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Public Relations and the Dialectics of Newspapers Coverage of Health Issues in Nigeria
(Jos Journal of Media & Communication Studies, 2023) Ashiekpe James A.
The study examines the extent to which public relations influences the dialectics of newspapers coverage of health issues in Nigeria with the aim of determining how public relations programmes, materials and activities of health interest groups and organisations influences the focus and tone of health articles in selected newspapers in Nigeria. The study is anchored on agenda-building framework derived from Agenda Setting Theory of McCombs and Shaw (1972) which refers to the ability of the news media to impact how important the public understands an issue; and the Information Subsidy Theory of Oscar Gandy (1982) which refers to an effort to influence others by providing information in a controlled manner at a lower cost than it would be were the user to gather it on his or her own. Content and textual analysis were adopted as the research design with three national dailies (Thisday, The Punch and Daily Trust), and News Releases of five interest groups and organisations as the subjects of study from which a sample size of 80 newspaper articles and 12 news releases was drawn. Findings of the study show that articles on health issues in the three newspapers relied 78.5% on public relations activities and materials of health interest groups and organisations. The study also found that the public relations influenced the dialectic narratives of the health issues covered. Further findings reveal that public relations exerts overwhelming influence on the dialectics of health information in Nigerian newspapers; and that health interest groups and organisations in Nigeria strategically influences and dictates the tone of news coverage of health issues through their targeted public relations activities and materials to determine the discursive constructions of health issues in line with their targeted behavioural contexts. On the basis of the findings, the study concludes that public relations is a primary influence on the various genres of health stories in Nigerian newspapers.
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Public Perception of the Interplay of Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech in the Nigerian Media During the 2023 General Elections
(Nasarawa Journal of Multimedia and Communication Studies, 2024) Anule, Emmanuel Guma; Ashiekpe, James A.
The study examines the complex dynamics between freedom of expression and the rise of hate speech within the Nigerian media landscape during the critical 2023 General Elections. It investigates public perceptions of these fundamental aspects of communication and their implications for the democratic process in a democratic society. Employing a mixed-methods approach rooted in plZ1gmatism and social construction of reality theory, the research utilizes qualitative and quantitative data gathered through surveys and interviews, employing questionnaires and interview guides as instruments. The study focuses on the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with a population of 1,693,400, drawing a sample of 384 from various districts. Findings reveal that the media significantly influences public perceptions or freedom of expression and hate speech, with news biases, language trends, and differing viewpoints shaping attitudes toward these concepts in electoral discourse. Factors such as tone and language, context and intent, source credibility, verifiability, emotional appeal, and historical context were found to influence public perception during the 2023 elections, with audiences holding a negative view of the media's role as political tools. The study concludes that stakeholders, including media practitioners, politicians, policymakers, and the public, must promote a communication environment that upholds democratic values to mitigate the adverse effects of hate speech during critical political events. Recommendations include clarifying regulatory frameworks on hate speech, media self-regulation to prevent incitement to violence, imposing sanctions on offenders, and enhancing media programmes for the public to critically evaluate information.
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