REPRESENTATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GUARDIAN AND

THE PUNCH NEWSPAPERS

BY

DANIEL, TAIWO

MATRIC NUMBER: 14/2803

A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MASS

COMMUNICATION, VERONICA ADELEKE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
SCIENCES, IN PATIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE (BSc. HONS) DEGREE
IN MASS COMMUNICATION
BABCOCK UNIVERSITY,
ILISHAN REMO
OGUN STATE

SUPERVISOR

MR. OLOMOJOBI, OLUWAFEMI

APRIL 2020

i
 DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to God. The source of my life and my existence.

ii
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My earnest gratitude goes firstly to God almighty who has brought me thus far in life and

has secured my future.

I am profoundly grateful to my beloved parents Mr. Christopher Fola Daniel and Mrs.

Christine Folasade Daniel for their love and guidance in all my endeavours.

My candid gratitude goes to my lecturer Dr. Patricia Ernest Onuiri and to my project

supervisor Mr. Oluwafemi Olomojobi who were both instrumental in the successful completion of

this research project.

I am also extremely grateful to all the faculty members of the department of mass

communication and other staff at Babcock University, who were very supportive in the

accomplishment of my academic endeavour at the institution.

iii
 ABSTRACT
Media coverage of persons with disabilities in Nigeria has brought some attention to the needs of
persons with disabilities in the Nigerian society. However, there is more to be done in this aspect.
The main objective of this study was to examine the coverage pattern of Nigerian newspapers in the
representation of persons with disabilities. The agenda-setting theory, framing theory and
development media theory provided the theoretical framework for the study.
Using the content analysis research method, two Nigerian newspapers – The Punch and The
Guardian – were purposively selected. The complete enumeration technique was used to study the
entire weekday and weekend editions of the two newspapers published between January 1, 2019
and June 30, 2019, resulting in a sample size of 362 editions. A total of 407 contents were found,
coded, and analysed. Results were presented in frequency tables and charts.
The findings showed that the newspapers were primarily positive in their reportage on persons with
disabilities. The newspapers did not give adequate prominence to persons with disabilities because
most of the stories were placed on the inside pages. The newspaper coverage was mostly through
news reports, photographs and features – which to some extent gave a first-hand account of the
experience of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. The study concluded that the selected national
newspapers were active in representing persons with disabilities in Nigeria. The study
recommended increasing depth of coverage through the use of editorials which have a more
analytical nature, and to improve the prominence of coverage by increasing contents about persons
with disabilities that appear on the front page.

Key words: Persons with disabilities, challenges, discrimination, representation, newspapers.

Word count: 254

iv
 CERTIFICATION

I, Daniel Taiwo, hereby certify that this research work was carried out in the department of Mass

Communication for the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) from Veronica Adeleke School of

Social Sciences, (VASSS) Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

_________________ ____________
Daniel Taiwo Date
Researcher

____________________ ____________
Mr. Olomojobi Oluwafemi Date
Supervisor

_________________ ____________
Dr. Adekoya Helen Date
Head of Department

_________________ ____________
External Examiner Date

v
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page
Title Page i
Dedication ii
Acknowledgement iii
Abstract iv
Certification/Approval page v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 5

1.3 Objectives of the Study 6

1.4 Research Questions 7

1.5 Significance of the Study 7

1.6 Scope of the Study 8

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms 8

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.0 Introduction 11

2.1 Conceptual Review 11

2.1.1 Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria 11

2.1.2 Categories of Disability 12

2.1.3 Constitutional Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria 12

vi
2.1.4 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018 13

2.1.5 The Culture of Perception towards Persons with Disabilities 14

2.1.6 The Guardian Newspaper 15

2.1.7 The Punch Newspaper 15

2.2 Theoretical Framework 16

2.2.1 Agenda-Setting Theory 17

2.2.1.1 Relevance of the Agenda-Setting Theory to the Study 18

2.2.2 Framing Theory 18

2.2.2.1 Relevance of the Framing Theory to the Study 20

2.2.3 Development Media Theory 21

2.2.3.1 Relevance of the Development Media Theory to the Study 22

2.3 Review of Empirical Studies 23

2.4 Summary of Literature 25

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction 26

3.1 Research Design 26

3.2 Population of the Study 26

3.3 Sample Size 27

3.4 Sampling Technique 27

3.5 Research Instrument 28

3.6 Reliability of Research Instrument 30

3.7 Validity of Research Instrument 30

3.8 Administration of Research Instrument 31

3.9 Method of Data Analysis 31

vii
 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.0. Introduction

32

4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis

33

4.2. Discussion of Findings

42

4.3. Limitations of the Study

45

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary 47

5.2. Conclusions 49

5.3 Recommendations 49

5.4. Suggestion for Further Studies 50

References 51

Appendix. 54

viii
 LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

3.2.1 Population of the study from January – June 2019 27

4.1.1 Summary of Publications and Stories Analysed 33

4.1.2 Frequency of Coverage of Persons with Disabilities 34

4.1.3 Formats of Coverage of Persons with Disabilities 35

4.1.4 Forms of Disability reported in the selected newspapers 36

4.1.5 Level of Prominence accorded Persons with Disabilities in the selected newspapers

38

4.1.6 Depth of Coverage of Persons with Disabilities 39

4.1.7 Tone of coverage of persons with disabilities 41

ix
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

4.1.1 Coverage on Persons with Disabilities across Selected Months 34

4.1.2 Formats of Coverage on Persons with Disabilities 35

4.1.3 Nature of Disability reported in the selected newspapers 37

4.1.4 Level of Prominence accorded Persons with Disabilities 38

4.1.5 Depth of Coverage on Persons with Disabilities 40

4.1.6 Tone of Coverage on Persons with Disabilities 41

x
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The influence of the media on human perception has constituted a major discourse amongst

scholars and media professionals. Cunningham (2016) opined that “the last five hundred years has

recorded significant influence of mass media on human perception, with an exponential growth

owing to the advancements in technology” (p. 1). Most people rely on information and

communication delivered through multiple platforms to keep abreast of happenings, get informed

and meet their needs.

