Newspapers and Disaster Risk Reduction in Nigeria: A Review

1.1  AbstractThe main purpose of the paper is to discuss the media role in disaster risk reduction. The role of mass media in the society cannot be overstated. It has been identified as a key stakeholder as it informs, educates, mobilizes, and entertains among other roles. As an agent of development, media is identified as a crucial factor in disaster management. The paper examines the role being played by Nigerian newspapers in curbing flood devastation. With the growing frequency and devastation of flood disaster globally and in Nigeria in particular, the need for all stakeholders to collaborate is more urgent. In Nigeria, flood is the commonest disaster and a perennial problem. However, as crucial as finding solutions to this problem is, few researches have been conducted on the role of media in disaster risk reduction. The review reveals that Nigerian media is not proactive but reactive in its involvement. Findings show that media largely get involved during and after disaster occurrences, reporting human misery, tragedy loss of lives and property. Also, it is confirmed that rather than seeing self as a vital stakeholder, media still considers self as observer or passive participant. The study concludes by calling on the media to collaborate more with other stakeholders, disseminate early warning information, educate populace ahead of flood incidents and play other vital roles to complement other stakeholders efforts in reducing disaster risks.Keywords: Disaster Risk Reduction; Nigerian newspapers; Flood; Media roles 

Disaster communication management: A study of Nigerian media and disaster managers in flood risk reduction

With increasing frequency and intensity of destruction being caused by flood globally, the need for stakeholders to collaborate is highly urgent. Media men and disaster managers, as key stakeholders in disaster management, have vital roles to play in reducing flood risks. However, as important as this role, there are few empirical studies on disaster communication before flood incidents and relationship of media men and disaster managers. This study, therefore, examines participation and collaborations of media and disaster managers in flood risk reduction. Its other objectives are to identify factors that affect the relationship and ascertain their communication expectations. Framing Theory and Relationship Management Theory were used to achieve the study‟s objectives. Mixed methods, which employed content analysis and in-depth interview was used for data collection. It takes the most devastating flood that occurred in 2012 as its case study. Content analysis of 485 flood related materials published from January 1-December 31, 2012 in two mainstream, English language newspapers (Punch and Trust) was done. Also, indepth interviews were conducted with 16 disaster managers and media men to expose the relationship between media and disaster managers. The interviews data were thematically analysed through NVivo10 while the content analysis was descriptively evaluated. This study finds that there was a low reportage of flood risk before occurrence. Only 90 out of 485 flood related materials were published at the pre-disaster stage. The findings show that media is not actively involved in disaster communication before flood occurrences while disaster managers also need to work efficiently to engender relationship that will guarantee effective communication and collaboration. Theoretically, the study extends the current knowledge on the topic and secondly it provides a better understanding of the concept of disaster communication

Newspapers and disaster risk reduction in Nigeria: A review

The main purpose of the paper is to discuss the media role in disaster risk reduction.The role of mass media in the society cannot be overstated. It has been identified as a key stakeholder as it informs, educates, mobilizes, and entertains among other roles.As an agent of development, media is identified as a crucial factor in disaster management.The paper examines the role being played by Nigerian newspapers in curbing flood devastation.With the growing frequency and devastation of flood disaster globally and in Nigeria in particular, the need for all stakeholders to collaborate is more urgent. In Nigeria, flood is the commonest disaster and a perennial problem.However, as crucial as finding solutions to this problem is, few researches have been conducted on the role of media in disaster risk reduction.The review reveals that Nigerian media is not proactive but reactive in its involvement.Findings show that media largely get involved during and after disaster occurrences, reporting human misery, tragedy loss of lives and property.Also, it is confirmed that rather than seeing self as a vital stakeholder, media still considers self as observer or passive participant. The study concludes by calling on the media to collaborate more with other stakeholders, disseminate early warning information, educate populace ahead of flood incidents and play other vital roles to complement other stakeholders efforts in reducing disaster risks

Evaluating the Participation of Nigerian Newspapers in Flood Disaster Risk Reduction

This study assessed the role played by the Nigerian media in flood risk reduction. It evaluates the content of two major newspapers in reportage of 2012 flood disaster. In 2012, worst flood disaster in the history of Nigeria occurred wreaking havoc in 30 out of its 36 states. Aftermath of the hazard, stakeholders traded blames and resolved to work together to reduce flood risk. Media is one of the key stakeholders in the society. It informs, educate and mobilize people for common goal, hence the need to examine role it played in 2012 flood disaster. The research method employed in this study is quantitative content analysis of two widely circulated Nigerian newspaper

Effective media involvement in flood disaster management in Nigeria: pressing problems and recommendations

The purpose of this paper is to identify and recommend solutions to pressing problems facing journalists and disaster managers in performing their roles in disaster risk reduction. Media and disaster management organisations play a crucial role in disaster management.Both disseminate information to the public about natural and man – made disasters.The frequency, magnitude and scale of destruction of flood in the recent time have been a source of concern to stakeholders.It was agreed that collaboration of stakeholders can reduce the risk of flood.However, research suggests that the relationship between journalists, disaster management organisations and other stakeholders need improvement.To assist in identifying the problems hindering effective collaboration, 16 informants were interviewed.The informants comprise media men from two leading national newspapers and disaster managers from four government–owned disaster management organisations in Nigeria.The interviews were analysed using NVIVO 10 software. Findings show that the duo interact less before disaster occurrence while relationship during and after disaster occurrence is largely fraught with distrust, tension, fighting, blaming and other crisis.There is inadequate coordination, collaboration and communication among journalists and disaster managers before disaster occurrence. This paper recommends that media need to be effectively cultivated as one of the critical public's of disaster management organisations. Media too should see self as stakeholder not an ordinary participant.A functional relationship with the media before flood disaster strikes would be of great benefit to stakeholders and national development

