COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has presented a severe challenge to broadcasters globally. How broadcast media stations in Nigeria responded through their coverage is deserving of scholarly attention. How regulatory agencies performed their role during the out of the virus is equally wor...

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Main Authors: Auwalu Rabilu, QaribuYahaya Nasidi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria 2021-08-01
Series:Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.iannajournalofinterdisciplinarystudies.com/index.php/1/article/view/50
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author Auwalu Rabilu
QaribuYahaya Nasidi
author_facet Auwalu Rabilu
QaribuYahaya Nasidi
author_sort Auwalu Rabilu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has presented a severe challenge to broadcasters globally. How broadcast media stations in Nigeria responded through their coverage is deserving of scholarly attention. How regulatory agencies performed their role during the out of the virus is equally worthy of scholarly attention. Objective: This study assessed COVID-19 coverage by Kano State broadcast media. It also evaluated how the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), an agency saddled with regulating the broadcasting industry, responded in tackling violations during a public health emergency. Methodology: The researchers made use of a mixed-method: content analysis and documentary analysis. Content analysis was used to generate quantitative data, while documentary analysis was used for qualitative data through analysis of the Weekly Monitory Reports (WMRs). Results The paper found that the COVID-19 pandemic was given a third place on public station with 16% coverage and fourth position on a private station with about 15%. On information accuracy, the paper found that there were instances of inaccuracies about the virus as non-experts were severally featured on programmes, thus misleading the public. Conclusion: The paper concludes that Kano broadcasters paid attention to the pandemic but disregarded professionalism in so many instances as inaccuracies and misinformation were reported and acted upon by NBC. It is therefore recommended that NBC should not only amend emergency coverage provisions in the Code but come up with a broadcast policy on disaster and other crises emergencies as an antidote to unprofessional coverage as witnessed in some stations. Unique contribution: The study offered theoretical and practical contribution that explains how broadcasters report health emergency issues in radio stations. Key recommendation: National broadcasting commission should come up with a broadcast policy on disaster and other crises emergencies as a remedy to unprofessional coverage as witnessed in broadcast stations.
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spelling doaj.art-c9e4bff1cff6415494a77eca18022afb2023-11-09T11:04:20ZengDepartment of Mass Communication, University of NigeriaIanna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies2735-98832735-98912021-08-0131COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria Auwalu RabiluQaribuYahaya Nasidi Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has presented a severe challenge to broadcasters globally. How broadcast media stations in Nigeria responded through their coverage is deserving of scholarly attention. How regulatory agencies performed their role during the out of the virus is equally worthy of scholarly attention. Objective: This study assessed COVID-19 coverage by Kano State broadcast media. It also evaluated how the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), an agency saddled with regulating the broadcasting industry, responded in tackling violations during a public health emergency. Methodology: The researchers made use of a mixed-method: content analysis and documentary analysis. Content analysis was used to generate quantitative data, while documentary analysis was used for qualitative data through analysis of the Weekly Monitory Reports (WMRs). Results The paper found that the COVID-19 pandemic was given a third place on public station with 16% coverage and fourth position on a private station with about 15%. On information accuracy, the paper found that there were instances of inaccuracies about the virus as non-experts were severally featured on programmes, thus misleading the public. Conclusion: The paper concludes that Kano broadcasters paid attention to the pandemic but disregarded professionalism in so many instances as inaccuracies and misinformation were reported and acted upon by NBC. It is therefore recommended that NBC should not only amend emergency coverage provisions in the Code but come up with a broadcast policy on disaster and other crises emergencies as an antidote to unprofessional coverage as witnessed in some stations. Unique contribution: The study offered theoretical and practical contribution that explains how broadcasters report health emergency issues in radio stations. Key recommendation: National broadcasting commission should come up with a broadcast policy on disaster and other crises emergencies as a remedy to unprofessional coverage as witnessed in broadcast stations. http://www.iannajournalofinterdisciplinarystudies.com/index.php/1/article/view/50Corona virus Disease (COVID-19), Strategies, Engineering, Environmental, Health
spellingShingle Auwalu Rabilu
QaribuYahaya Nasidi
COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Corona virus Disease (COVID-19), Strategies, Engineering, Environmental, Health
title COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
title_full COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
title_fullStr COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
title_short COVID-19: Tele-Regulation of Broadcast Coverage of Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria
title_sort covid 19 tele regulation of broadcast coverage of public health emergencies in nigeria
topic Corona virus Disease (COVID-19), Strategies, Engineering, Environmental, Health
url http://www.iannajournalofinterdisciplinarystudies.com/index.php/1/article/view/50
work_keys_str_mv AT auwalurabilu covid19teleregulationofbroadcastcoverageofpublichealthemergenciesinnigeria
AT qaribuyahayanasidi covid19teleregulationofbroadcastcoverageofpublichealthemergenciesinnigeria