In the same vein, Sanchez (2010) clarified the influence of the media by saying that the media

suggests to people the issues that are of importance in the world (p. 5).

Cunningham (2016) supported this statement in his assertion that “to a great extent, people depend

on the mass media for current news and facts, to create a sense about what is and is not important;

in essence, as communicators of politics, culture and information” (p. 1).

In the discourse on increasing and improving the portrayal of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in

the media, published by Fundación ONCE (2008), it was pointed out that:

“there is a general perception that persons with disabilities, who

constitute 10% of the world population (World Bank, 2004), are
clearly underrepresented in mainstream media. While there are some
disability-specific media programmes, advertising campaigns, or
television documentaries, disabled people rarely appear as part of
mainstream programmes. Moreover, when persons with disabilities
appear in media, they are portrayed stigmatized and stereotyped,
appearing either as having made a super heroic feat, an
accomplishment of endurance; or as objects of pity and compassion.
Very few people with disabilities work in the media industry which is
clearly the best way to mainstream disability in the media” (p. 7).

1
In view of the fact that the media has the capacity to shape people’s perception because they trust

the media as an authority for news, information, education and entertainment; it could be agreed

with Cunningham (2016), that “mass media is an important force in modern culture which could be

used to increase and/or improve the portrayal of persons with disabilities in the media” (p. 1). This

assertion is also in agreement with Sanchez (2010) who wrote that “how persons with disabilities

are portrayed and the frequency with which they appear in the media has an enormous impact on

how they are regarded in society” (p. 5).

It is however, opined by the Department for International Development (DFID) (2000) that

“disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Moreover, disability and poverty reinforce

each other, which consecutively contributes to the increased vulnerability and exclusion of persons

with disabilities” (p. 1). But Sanchez (2010) states that “including them in regular programmes on

television and radio in addition to other types of media can help provide fair and balanced

representation and helps to counter commonplace stereotypes that perpetuate negative perceptions

of disabled persons” (p. 5).

The World Health Organisation and World Bank (2011) defines disability as “the umbrella

term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, referring to the negative

aspects of the interaction between an individual (with a health condition) and that individual’s

contextual factors (environmental and personal factors)” (p. 4). Disability is not rare as it

constitutes an estimated one billion people standing at about 15 percent of the world’s population

(WHO & World Bank, 2011). Disability is more prevalent in low-income and middle-income

countries than in high-income countries, and among older age groups (WHO & World Bank, 2011;

Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014).

Persons with disabilities are diverse and not defined by their disability (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 14;

WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 7). The United Nations General Assembly Convention on the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that, “persons with disabilities include those who have

2
long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various

barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”

(Article 1).

Thus, disability is not just a health problem but a complex phenomenon that reflects the

interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.

It is also seen to include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory

impairment which in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinders their

full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. It is also important to note

that a person with disabilities may be regarded as a person with a disability in one society or

setting, but not in another, depending on the role that the person is assumed to take in his or her

community. The perception and reality of disability also depends on the technologies, assistance

and services available, as well as in cultural consideration.

According to the World Health Organization/World Bank World Report on Disability in 2011,

persons with disabilities comprise approximately 15% or 1 billion of the world’s population.

However, these one billion people are often excluded from political life. The United Nations in

1992 proclaimed 3rd December of each year as the international day for disabled persons.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) generally lack resources, skills and opportunities often available

to other members of the society. PWDs are marginalised socially, economically and politically and

are frequently treated as a subordinate group within society as posited by Adekunle (2013).

Evidence of such marginalisation of PWDs can be found in research that suggests that PWDs

experience abuse at rates 4 to 10 times higher than the rate for people without disabilities (Sobsey,

Wells, Lucardie, & Mansell, 1995). The rate of disability abuse is supposed to be reduced

significantly only if the media supports and influences the rights of PWDs enshrined in the

3
Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) ACT, 2018 and also increase the

scope and coverage of PWDs in Nigeria.

On January 23, 2019 President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Disability

Discrimination prohibition Act, 2018. This act provides for the full integration of persons with

disabilities into the society and establishes the National Commission with the responsibilities for

their education, health care, social, economic and civil rights. The World Health

Organization/World Bank World Report on Disability in 2011, indicated that about 25 million

Nigerians had at least one disability while 3.6 million of these had very significant difficulties in

functioning. Meanwhile, the 2006 Nigerian census reported 3,253,169 people or 2.32 percent of

the total population of 140,431,790 people with disabilities in that year. Many of them face a

number of human rights abuses including stigma, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to

healthcare, housing, and education including participation in politics.

