Dearth of Media reportage of environmental issues in Nigeria: Need for innovation and adoption of green culture to curb environmental decay

Abstract

Environmental degradation has become a significant challenge of our time, from the rising temperature emanating from the depletion of the Ozone layer, shrinking of forest reserves, flooding, and pollution, to man-made disasters that affect the environment. The world, especially the global south, including Africa (Nigeria), has continued to experience multiple consequences emanating from exacerbated environmental woes. The media plays a massive role in mounting surveillance on the environment for proper environmental management. The media is also seen as the driving force behind adopting pro-environmental behavior among citizens. How the media reports and persuades citizens to be environmentally correct will determine the robustness of the environment. It, therefore, becomes pertinent to gauge how much surveillance the media – the watchdog of society - mounts on the environment. This study employed content analysis to assess how much attention and the quality of attention the media pays to environmental issues. The study utilized the media production frame to understand and explain what influences (environmental) content creation in the media. The study finds that both the quantum and quality of media attention to environmental issues are dismal. The results revealed that only 754 stories were reported by the four newspapers analyzed within the two-year study period, and of the 754 stories reported, only eight were editorials. This study argues that it takes more than the media to create awareness about environmental sustainability. This research addressed this gap by recommending a national system of innovation and adaptation of green culture - where all the environmental stakeholders – the public and private sectors, and the media would synergistically address environmental challenges through mitigation and adaptation measures that will bring about the right policies, perception, attitude, and support to the sustenance of the environment.