Comparative Analysis Of Agricultural News Covered By Federal, Stated Owned And Privately Owned Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

This study investigated the frequency of agricultural news coverage in three Nigerians newspapers. The three papers were the Federal Government Daily Times, the Rivers State Government Tide, and a Privately owned and well read The Guardian. The objective of the study was to compare the extent of agricultural news coverage among the three newspapers. The newspapers were selected on a six monthly basis and the number of times an agricultural information appeared in the paper recorded. It was found that the level of coverage of agricultural news was generally very low in all three newspapers but The Daily times recorded the highest number of agricultural news, followed by The Tide. This is not very encouraging because the newspapers were supposed to be effective channels of agricultural information. It is therefore recommended that both federal and state governments should give more space to agricultural news and related items to allow for adequate coverage. Agricultural Extension experts with bias for agricultural communication should be employed into some of these news paper corporations so that they can provide balance in news coverage.

Keywords: agricultural news, Daily Times, the Tide, The Guardian, frequency of covereage

Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 10 (1) 2005: pp. 60-64