NIGERIAN MEDIA AND THE PRESIDENCY

NEWSPAPERS FRAMING OF PRESIDENT BUHARI’S INTERNATIONAL TRIPS

Abstract

This study investigated newspaper framing of Buhari’s international trips with specific attention to tone of framing, sources of stories and frame used. Content analysis was used to achieve the study aim while the sample size was made up of four newspapers namely: The Punch, Daily Sun, Daily Trust and the Leadership newspapers. A total of 210 editions were selected for a period of three years. Data were collected using the code sheet while analyses were done with simple percentages and results presented in tables. Result showed that newspaper tone on Buhari’s overseas trips were largely neutral with sources mostly from the President’s media team. The stories were also found have framed the trips as a waste of public fund. The researcher recommends, among others, that newspapers in Nigeria should improve on their source selection to include expert sources who will provide detailed analysis of presidential trips.