A Review of the Relationship between Newspapers and Health Reporting in Nigeria: Reportage on Lassa fever in Edo State

Abstract

Lassa fever remains one of the deadliest diseases that the sub-Saharan Africa countries, especially Nigeria, have been battling with. This calls for the need to investigate if the newspaper has any role to play in this health issue; therefore, the Vanguard,Punch, TheGuardianandThisDaynewspaperswereselectedfor analysis. This study, which was anchored on the framing theory of the media, explored survey method of research. It covered the twelve-month period of May 2015 to June 2016. Three hundred and seventy-four (374) respondents were drawn from the three senatorial districts (Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central) in Edo State. Findings showed that the respondents were enthusiastic about the coverage given to Lassa fever outbreak by the newspapers, and that newspapers` reports have helped in increasing knowledge about Lassa fever. Based on these, the research concluded that the selected newspapers did pay attention to Lassa fever discourse, and took Lassa fever as an important issue. Among the recommendations made were that the media, particularly newspapers, should continually facilitate and sustain the discourse on Lassa fever, especially among policy makers, for them to make policies that would aid the people towards achieving good health. Also, newspapers should intensify their research on Lassa fever so that they can come up with more in-depth and detailed reports that will educate the public on the dangers of the disease, and on preventive measures they can adopt. Finally, the government and health institutions should provide an enabling environment for media to perform by providing them with required information about Lassa fever.