Nigeria ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(CRPD) in 2007 and its Optional Protocol in 2010. Since then, civil society groups and people with

disabilities called on the government to put it into practice. In 2011 and 2015, the National

Assembly passed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2009, but

former President Goodluck Jonathan declined to sign it into law. The bill for the new law was

passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate joint committee in November 2016, but was

not sent to the current President, Muhammadu Buhari for his signature until December 2018. On

January 17, Buhari denied on national television that he had received the bill. Hundreds of people

protested, and barely five days later, he signed the bill into law. This is an example of how the

media sets the agenda for the audience while fulfilling its social responsibility role towards

ensuring the well-being of the society as a whole.

4
The disability rights law enacted in January 2019 by the National Assembly of the Federal republic

of Nigeria, now prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and imposes sanctions including

fines and prison sentences on those who contravene it. It also stipulates a five-year transitional

period for modifying public buildings, structures, and automobiles to make them accessible and

usable for people with disabilities. The law will also establish a National Commission for Persons

with Disabilities, responsible for ensuring that people with disabilities have access to housing,

education, and healthcare. The Commission will be empowered to receive complaints of rights

violations and support victims to seek legal redress amongst other duties.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Contemporary history has it that persons with disabilities have been excluded from exercising

their human rights, including the right to political participation. The United Nation Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) responds to this circumstance and provides a

holistic solution. Article 29 of the CRPD addresses the design and implementation of an electoral

process that is non-discriminatory, while also requiring states to provide voters with disability-

related accommodations and other facilitative measures to enable their equal right to vote and to

participate in the society.

Yet to date, what little attention has been paid to the integration of disabled persons into the

society has focused on the validity and scope of exclusions, and neither courts nor legislators have

turned to the positive side of the ledger, namely, how to enable individuals with disabilities to

exercise their franchise. Emerging practices around the globe nonetheless bear out that persons with

disabilities can be successfully incorporated in all phases of society.

According to the World Health Organisation’s 2011 World Disability Report, about 15% of

Nigeria’s population is disabled. This constitutes a sum of at least 25 million in Nigeria’s over 150

million population (WHO & World Bank, 2011). Majority of PWDs are only partially affected by

5
their condition and can function in other areas of their lives but majority of the people living with

disabilities have been excluded from exercising their human rights, including the right to political

participation. The discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018 is to

empower authorities to adequately protect persons with disabilities against discrimination or social

exclusion. The enforcement of this law is to ensure equal treatment and participation of people with

disabilities across Nigeria.

Media framing of the challenges of persons with disabilities and the prominence of stories

involving persons with disabilities have brought some attention to the need for PWDs to gain

equality in Nigerian society. But there is more that needs to be done in this aspect. Since the

discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018 was signed into law, media

framing with regard to PWDs has been on the low side. PWDs have always been at the centre of

events and happenings but it appears that the media is lagging behind in PWDs reporting. During

the period of the 2019 general elections, the International Press Center released findings that PWDs

and the youth are the least reported by the media. These facts hereby footholds the purpose of this

research study which is to survey the representation of persons with disabilities in Nigerian

newspapers, using The Punch and The Guardian newspapers as a case study. The desire to provide

support for the participation of persons with disabilities in the Nigerian society in order to facilitate

the fulfilment of their civic responsibilities, constitutes the basis of this study.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to examine the extent to which selected Nigerian

newspapers represent persons with disabilities. Hence, the specific objectives are:

1. To assess the frequency of reportage on persons with disabilities in The Guardian and The

Punch newspapers.

6
 2. To ascertain the formats of presentation used in the coverage on persons with disabilities in

The Guardian and The Punch newspapers.

3. To find out the forms of disability reported in The Guardian and The Punch newspapers.

4. To identify the prominence placed on persons with disabilities in The Guardian and The

Punch Newspapers.

5. To determine the depth of coverage on persons with disabilities in The Guardian and The

Punch newspapers.

6. To determine the tone of coverage on persons with disabilities in The Guardian and The

Punch newspapers.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the frequency of reportage on persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers?

2. What are the formats used in the coverage on persons with disabilities in the selected

newspapers?

3. What forms of disability are reported in the selected newspapers?

4. What is the level of prominence accorded persons with disabilities in the selected

newspapers?

5. What is the depth of coverage on persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers?

6. What is the tone of coverage on persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers?

1.5 Significance of the Study

It is clear from figures that the number of persons with disabilities in Nigeria is significant

and cannot be ignored. Disability is a human rights issue because persons with disabilities

experience inequalities – for example, when they are denied equal access to health care,

employment, education, or political participation because of their disability. Persons with

disabilities are subject to violations of dignity – for example, when they are subjected to violence,
7
abuse, prejudice, or disrespect because of their disability. Some people with disability are denied

autonomy – for example, when they are subjected to involuntary sterilisation, or when they are

confined in institutions against their will, or when they are regarded as legally incompetent because

of their disability.

In view of the human rights violations against persons with disabilities and recent laws to protect

PWDs from marginalisation, this research work will educate and enlighten the media organisations

on how to adequately portray PWDs in order to attract the attention of relevant bodies. The

outcome of this study will also be useful in emphasising the impact that the government and the

public can have on promoting equality for persons with disabilities. The aim of the research is to

encourage better coverage, framing, relationship, opportunities, rights and even image of persons

with disabilities.

