Framing of Oil Spillage and Gas Flaring in Rivers State in Three Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

Background: Oil spillage and gas flaring constitute some of the environmental pollutions confronting humanity, especially in oil producing countries and communities, like those in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This situation affects aquatic and human lives, with economic, social and health consequences. Amid these consequences, communication scholars are unanimous about the efficiency of framing of an issue such as oil spillage and gas flaring by the mass media on policy making and salvaging of situations.

Objective: The study aimed at ascertaining how Punch, Vanguard and Daily Trust newspapers framed oil spillage and gas flaring in Rivers State, from January 2022 to December 2023.

Methods: The study adopted content analysis as its research design, thus studying 504 editions of the newspapers selected through composite week sampling. The code sheet served as the instrument for data gathering.

Result: The study found that opinions of experts on oil spillage and gas flaring in Rivers State were not given serious attention by the Punch, Vanguard, Daily Trust newspapers. The study has shown that geo-political depiction of Nigerian newspapers does not influence their framing of oil spillage and gas flaring, rather their editorial policy.

Contribution: The study concludes that a more scientific approach to framing of environmental pollution in Nigeria has not been given serious attention to by newspapers in the country.

Unique contribution: This study provides empirical evidence for understanding newspaper framing of environmental issues.

Key recommendation: Nigerian newspapers should place importance on the opinions of environmental experts, as this will ensure that a more scientific approach is taken to framing oil spillage and gas flaring in the country.