Nigeria Newspaper Reportage of Climate Change of Its Influence on Public Knowledge of Climate Change

ABSTRACT This study assessed Nigerian newspaper reportage of climate change and its influence on public knowledge of climate change. This work was done in view of the many interests that have long tried to influence media reportage of climate change to affect public's 13 understanding and perception. The research work therefore sought to ascertain the extent and quality of reportage of climate change as well as the specific ways in which Nigerian newspaper reportage of climate change had influenced public knowledge of the subject matter. The research methods used were content analysis, survey and interview. The Guardian, Daily Sun, This Day, and Vanguard newspapers were content analysed, while Abuja, Enugu, Ikeja and Port Harcourt were areas of study for the survey. Results showed that the newspapers studied gave significant attention to issues on climate change. News stories constituted 83% of stories analysed. The newspapers mainly portrayed climate change as human-induced. Thus, stories fuelling uncertainty about climate change were not very visible in the newspapers. The newspapers portrayed the Nigerian public as believing in the truth of climate change but inaccurately linked it to changes in weather patterns. Nigeria was reported as dependent on foreign aid to fight climate change. Public knowledge of climate change was not significantly influenced by newspaper reportage of climate change. This study recommended that Nigerian newspapers should use lots of non-news stories in reporting climate change to enable them handle more analysis needed to portray the important issues in climate change solutions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables

viii

List of Figures x

Abstract xi

CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 5

1.3 Objectives of the Study 6

1.4 Research Questions 7

1.5 Hypotheses 7

1.6 Significance of the Study 8

1.7 Nigeria‘s Weather and Climate System 8

1.8 Structure, Performance and Challenges of Newspapers in Nigeria 11

1.9 Definition of Terms 14

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 16

2.2 Historical Perspectives in Climate Change Reporting 16

2.3 Studies on Media Reportage of Environment in Nigeria and Ghana 21

2.4 Newspaper Coverage of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference 2009 26

2.5 Factors Affecting Media Reportage of Climate Change Stories

28

2.6 Intersection of Media, Climate Science/Scepticism and Policy

29

2.7 Coverage of Climate Change in Major Carbon Emitting Countries 34

2.8 The Challenge of Expertise, and Journalistic Norms/Ethics 36

8

2.9 Pictorial Representations and Symbolism of Climate Change

39

2.10 Media and Public Knowledge of Climate Change 41

2.11 Theoretical Framework 43

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design 47

3.2 Population of the Study 47

3.3 Scope of the Study 48

3.4 Sample Size 48

3.5 Sampling Technique 52

3.6 Measuring Instrument 56

3.7 Validity and Reliability of the Test Instrument 62

3.8 Method of Data Analysis and Presentation 64

3.9 Limitations of Methodology 65

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction 66

4.2 Description of the Sample 66

4.3 Data Presentation and Analysis 67

4.3 Test of Hypotheses 97

4.4 Textual Analysis

142

4.5 Summary of the Interview

158

4.6 Discussion of Findings

159

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary

172

5.2 Conclusion

174

9

5.3 Recommendations

176

REFERENCES 189

Appendices

20

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