This research will also be of benefit by providing information to non-governmental organisations,

legal agencies and formal bodies in Nigeria such as the Joint National Association of Persons with

Disabilities (JONAPWD) to provide knowledge necessary to assist members in their decisions and

actions. The findings from the research would also complement the existing literature and

knowledge in media framing and persons with disabilities. The research work would serve as a

good research material for researchers who may want to conduct a research relating to this in the

future.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study will investigate the representation of persons with disabilities in The Guardian

and The Punch newspapers of Nigeria. Articles from Guardian and Punch Newspapers for the

period of 6 months between the period of January 1st 2019 to June 30th 2019 will be analysed. The

period was selected because it falls within the period - January 23 rd 2019 - that President

8
Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities

(prohibition) Act, 2018.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

For the purpose of clarity, variables and concepts as used in the context of this study are

defined below:

Press: This term is employed in this study to particularly refer to newspapers.

National Newspapers: refers to newspapers with wide coverage and circulation spread across

Nigeria. The Punch and The Guardian newspapers are used to represent national newspapers in

Nigeria.

Representation: this comprises the process of sourcing, reporting and analysing information by a

particular newspaper on persons with disabilities. It refers to reports and analyses of stories on

persons with disabilities as presented in the selected national newspapers. This was measured

through the news reports, features, news analyses, columns, photographs, editorials, geographic

contained in The Punch and The Guardian within the period of study.

Disability: the manifestation of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in an

individual. For the purpose of this study, disability refers to the negative aspects of the interaction

between an individual with a health condition (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, depression)

and personal and environmental factors (such as negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and

public buildings, and limited social supports). This study is primarily concerned about disabilities

represented in Nigerian newspapers.

Frequency: how often are there stories about persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers

between January-June 2019.

9
Prominence: This is measured through page placement of stories about persons with disabilities in

the selected newspapers. These include: Front page (main lead), Front page (other), back page, OP-

Ed page, inside pages.

Format of coverage: this refers to the type of presentation used in the reportage on persons with

disabilities in the selected newspapers. These include: news stories, features, photographs and

columns.

Depth of coverage: this refers to the amount of space allocated to the stories on persons with

disabilities in the selected newspapers. The space allocated is measured as follows: Full page

indicating high depth of coverage, half page indicating moderate depth of coverage and quarter

page indicating low depth of coverage.

Tone of coverage: this refers to the verbal nature used to frame the reports on persons with

disabilities. Indicators for tone of coverage include positive tone, negative tone or neutral tone.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or

sensory impairments which hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis

with others.

Involvement: equal participation in activities.

10
 CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.0 Introduction

This chapter provides an in-depth definition and discussion of the major concepts in this

study, the theoretical framework and review of empirical studies.

2.1 Conceptual Review

This section provides a discussion and definition of the major concepts in this study

beginning with statistics on persons with disabilities in Nigeria, categories of disability and the

constitutional rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

2.1.1 Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria

11
 According to Hanifen (2019) out of Nigeria’s estimated population of 200 million,

approximately 27 million people live with disabilities. Hanifen (2019) made reference to a 2005

study by the Leprosy Mission Nigeria which found that, of its 1,093 respondents, 37% struggled

with visual impairments, 32% had limited mobility, 15% had reduced hearing and the majority of

the people surveyed – 61% - were unemployed because of their disability. The finding of the study

also suggested that persons with disabilities in Nigeria typically receive little support from the

government and instead rely on family members, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and

religious groups. The study also found that one of the biggest obstacles of persons with disabilities

is the stigma surrounding their disabilities, which excludes them socially, economically and

politically. Often, families treat people with disabilities in Nigeria as a secret shame, and work and

education exclude them. In extreme cases, their families abandon them or if the family is wealthy,

they institutionalise them. The Leprosy Mission Nigeria found in its survey that 16% of its

participants survived by begging.

2.1.2 Categories of Disability

According to the World Health Organisation, disability has three dimensions:

1. Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of

impairments include loss of limb, loss of vision or memory loss.

2. Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving

3. Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and

recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.

People with disabilities are faced with impairments in their own bodies and barriers created by

the social environments they live in, which hinder their “full and effective participation in

society on an equal basis with others” (WHO, 2011, p. 4).

2.1.3 Constitutional Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria

12
According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 under Section IV, sub

section 35(1)(e), “Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be

deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure permitted

by law – in the case of persons suffering from infectious or contagious disease, persons of unsound

mind, persons addicted to drugs or alcohol or vagrants, for the purpose of their care or treatment or

the protection of the community.

Section 40 of the same document states “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and

associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade

union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”

Section 41 states “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to

reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry

thereby or exit therefrom.”

Section 42 sub-section 1 states “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place

of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person: -

(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or

any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which

citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religious or

political opinions are not made subject; or

(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or

any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to

citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religious or

political opinions.

(2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the

circumstances of his birth.

13
2.1.4 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act 2018 provides for the full

integration of persons with disabilities into the society and establishes the National Commission for

Persons with Disabilities and vests the Commission with the responsibilities for their education,

health care, social, economic and civil rights. It was signed into law by President Muhammadu

Buhari on January 23rd 2019.

Part VI, section 30 of the Discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018

outlines the law regarding opportunity for employment and participation in politics for persons with

disabilities in Nigeria. It is outlined as follows:

(1) Persons with disabilities shall be encouraged to fully participate in politics and public life.

(2) Government shall actively promote an environment in which persons with disabilities can

effectively and fully participate in -

(a) the conduct of public affairs without discrimination;

(b) non-governmental organisations and associations concerned with the public and political life of

the country; and

(c) activities and administration of political parties.

2.1.5 The Culture of Perception towards Persons with Disabilities

Studies have examined the concept of disability with no specific definition of the perceived

subject. Davis (2010) & Pelka (2012) posited that that the understanding of or perception borne by

the

disabled majority as to what constitutes a disability could basically be factored by time and social

or cultural circumstances. (Pelka, 2012), states that this “explains the differences determining how

people with disabilities are perceived” (p. 4).