GE 13: The Influence of Ethnic Newspapers in Shaping the Opinion of Indian and Chinese Voters

This paper attempts to assess the role of Tamil and Chinese newspapers in exerting influence on Indian and Chinese voters, before and after Malaysia’s 2013 General Election (GE13). This study employs both content analysis and survey to examine media agenda and public agenda specifically the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. In total, 4,951 news items were obtained from two major language newspapers comprising Sin Chew, Nanyang Siang Pau, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban, during the election campaign period. These news items have been coded according to seventeen categories. A total of 754 Chinese and 183 Indians had participated in the public opinion survey conducted before the general election, and a total of 618 Chinese and 122 Indians responded after the general election. This study found that both Tamil and Chinese newspapers did not influence the agenda of the Chinese and Indian respondents nationwide. Politics appeared as the top issue reported in both ethnic newspapers while crime appeared as the most important issue of concern to both Chinese and Indian respondents

Scale Validity and Reliability of Social Media and Entrepreneurial Skill Development among Tertiary Institution Students in Nigeria

Social media has gained broader acceptability and usability and is fast becoming perhaps the most important communication tool in 21st Century. The acceptability of the social media has gained tremendous popularity among students especially at higher institution. Drawing from the foregoing point, the main purpose of the study thus is to examine the validity and reliability of the instruments on the nexus between social media adoption and entrepreneurial skills development among tertiary institution students in Nigeria focusing on the pilot study report. For the purpose of the pilot study, 100 students were selected from Al-Hikmah University and Kwara State University in Kwara State because of their serious commitment to entrepreneurial skills development for the quantitative aspect, while two artisans each from the universities were used for data collection in qualitative approach. Two instruments were used to collect data. First, an instrument titled “Social Media and Entrepreneurship Questionnaire (SMEQ)†was designed to get comprehensive information from the students. Second, an interview protocol tagged “Interview Protocol on Social Media Adoption and Entrepreneurship (IPMSAE)†was designed to elicit relevant information from the artisans. Both Statistical Package and Social Sciences (SPSS) and PLS-SEM Software were used to assess the psychometric properties of the adapted instruments. Also, thematic type of analysis was used to assess the credibility or otherwise of the interview protocol. Findings from qualitative approach reveal that Cronbach’s Alpha of the instrument loaded between 0.821 and 0.942 (Social Media Adoption: 0.885; Social Media and Addictive Behavior: 0.821; Entrepreneurial Skills: 0.942 and Self-Reliance: 0.914). Also, the use of PLS-SEM shows that composite reliability, crossloadings, average variance extracted (AVE) and discriminant validity loaded within the minimum benchmarks, indicating adequate validity and reliability of the instrument. Furthermore, transcription, coding and analysis of the interview collected show the trustworthiness and credibility of the protocol. Based on the findings of the study, it can be advanced that the findings of the study helped to establish adequate validity and reliability of the instruments used via quantitative and qualitative methods adopted. &nbsp

GE 13: the Influence of ethnic newspapers in shaping the opinion of Indian and Chinese voters

This paper attempts to assess the role of Tamil and Chinese newspapers in exerting influence on Indian and Chinese voters, before and after Malaysia’s 2013 General Election (GE13). This study employs both content analysis and survey to examine media agenda and public agenda specifically the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. In total, 4,951 news items were obtained from two major language newspapers comprising Sin Chew, Nanyang Siang Pau, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban, during the election campaign period. These news items have been coded according to seventeen categories. A total of 754 Chinese and 183 Indians had participated in the public opinion survey conducted before the general election, and a total of 618 Chinese and 122 Indians responded after the general election. This study found that both Tamil and Chinese newspapers did not influence the agenda of the Chinese and Indian respondents nationwide. Politics appeared as the top issue reported in both ethnic newspapers while crime appeared as the most important issue of concern to both Chinese and Indian respondents

GE 13: The influence of ethnic newspapers in shaping the opinion of Indian and Chinese voters

This paper attempts to assess the role of Tamil and Chinese newspapers in exerting influence on Indian and Chinese voters, before and after Malaysia’s 2013 General Election (GE13). This study employs both content analysis and survey to examine media agenda and public agenda specifically the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. In total, 4,951 news items were obtained from two major language newspapers comprising Sin Chew, Nanyang Siang Pau, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban, during the election campaign period. These news items have been coded according to seventeen categories. A total of 754 Chinese and 183 Indians had participated in the public opinion survey conducted before the general election, and a total of 618 Chinese and 122 Indians responded after the general election. This study found that both Tamil and Chinese newspapers did not influence the agenda of the Chinese and Indian respondents nationwide. Politics appeared as the top issue reported in both ethnic newspapers while crime appeared as the most important issue of concern to both Chinese and Indian respondents