Climate change and environmental sustainability: An analysis of coverage of environmental issues by the graphic newspaper, Kogi state

Abstract

This study uses content analyses to examine media coverage concerning influence of climate change on environmental issues by Graphic newspaper Kogi State. The aim is to ascertain efforts of print media on environmental sustainability. Specific objectives set to be achieved by the study were to examine the frequency, prominence, story types and various framings given to environmental issues as published by the Graphic newspaper. With the set objective, the study is hinged on a framework of Agenda Setting and Framing Theories by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw. A quantitative method of data collection on twenty-eight (28) selected Graphic newspaper issues published between April to October 2020, were content analyzed. From the analysis, the study reveals that the frequency of coverage given to environmental related issues is very low, there also exists very insignificant level of prominence in coverage given to stories related to environmental sustainability. Further, findings by the present study revealed that, rather than reporting environmental issues on the cover page to inform readers about environmental related events as important happenings around them, environmental related issues were reported within the inner pages of the paper. The theoretical lens of Agenda Setting and Framing theories framework, have adequately served in the achievement of the study objectives. The study therefore recommends among other things more proactive measures to the reporting of climate and environmental issues, a more educative and precautionary approach towards environmental reporting and cooperation with environmental experts for professional inputs.