14
1. Cultural Perception of Disability: According to some scholars in the past, disability is

"any process that turns impairment into a negative (thing) by creating barriers to access.

This meaning given to disability therefore highlights the perception of people towards

persons with disabilities which depends on culture and cultural practices. This explains why

a large disparity of perception resides among Nigerians; due to varied cultural

opinions/views. Pelka (2012) asserts that whereby in some cases a particular condition,

impairment, or illness might be perceived as a significant disability, in other circumstances,

particulars of individual differences are barely noticed if at all” (p. 4).

2. Clinical Perception of Disability: The medical definition of disability locates impairment

in the individual as someone who lacks the full compliments of physical and cognitive

elements of true person hood and who must be cleared or rehabilitated. In the same vein, the

medical model sees disability as a psychological and physiological abnormality.

3. Social Perception of Disability: According to Shakespeare (2010), the Union of Physically

Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in its policy statement in December 1974 defines

people with disabilities as "a group under oppression, needing favourable circumstances for

them to function totally in society: to live without depending on assistance; To function

without impediment; to engage in productive livelihood and to live self-controlled life of

their own without interference from any quarter whatsoever" (p. 266).

4. Bio-Psycho-Social Perception of Disability: According to the World Health Organisation

(2011) World Report on Disability, “The International Classification of Functioning,

Disability and Health (ICF) understands functioning and disability as a dynamic interaction

between health conditions and contextual factors, both personal and environmental.

Promoted as a “bio-psycho-social model”, it represents a workable compromise between

medical and social models” (pp. 4-5). Meanwhile, none of the above models of definitions

15
 take into consideration any form of representation of persons with disabilities by the media

which is the focus of this research.

2.1.6 The Guardian Newspaper

The Guardian newspaper is one of the outstanding newspapers in Nigeria. It was established on the

27th of February 1983 by Alex Ibru from Delta State, among those who weaned the paper at the

cradle stage were Dr. Dele Cole, Dr Stanley Macebuh and Segun Osoba who were all former

executives of Daily Times. The motto of the paper is “Conscience, Nurtured by Truth” and to some

reasonable extent, it tries to live up to this motto. The Guardian is regarded as “the most respected

newspaper in Nigeria” (answersafrica.com). Due to this reputation of the newspaper and its wide

readership, this project research will survey the newspaper contents to reach a conclusion about its

relevance to this topic.

2.1.7 The Punch Newspaper

The Punch newspaper was founded by two friends, James Aboderin, an accountant, and Sam

Amuka, a columnist and editor at the Daily Times of Nigeria. Amuka became the first editor of the

Sunday Punch. In November 1976, a few years after the first print of its Sunday edition, the duo

started printing their trademark daily newspaper. Both editions were designed to favour a friendlier

apolitical approach to news reporting, combining footage of social events with everyday political

news. The paper sustains itself by delving into broad issues that interest myriad people.

Punch Nigeria Limited was registered on August 8, 1970, under the Companies Act of 1968 to

engage in the business of publishing newspapers, magazines and other periodicals of public

interest. It was designed to perform the tripartite functions of the popular mass media: informing,

educating and entertaining Nigerians and the world at large.

16
2.2 Theoretical Framework

This study will be based on the theoretical proposition of the following theories:

2.2.1 Agenda-Setting Theory

Agenda-Setting Theory describes the ability of the news media to influence the importance

placed on the topics of the public agenda. This theory posits that if a news item is covered

frequently and prominently, the audience will regard the issue as more important.

The Agenda Setting Theory was first introduced in 1972 in Public Opinion Quarterly by Dr.

Maxwell McCombs and Dr. Donald Shaw. This theory was developed as a study on the 1968

presidential election where Democratic incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson was ousted by Republican

challenger Richard Nixon. Known as the “Chapel Hill Study,” McCombs and Shaw surveyed 100

residents of Chapel Hill, North Carolina on what they thought were the most important issues of the

election and how that compared to what the local and national media reported were the most

important issues (McCombs & Shaw, 1972). Their theory, also known as the Agenda Setting

Function of the Mass Media, suggested that the media sets the public agenda by telling you what to

think about, although not exactly what to think. The abstract in their first article about this theory

states:

In choosing and displaying news, editors, newsroom staff, and broadcasters play an important part

in shaping political reality. Readers learn not only about a given issue but also how much

importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position.

In reflecting what candidates are saying during a campaign, the mass media may well determine the

important issues – that is, the media may set the “agenda” of the campaign (McCombs, 2003).

Since 1972, McCombs and Shaw have expanded on this theory, producing many research

articles and even extending the theory to include what they now call Second Level Agenda

Setting (Davie, 2011). In its most basic sense, agenda setting is the creation of public awareness

17
and concern of salient issues by the news media. The two most basic assumptions of agenda setting

are: (1) the press and the media do not reflect reality; they filter and shape it; (2) media

concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more

important than other issues. The time frame for this is one of the most critical aspects of the agenda

setting role in mass communications. Agenda setting occurs through a cognitive process known as

“accessibility,” which implies that the more frequently and prominently the news media covers an

issue, the more that issue becomes accessible in the audience’s memory (Iyengar & Kinder, 1987).

