ASSESSMENT OF PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate change is one of the world’s most debated issue that has taken over all aspects of scientific and non-scientific research desks for which Nigeria is not left out. It is on this note that this research work investigates the usage of print media coverage of climate change and related issues in Nigeria. The study adopted the content analysis method (quantitative and qualitative) and the use of questionnaires for public opinion survey in four disproportionately selected state capitals. Daily newspapers articles on stories with ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ were extracted and analyzed statistically for the period of six years from January, 2007 to December, 2012. The study revealed that 30% of the coverage of issues on climate change/global warming was highest in year 2008, 60% focused on opinion perspective while 40% accounted for policy perspective. In the newspapers, carbon (IV) oxide and greenhouse gas emission (56%) were suggested as major contributors to climate change. Among other effects of climate change, flooding (29%) and desertification (20%) were major issues reported in the dailies. The ministry of environment (federal and state) was scarcely mentioned among other environmental agencies due to low level of media publicity. However, the Lagos ministry of environment was noted as taking the lead in climate change campaign during the study period. Public opinion survey showed that 82% believe that climate change/global warming is not a major environmental concern as air pollution, 96% of the public recognized its evidences while most respondents get more awareness from the television (77%) than from the radio (58%), newspapers (58%) or the internet (50%). Keywords: Climate Change, Global Warming, Flooding, Desertification, Print media, Awareness