Newspaper Coverage Of Sports News In Nigeria: A Content Analysis Of Vanguard And Nation Newspapers

The issue of news coverage in Nigeria has generated interest from all works of life. Argument arise as a result of what is considered inadequate coverage of sports news by Nigerian newspaper. This study analyze the contents of two Nigeria dailies - Vanguard and Nation newspapers with the aim of finding how far they have gone in the coverage of sports events in Nigeria. Content analysis method was used to select a representative size of 48 issues of the newspapers from a target population of 315 using a simple random sampling technique. Coding sheet was used as the instrument of data collection, just as tables and simple percentage were used for presentation and analysis of data. Research findings show that Nigerian newspapers do not give adequate coverage to sports news. The study concludes that, newspapers should allot more pages to reporting sports. Hence recommends that sports news stories should be given prominent display in Nigerian newspapers.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The responsibilities of newspaper houses as social institutions cannot be over emphasized, it is not therefore an over statement to point out here that the co-existence of the society and the functionality of government and its agencies are the reason the news paper exist. This means that the news house have responsibilities that are meant to keep the society in peace, unity and progress.

However, the mass media are the collective network of a journalists channels and instruments that are responsibility for gathering and dissemination of information to the heterogeneous audience. Among other function of the mass media to the masses are information, sports and entertainment responsibilities.

The mass media owe the society the duty of always upholding the principles, views, ideas and acts that promote stability, unity and mutual co-existence in the society.

On the other hand, is sports which is very broad in its enlarged form. Sports means A series of physical activities which includes soccer, judo, volleyball, athletics, basketball and tabled tennis. Most sports can also be undertaken as recreation.

In this light, it is pertinent at this juncture, to state that the purpose of the research work is to x-ray the coverage of sports programme by the mass media.

The News Paper in Nigeria

The history of the newspaper in Nigeria can be traced down to the days of colonialism and through the white. Meanwhile, mass media is divided into two, the print and electronic (broadcast) media. For better and productive study of this research work, the two divisions of the mass media will be discussed separately. The print media (press) constitutes the newspaper, magazines, books and other journals. This division of the mass media has its roots to an Anglican revered by name, Henry Townsend, who published the first newspaper in Nigeria title "Iwo -Irohin" in 1859 and was later translated in English language. The paper was not politically oriented.

The Broadcast Media

The segment of the broadcast media is made up of radio and television; like the print, the broadcast media has it history in Nigeria in the early 1930"s when the British Broadcast Commission (BBC) started the first world regular scheduled short wave services radio station with receiving stations in Lagos, Ibadan and Kano.

Sports Coverage in Nigeria

When coverage of sports started, it was the newspaper, that is the print media that started it, later radio follows but radio based on sports commentaries. Television was the last of the media to start sports coverage.

Meanwhile, mass media coverage of sports starts with the coverage of football. The mass media starts their coverage of sports immediately participating countries for the competition are grouped. This means that, the mass media starts their coverage from the preliminary stage. The mass media always follow up the coverage right from selection of the players to the selection of the team managers, coaches, their practices and also the tournament they are vying for. The mass media will not only cover the sports, but will also reveal the finance budget for the tournament.

Furthermore, they will also give the history of the sports and number of countries that have won in the past tournament, detailing the number of goals, number of penalty kicks, players, names of goals scorers, position of the goal scorers.

The media also tells the target audience about football field if they are up to standard. Likewise they tells the mind and spirit of the referees and the reactions of the spectators.

1.2 Statement of Research Problem

The problem under investigation is the media coverage of sports programme in Nigeria.

This will uncover the role f the mass media in the said coverage and suggest ways of improving what this study sees as insufficient and inadequate coverage.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objective of the study is to analyse newspaper sport coverage In Nigeria. Also it is to analyze the performance of the media in providing speedy, efficient, effective and qualitative sports coverage.Using the Vanguard and Nation newspapers as case study.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The relevance of the study is to give an insight into the effective of the mass media in promoting sports programmes.

Sports reporting and entertainment has grown from a popular pastime to a lucrative profession today.

Sports is the thing all over the world and could be seen as a strong unifying influence for world traumatized by many vices chiefly amongst whom is terrorism.

There are many sporting activities going on in many places throughout the year especially in the area of football ranging from the professional league here in Nigeria to English Premier league and to International Sporting Festivals like the African cup of Nations, Common Wealth Games, the Olympic games and the world cup.

Sports writers today have organized themselves into professional associations world wide and continually organize seminars and symposia to train and re-train their members as to update their knowledge and get them equipped for the challenges of modern sports reporting.

Finally, Fred Siebert 1963, stated the functional paradigm for analyzing mass media functions in the society.

Servicing the political system by providing information, discussion and debate on public life.

Enlightening the public so as to make it capable of self government.

Safeguarding the rights of the individual by serving as a watchdog against government.

Providing entertainment.

1.5 Research Questions

The following question have been asked in this study.

What were the sports themes covered or reported in Nigerian Newspapers?

What is the direction of Newspaper coverage of sports issues in Nigeria with reference to Information, development and entertainment stories

How did the Newspapers report sports issues?

What is the proportion of coverage given to each level of sports?

What is the prominence ascribed to sports story reported in Nigerian newspapers?

1.6 Assumptions

The research assumes that the mass media operating in Nigeria attain objectivity in their reporting of sports programmes. The researcher also assumes that the mass media coverage of sports influence the society"s perception of sports in Nigeria.. it is assumed further that the mass media participate in the coverage of sports programes in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope

This study seeks to analyse sport coverage by Vanguard and the nation newspapers in Nigeria.

Recommendation and Conclusion

5.1 Conclusion

From the study, newspaper sports coverage in Nigeria has been highlighted. It has further given credence to the symbiotic relationship between sports and the media. Based on this study, it is established that without the media constantly beaming its spotlight on sporting events and athletes, neither their exceptional talents nor the entertainment and commercial value of sports would have been realized.

From the findings, a scholarly conclusion can be drawn unequivocally that the media have robust media content with reference to sports publications. However, the various subject matter especially issues such as: standard up grade, curricular monitoring, teachers" welfare and students unrest which have been identified as bane and worrisome factors hindering Nigerian sports sector are not professionally or critically examined and where the papers did, those issues are not punchy or assertive enough to propel sports stakeholders to action or may be those crucial issues are not media agenda hence, little were said on the said crucial sports issues.

Sports publication coverage should not be commoditized. Hence, journalists and sports correspondents should move round the three levels of sports to interact with sports stakeholders and engage in intellectual discourses so that service delivery can be monitored along with national objectives and philosophy of Nigeria sports. Consequently, the media should partner with sports stakeholders as well as inform the public accordingly.

The advocacy is that the media should help to probe the sector at least expose the lapses in sports sector so that concerned stakeholders can come to the rescue in revamping the ailing sector. The media should not think it is a favour done on Nigerians but it is part of their corporate social responsibility to inform and educate Nigerian citizens.

5.2 Recommendations

The following recommendations are made:

Concerted efforts should be put in place to encourage greater media coverage of sports by liberalizing the media to encourage more investors to come on board and establish more media outfits in every corner of Nigeria.

Adequate funding of the media and sports in Nigeria is also another critical factor in sports development. Media owners should evolve ways of generating, appropriating and utilizing of funds for sports development.

The mass media should be given freedom to seek information and express them as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The sports development policy has to be regularly reviewed to accommodate greater role for the media in sports development and sustained partnership between sports administrators and the media.

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