When examining agenda setting and the media’s influence on an audience, one has to

consider the audience’s predisposition to certain beliefs. According to the audience effects model,

the media’s coverage of events and issues interact with the audience’s pre-existing sensitivities to

produce changes in issues concerns. This means that an audience that is already highly sensitive to

an issue will be most affected by an issue that is given increased news exposure while the same

issue may have a limited effect on other groups. Another issue that causes variations in the

audience effect is the correlation between the Public agenda and the media agenda and whether the

issue is obtrusive or unobtrusive (Walgrave & Van Aelst, 2006). Obtrusive issues are those that

affect nearly everyone, such as high gas prices or an increased cost of food at the grocery store.

Unobtrusive issues are those that are more distant to the public, like a political scandal or the

genocide in Darfur. Research suggests that the obtrusiveness of an issue is based on the audience’s

personal experience with the topic. In light of this, media coverage about PWDs is something that

would be of interest to persons with disabilities and other concerned groups of persons because

disability can happen to anyone at any point in their life.

2.2.1.1 Relevance of the Agenda-Setting Theory to the study

The relevance of the agenda-setting theory to this study is based on the assumption

that the facts which people know about public issues tend to be those which the mass media present

18
to them. It is also based on the assumption that the significance which the audience ascribe to issues

tend to be proportionate to the amount of attention given to those issues in the media. The agenda

setting theory assumes that the media have a role to play in the issues that people think about.

Therefore, the media confer status on what is reported. In this case, the assumption is that the media

reportage would set the agenda for what the audience think about persons with disabilities.

2.2.2 Framing Theory

The concept of framing is related to the agenda-setting tradition but expands the

research by focusing on the essence of the issues at hand rather than on a particular topic. The basis

of framing theory is that the media focuses attention on certain events and then places them within

a field of meaning. Framing is an important topic since it can have a big influence and therefore the

concept of framing expanded to organisations as well.

In essence, framing theory suggests that how something is presented to the audience (called

“the frame”) influences the choices people make about how to process that information. Frames are

abstractions that work to organise or structure message meaning. The most common use of frames

is in terms of the frame which the news or media place on the information they convey. They are

thought to influence the perception of the news by the audience, in this way it could be construed as

a form of second level agenda-setting – they not only tell the audience what to think about (agenda-

setting theory), but also how to think about that issue (second level agenda setting, framing theory).

The theory was first put forth by Goffman Erving in 1974 in a publication titled Frame Analysis:

An Essay on the Organisation of Experience. Goffman put forth that people interpret what is going

on around their world through their primary framework. This framework is regarded as primary as

it is taken for granted by the user. Its usefulness as a framework does not depend on other

frameworks.

19
Goffman states that there are two distinctions within primary frameworks: natural and social.

Both play the role of helping individuals interpret data. So that their experiences can be understood

in a wider social context. The difference between the two is functional.

Natural frameworks identify events as physical occurrences taking natural “literally and not

attributing any social forces to the causation of events”. (Goffman, 1974).

Social frameworks view events as socially driven occurrences, due to the whims, goals, and

manipulations on the part of other social players (people). Social frameworks are built on the

natural frameworks. These frameworks and the frames that they create in our communication

greatly influence how data is interpreted, processed, and communicated.

Goffman’s underlying assumption is that individuals are capable users of these frameworks on a

day to day basis. Whether they are aware of them or not.

Framing techniques according to Fairhurst and Sarr (1996):

1. Metaphor: To frame a conceptual idea through comparison to something else.

2. Stories (myths, legends): To frame a topic via narrative in a vivid and memorable way.

3. Tradition (rituals, ceremonies): Cultural values that instil significance in the mundane,

closely tied to artefacts.

4. Slogan, jargon, catchphrase: To frame an object with a catchy phrase to make it more

memorable and relevant.

5. Artifact: Objects with intrinsic symbolic value – a visual/cultural phenomenon that holds

more meaning than the object itself.

6. Contrast: To describe an object in terms of what it is not.

7. Spin: to present a concept in such a way as to convey a value judgement (positive or

negative) that might not be immediately apparent; to create an inherent bias by definition.

20
Framing is in many ways tied very closely to Agenda Setting theory. Both focus on how media

draws the public’s eye to specific topics – in this way they set the agenda. But Framing takes this a

step further in the way in which the news is presented creates a frame for that information. This is

usually a conscious choice by journalists – in this case a frame refers to the way the media as

gatekeepers organize and present the ideas, events, and topics they cover.

Framing is the way a communication source defines and constructs any piece of communicated

information. Framing is an unavoidable part of human communication – we all bring our own

frames to our communications.

2.2.2.1 Relevance of the Framing Theory to the Study

The media framing theory is relevant to this study because it supports the assumption

that there is a positive correlation between the way the Nigerian press presents the news about

persons with disabilities and the way the Nigerian public come to understand and perceive persons

with disabilities. As a result of this, the main objective of this study is to examine the extent to

which selected Nigerian newspapers represent persons with disabilities.

2.2.3 Development Media Theory

Propounded by Dennis McQuail in 1987, the development media theory makes the

following assumptions:

1. The media must accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with national

established policy.

2. Freedom of the media should be open to economic priorities and development needs of the

society
21
3. The media should give priority in their content to national culture and languages.

4. The media should give priority to news and information that link with other developing

countries, which are close geographically, culturally or politically

5. Journalists and other media workers have responsibilities as well as freedom in their

information gathering and dissemination tasks.

6. In the interest of development ends, the state has a right to intervene in, or restrict media

operation, and devices and direct control can be justified.

