ASSESSMENT OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTION: CONTENT ANALYSIS

Contents

 

The media, emphatically newspapers, are given a significant amount of attention during elections. It is not overstated to say that the absence of media coverage makes it difficult for there to be a transparent election in Nigeria or anywhere else. This is due to the fact that the media are practical channels that may be used to monitor, correlate, educate, and disseminate information to electorates (Arijeniwa, Nwaoboli, Ajimokunola & Uwuoruya 2022; Nwaoboli, 2021, 2022, 2023). This might be explained by the fact that the media is successful at causing a shift in behavior and attitude. 

Omoera (2010) agrees with the above assertion when he stated that the Nigerian press has always been useful as a vehicle for constructing the political landscape of the country, an avenue for agitation and proper political leadership. To express this in another way, we could say that the Nigerian press has always been useful as a vehicle for structuring the political landscape of the country. This illustrates that the mass media have an important role to play in the electoral process of any democratic government which is indisputable and crucial in its own right. Elections take place all over the world in the contemporary, modern civilisation and as a result, they are the focus of a great amount of interest and coverage from the media. People from all over the world pay attention to the elections in Nigeria since it is the black nation with the most people and is considered to be the giant of Africa. 

As a consequence of this, greater dependencies on Citizens carefully monitor the media to learn about the election process, the parties, and the campaigns in order to choose how they would vote (Arijeniwa & Nwaoboli, 2023). Aside from that citizens place a higher amount of reliance on the media as their primary source of information regarding the political process, as well as the parties and campaigns that are covered in the media. This is done with the intention of making voting choices (Jackson & Lilleker, 2009). Newspapers have a reputation for having a significant impact on the populace, particularly in regard to the manner in which individuals participate in the electoral. The mass media have the ability to impact our cognitive processes. It follows that the vast majority of what we know about both our internal environment and election is the product of information that has been distributed through the various forms of the media. This is true for both our knowledge of the election and our knowledge of our internal environment. Elections are carried out in every democracy. Democratic government, which is presided over by individuals who were elected to their positions, is the system of administration that continues to have widespread support and approval in the contemporary world. 

Voting by the populace to choose their leaders is the defining characteristic of this form of democratic administration. According to Omoera (2010), the metaphor of a watchdog being a member of the media is a reflection of the vigilant function that the media plays in any administration. The Nigerian presidential election was slated for February 25, 2023. Although there are more than eight parties and people who contested for the 2023 presidential elections, the major ones include Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim who is representing the Young Progressives Party (YPP) party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who is representing the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Omoyele Sowore representing the African Action Congress (AAC), Peter Obi representing the Labour Party (LP), Prince Adewole Adebayo representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Kola Abiola representing the People's Redemption Party (PRP), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressive Party (APC) and Atiku Abubakar who is representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This study is therefore carried out to examine how newspapers, specifically The Vanguard, covered the campaigns of the contestants.

Newspapers play an important role in the democratic process by providing information to voters and holding politicians accountable. In Nigeria, however, newspapers are often under pressure from political parties, interest groups, and the government to engage in biased reporting. This pressure can lead to newspapers taking sides in elections, reporting only on events that favor their preferred candidate or party, and ignoring or downplaying negative stories.

For example, in the 2015 and 2019 Nigerian presidential elections, government-owned newspapers reported events about the elections in a way that favored the government, while anti-government media houses reported the political events in a way that would tarnish the image of the All Progressive Congress (APC). This bias in news coverage made it difficult for voters to get accurate information about the candidates and the issues, and it undermined the public's trust in the media.

The mandate of the media is to provide accurate and unbiased information to the public. This mandate is especially important during elections, when voters need to make informed decisions about who to vote for. However, the pressure from political parties, interest groups, and the government to engage in biased reporting can make it difficult for the media to fulfill its mandate. To ensure that the media can fulfill its mandate, it is important to protect the independence of the media from political and economic interests. This can be done by ensuring that the media is free from government censorship and that journalists are not subject to threats or intimidation. It is also important to support the development of independent media outlets that are not beholden to any particular political party or interest group.

By addressing these challenges, we can help to ensure that the media can fulfill its mandate and provide the public with the information they need to make informed decisions about who to vote for in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.

1.3 Aims and Objectives

This study's particular emphasis is on examining newspaper coverage of the general elections in 2023. Both print and internet newspapers will be taken into account as data sources for the research. The articles published in the run-up to the elections, throughout the election campaign, and in the aftermath will be the main focus of the content analysis.

Depending on the particular context being researched, the study will contain newspapers from a wide variety of areas or nations. It's crucial to keep in mind that the research will not touch on other media types, such as social media platforms, radio, or television.

The focus of the study will be on how political parties, candidates, and election problems are portrayed in the newspaper stories. It will evaluate the reporting's impartiality, balance, and fairness and point out any biases, sensationalism, or distortion that may have been present. The research will also look at how various political parties, candidates, and election problems are presented and given emphasis in media reporting.

The purpose of the research is to provide light on how newspapers affect how people think about and talk about the general elections in 2023. It does not, however, seek to assess the overall influence of press coverage on political results or popular opinion. The emphasis is still on examining the features and substance of newspaper stories to comprehend their impact inside the provided

The general election coverage in newspapers in 2023 research has various important ramifications. First, it makes a contribution to the study of media and political communication by offering insightful information on how newspapers influence public opinion and election-related debate. The research provides insight into the scope, nature, and features of newspaper coverage during a significant democratic event by undertaking a thorough content analysis. A critical evaluation of the media's impact on the development of public opinion may be made by understanding how political parties, candidates, and election issues are depicted and the biases, if any, evident in the reporting.

The study's conclusions also have applications for media outlets, journalists, and election officials. The research may work as a manual for improving journalistic methods and guaranteeing responsible election coverage by assessing the objectivity, balance, and fairness of the reporting. Comparing how political figures and problems are handled differently might help reveal any biases that can present in the media environment. This may cause media outlets to evaluate their editorial procedures and seek to cover elections in a more fair and inclusive manner. By taking the results into account when creating rules or procedures to guarantee fair media coverage during election seasons, election authorities may also gain from this research.

Insights from the research on how the media affects how the public views the elections also have larger social implications. Democracy depends on elections, and a well-informed voter is essential to a functioning democratic system. Having a better understanding of how media coverage affects public opinion may result in a more educated and involved populace. The research might encourage conversations on media accountability, media literacy, and the value of fair and impartial reporting in democracies. Ultimately, this research may improve the overall openness, accountability, and integrity of the political process by providing insights into how the media affects public opinion.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the rise of the digital age has posed challenges to the traditional role of newspapers. However, there are still ways for newspapers to adapt to the digital age and continue to play an important role in democracy. By investing in quality journalism, focusing on local news, and using social media effectively, newspapers can continue to be a valuable source of information, a watchdog for government, and a forum for public debate.

The study of the role of newspapers in a democratic society is still in its early stages. There is much that we do not know about how newspapers can adapt to the digital age and continue to play an important role in democracy. However, by filling the literature gaps and conducting more research, researchers can help to better understand the role of newspapers in democratic societies and how they can adapt to the digital age.