PERCEPTION OF NEWSPAPER FRAMING OF COVID-19 VACCINATION AMONG SELECT COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Acceptance of COVID -19 vaccines is still low in Nigeria despite a situation of public danger COVID -19 pandemic poses; and the assurance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the vaccines have been proven to be safe, effective and life-saving. The way the media reports on the vaccine may influence how the people perceive and respond to it. The study is anchored on Agenda Setting and Framing theories to investigate how residents of Delta state, Nigeria perceived how online and print newspaper framed news on COVID-19 vaccines. The study adopted survey design and sample 385 respondents out of total of 4,112,445 population of Delta state, Nigeria. The study found that newspaper to a great extent created awareness on COVID -19 vaccines but there is no relationship between the awareness created and the respondents’ response of the vaccine. Both print and online newspaper adopted mainly “Side Effect” frame in COVID-19 vaccines reportage which negatively affected Delta state residents’ perception of the vaccine. The study therefore recommended that the newspaper should strategically frame news and information on COVID-19 vaccination so as to control public perception and decision in a direction that can bring the pandemic under control.