Folarin (2002), cited in Anaeto, Onabajo, & Osifeso (2008) is of the opinion that the theory

can be further fine-tuned to fit perfectly into the situation of developing countries.

According to him, the assumptions of the development media theory should be as follows:

1. The media should accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with

nationally established policy, without prejudice to their traditional functions of

information, education, and entertainment of the public.

2. The media should accept and help in carrying out the special development tasks of

national integration, socio-economic modernisation, promotion of literacy, and cultural

creativity.

3. “National” media should give priority in their content to the national macro culture in so

far as this can be abstracted from the national environment, then to regional cultures and

then to local culture, all in a descending order of priority. “Regional” media are to

accord propriety to regional cultures (and languages), while “local” media give priority

to local culture(s) and language(s).

22
 4. The media should carefully identify and give due attention in their foreign news to link

with other countries having similar socio-cultural orientations and/or political and

economic aspirations.

5. In order to safeguard the ideals of press freedom, journalists and other media workers

should, at all times, faithfully fulfil their obligations and strongly defend their rights in

the course of their information gathering and dissemination tasks.

6. The state with its systems has a duty to see to it that media or journalists presumed to

have contravened any national laws in the course of their information gathering can

conveniently face prosecution, expecting a fair and speedy trial.

The development media theory, according to Folarin (2002), has already provided bearing for the

concepts of development communication and development journalism. He concluded by saying,

“Nothing in the origin, basis and principle of the development media theory should be interpreted

as shielding media and journalists from social responsibility or ousting the concept of press

freedom” (p. 63).

2.2.3.1 Relevance of the Development Media Theory to the Study

The relevance of the development media theory to this research lies mainly in the

assumption that the media serve as a platform to report on issues of importance to the society at

large; the issue being of persons with disabilities in this case. By reporting on matters of importance

to PWDs, the media are carrying out positive development tasks in line with nationally established

policy as is the case with the recently signed Discrimination against persons with disabilities

(prohibition) Act, 2018.

2.3 Review of Empirical Studies

23
 Ogundola (2013) examined how the media in Nigeria framed people with disabilities and issues

concerning them with a view to appreciating how news media frames impact society’s perception of

people with disabilities. A textual analysis method was used to examine newspapers’ reports of

disability within the period of a decade – 2001 to 2010. The sample was drawn from two major

newspapers in Nigeria – Daily Trust based in Abuja, north-central Nigeria and Nigerian Tribune based

in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. This was done to ascertain whether cultural and religious differences

between the north (predominantly Islam) and south (predominantly Christian) impact news reports on

disability. Results of the analysis revealed a similarity between the media in both regions as they often

employed stereotypically offensive language when reporting disability stories. Media frames that

emphasised frailty, charity, disparity and derogatory labels created room for stereotype, prejudice and

stigma. Ogundola (2013) made the conclusion that such media frames had a negative impact on how

society was relating with people with disabilities in Nigeria. On the other hand, the media in the north

(Islamic factor) portrayed people with disabilities as visible in northern communities while the media in

the south portrayed them as segregated in southern communities through institutionalisation. Ogundola

(2013) suggested a media guideline on disability to guide journalists on how to report disability news in

Nigeria, and by extension Africa.

Barbashina (2011), using the qualitative content analysis research method, sought to examine how

Russian press represented people with disabilities. The material for the analysis consisted of sixty

articles selected from Russian’s four national newspapers. The study covered a period of the year

2011. Labeling theory and stigma were used for the analysis of the results. The results showed that

Russian press described discrimination of people with disabilities, social support provided to them

by the Government and their active way of life. The newspaper articles mentioned that the Russian

Government tries to integrate disabled people into society. The study did not find any significant

differences in the representation of people with disabilities in various newspapers. It was found that

the articles covered physical disabilities, such as mobility, hearing and visual impairments.

24
Barbashina (2011), found from studying newspaper articles that people with disabilities face

different problems in the field of employment.

A number of other researchers have also showed that people with disabilities have limited

access to the labour market. Barbashina (2011), cited the study of Zalkauskaite (2012) which

discovered the Lithuanian press showed that people with disabilities were often excluded from the

labour market due to their health conditions. Newspaper articles included in her study indicated that

most of the employers do not contemplate on employment of people with disabilities as they were

perceived the “holdout” of progress in the labour market” (Zalkauskaite, 2012, p. 88)” (p. 29). The

study of Wahl (1992), which was conducted using the literature review method, found that persons

with mental disabilities were depicted as unemployed in the mass media. Clogston (1994) in his

study discovered that the issue of employment of people with disabilities was discussed in

American press.

Keller et al. (1990), who conducted quantitative content analysis of American press, mentioned that

the majority of newspaper articles included in their study portrayed people with disabilities as

individuals who are suffering. In the study of Iarskaia-Smirnova and Romanov (2006), it was found

that Russian media presented various infringements of the rights of persons with disabilities. The

study of Phillips (2012) revealed that cases of violations of the rights of people with disabilities by

the withdrawal or late payment of disability benefits were reflected in Ukrainian print media.

2.4 Summary of Literature

This chapter presented the review of literature for this study through three broad areas of

conceptual review, theoretical framework and empirical review. Under the conceptual review,

disability was conceptualized and a brief clarification of related sub-concepts including categories

of disability, persons with disabilities in Nigeria, and constitutional rights of persons with

25
disabilities in Nigeria was made. The culture of perception towards persons with disabilities was

also examined.

