Coverage of Covid-19 pandemic by select online nigerian newspapers

This study was conducted to determine the reportage of Covid -19 by online versions of six Nigerian newspapers, namely; Tribune, Punch, Vanguard, the Nation, Daily Trust, and Leadership. The study was hinged on the media dependency theory. The researcher adopted content analysis method while coding was used as instrument of data collection. The population for the study comprised 31 editions for each of the six mainstream online newspapers published between 29th April, 2021 and 29th May, 2021. Chi-square test was used as instrument for testing data and hypothesis. Findings revealed that Covid -19 was not adequately reported by the select newspapers, and that the media gave low coverage to Covid -19 in relation to coverage of other health-related areas in the post-lockdown COVID-19 era. However, the findings indicated that in the online newspaper sites, stories published have greater elements of permanency than the prints in that they are reflected in the days or weeks that follow after being published until they are moved to previous page(s). This permanency was not limited to Covid -19 related stories but all other stories. It is suggested that media, especially newspapers should give more coverage to Covid -19 until World Health Organization (WHO) declares that the pandemic is over.