How Newspapers Cover Nuclear Issues In Ghana: A Content Analysis Of Daily Graphic And The Ghanaian Times Newspapers

ABSTRACT

For understanding the formation of public opinion or citizen action which appears in the form of anti-nuclear or pro-nuclear movements, there is the need to analyse media content for the development of this subject matter over a period of time as the media influences public awareness of issues through framing of news. This study examined the frames, direction of story, placement of story and sources cited in the newspaper coverage of nuclear issues in Ghana. Data was collected by means of quantitative content analysis of stories on nuclear issues in the Daily Graphic and The Ghanaian Times for the periods 1962 to 1964; 1966 to 1968; 2005 to 2007 and 2011 to 2013. Findings suggest that the anti-nuclear frame of ‘public accountability’ representing 39.0% was used to define nuclear issues; the direction of story on nuclear issues in the two newspapers was neutral represented by 54.0% articles; both newspapers did not place much importance on stories on nuclear issues as 93.0% of the articles were published on other pages other than the front page, centre page and back page and the majority of sources cited in both newspapers were the news agencies represented by 54.0% of the articles analysed. Recommendation is both media and nuclear experts should familiarise themselves with the activities of each other for the effective dissemination of relevant news on nuclear issues in Ghana.