endeavour to publish more child rights stories on the cover and back pages of their newspapers as these tend to be the first pages people look at when they pick up a newspaper.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER                                         TITLE                                                PAGE

Title page        -           -           -           -           i

          Declaration--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii

          Certification------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii

          Dedication--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv

          Acknowledgements----------------------------------------------------------------------------- v

          Abstract------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vi

          Table of Contents----------------------------------------------------------------------------- viii

          List of Tables----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ix

          List of Appendices------------------------------------------------------------------------------ x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study        -           -           -           -           -           -           1

1.2       Statement of the Problem        -           -           -           -           -           -           4

1.3       Objectives of the Study           -           -           -           -           -           -           4

1.4       Research Questions                -           -           -           -           -           -           5

1.5       Justification for the Study       -           -           -           -           -           -           5

1.6       Delimitation of the Study        -           -           -           -           -           -           6

1.7       Limitations of the Study         -           -           -           -           -           -           7

1.8         Definition of Terms -            -           -           -           -           -           -           7

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1       Review of Concepts                -           -           -           -           -           -           8

2.2       Review of the opinion                        -           -           -           -           -           21

2.3       Review of studies                               -           -           -           -           -           24

2.4      Theoretical Framework                      -           -           -           -           -           29 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1         Research Technique -            -           -           -           -           -           -           32

3.2       Population of the Study          -           -           -           -           -           -           32

3.3       Sample size and Sampling Procedure -          -           -           -           -           33

3.4       Content Categories                             -           -           -           -           -           33

3.5       Unit of Anlysis            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           34

3.6       Intercoder Reliability Test      -           -           -           -           -           -           35

3.7       Method of Data Collection     -           -           -           -           -           -           36

3.8       Method of Data Analysis        -           -           -           -           -           -           37

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1       Presentation of Data and Analysis      -           -           -           -           -           38

4.2       Discussion of Findings           -           -           -           -           -           -           41

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Summary of Findings -           -           -           -           -           -           -           45

5.2       Conclusion      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           46

5.3       Recommendations       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           46

5.4       Suggestions for Further Studies          -           -           -           -           -           46

            References       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           47

List of Tables

Table I 

 

Frequency of coverage of anti-corruption stories by The Pioneer and

Nigerian Pulse newspapers     -           -           -           -           -           38

Table II 

Newspaper placement of child right stories -             -           -           39

Table III 

Format of story presentation by The Pioneer and Nigerian Pulse

 

Newspapers     -           -           -           -           -           -           -

39

Table IV 

Direction of the stories reported in the newspapers -             -

40

Table V

Aspects of child rights reported most in the newspapers studied

40

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix

A: 

Computation Showing the Number of Editions and Days Selected  for Analysis.

 

B:

 

Coding Guide for the Analysis of Local Newspapers’ Coverage of Child Rights Using The Pioneer, The Informer and The Nigerian Pulse Newspapers (July – December, 2017).

C:

Coding Sheet for the Analysis of Local Newspaper Coverage of

Child Rights Matters in Akwa Ibom State Using The Pioneer, The Informer, and Nigerian Pulse Newspapers (July – December 2017).