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Articles

Vol. 4 No. 1, June, 2017

Non-Governmental Organizations in the Eyes of Newspapers in Nigeria: 2013 – 2016 in Focus

  • Oscar Odiboh
  • Oladokun Omojola
  • Thelma Ekanem
  • Toluwalope Oresanya
Submitted
July 6, 2017
Published
2017-07-07

Abstract

This study examines the activities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria that attracted newspaper coverage. Nine NGO themes in 488 stories of four leading titles – Daily Trust, The Guardian, The Punch and ThisDay – published between 2013 and 2016, were studied. Findings show that 82 reports appeared, representing 17%. NGOs reports occupied the least prominent, inner pages of the newspapers. Whilst Daily Trust appeared as the best NGO-friendly newspaper, 95% of the overall reportage was found positive. Infant and maternal health attracted 28% attention ahead of eight other themes. Also discovered were 12 dailies of “zero report†of NGO activities by all the newspapers. Overall results confirm the assertions that NGOs are poorly reported in Nigeria. The study recommends the creation of newspaper columns for NGO stories and a forum that connects both journalists and NGO operators.