Focus then turned to explore the discrimination against persons with disabilities

(prohibition) act (2018) as well as the constitutional rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

Under the theoretical framework, the agenda-setting theory, framing theory, and development

media theory which form the theoretical foundation of the study, were all discussed with the

relevance of each to the study being pointed out.

The empirical review for this study was concentrated on previous studies assessing the press

representation of persons with disabilities in various parts of the world such as Nigeria, Russia,

Lithuania, Ukraine and the United States of America.

It was observed that there is sparse research on the representation of persons with

disabilities by the Nigerian press. This was a major gap in literature this study attempted to fill.

26
 CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter explains the methodology that was used in arriving at the findings of this study. It

consists of the research design, the population of study, sampling size, sampling technique, process

of measuring the validity and reliability of the research instrument, and the method of data analysis.

3.1 Research Design

The research design appropriate for this study is the descriptive design. The study adopted content

analysis as the research method. Content analysis, as described by Asemah, Gujbawu, Ekhareafo

and Okpanachi (2012), is “an analysis based on the manifest content of the mass media message”

(p. 79). The contents of newspapers can be studied systematically, objectively and quantitatively

and inferences can be made. Therefore, using content analysis makes the method suitable for this

study. Furthermore, proffering answers to the research questions of this study could only be

achieved through content analysis.

3.2 Population of the Study

The target population of this study included national daily newspapers in Nigeria. The print

medium was chosen due to the permanent nature of the medium, the availability and easy

accessibility to the contents of the medium, unlike the broadcast media. 362 weekday and weekend

editions (181 editions each) of The Punch, and The Guardian published between January 1st 2019

and June 30th 2019 formed the accessible population of this study. The period was chosen based on

relevance and currency of issues surrounding persons with disabilities in Nigeria and also because

23rd January 2019 is the date on which Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the

Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

27
Table 3.2.1: Population of the study from January – June 2019

Newspapers January February March April May June Total

2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 Editions
The Punch 31 28 31 30 31 30 181
The Guardian 31 28 31 30 31 30 181
Total editions 62 56 62 60 62 60 362

3.3 Sample Size

Two privately owned newspapers in Nigeria were purposively selected: The Punch and The

Guardian. This is because they have credibility, accessibility and large readership figures. All

weekday and weekend publications from January 1 st till June 31st will amount to 362 editions, and

this is the population of the research study.

3.4 Sampling Technique

Since it is not practical to study all daily newspapers in Nigeria, the sample of the population was

restricted to two (2) national newspapers: The Punch and The Guardian. A cumulative total of 362

editions of the selected newspapers made up the sample size for this study. This was arrived at by

drawing the entire 181 weekday and weekend editions of each newspaper from the six-month study

period (January 2019-June 2019).

The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the two newspapers - The Punch,

and The Guardian - for this study. They were selected based on the criteria that they are two of the

most widely read, privately owned national daily newspapers in Nigeria with widespread

circulation across Nigeria. This is fundamental since the issue this study examined is national in

scope and concerns private individuals in the society. These newspapers also have a strong online

presence that complement the distribution of their print copies. In terms of popularity, The Punch

newspaper is considered as the most widely read newspaper in Nigeria having won newspaper of

the year at the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in December 2017. The Punch

28
defeated The Nation and The Guardian that were runners up in the coveted categories (Popoola,

Falayi, & Eniola, 2017). The complete enumeration technique was applied to study all weekday and

weekend editions of the selected newspapers within the study period.

3.5 Research Instrument

The research instrument used for the collection of data was the coding schedule. The coding

schedule consists of the coding manual and the coding sheet. The coding manual is a structured

instrument which provides the guide on how to complete the coding sheet. The coding sheet is used

by coders to record codes assigned to variables on the coding manual. The coding manual used for

this study contains content categories and variables related to the focus of the study; that were used

in answering the research questions.

The content categories and variables for this study are the following:

1. Format of Coverage: this refers to the layout by which the news on persons with

disabilities is presented by the selected newspapers. Formats of coverage in this study were

grouped according to news report, feature articles, photographs, and columns.

2. Position of Story: refers to the page placement of news reports and articles about persons

with disabilities in the selected newspapers. This was used to measure the level of

prominence or importance given to issues concerning PWDs by the newspapers. Contents

on the front and back pages were considered as the most prominent, those on the editorial

(Op-Ed) page were regarded as moderately prominent, and those on the inside pages were

deemed the least prominent.

3. Space allocated: full page, half page or quarter page. The amount of space allocated to each

story concerning persons with disabilities was used to determine the depth of coverage. Full

page indicates a good depth of coverage, half page indicates a moderate depth of coverage,

quarter page indicates a small depth of coverage.

29
 4. Tone of Coverage: are the angles persons with disabilities are presented in news reports

and articles of the selected newspapers. These include: positive tone, negative tone and

neutral tone.

i) Negative Tone: the selected newspapers’ portrayal of issues about persons with

disabilities as a problem in need of a solution.

ii) Positive Tone: the selected newspapers’ portrayal of issues about persons with

disabilities in a positive light, that is, achievements.

iii) Neutral Tone: the selected newspapers’ portrayal of issues about persons with

disabilities in the country with neither a positive nor negative connotation.

5. Nature of Disability

The nature of disability presented in the news reports were categorised as follows:

(i) Mobility/Physical Disability: this category of disability includes people with varying types of

physical disabilities including upper limb(s) disability, lower limb(s) disability, manual dexterity,

disability in co-ordination with different organs of the body.

(ii) Spinal Cord Disability: such individuals have to use a wheel chair for mobility.

(iii) Brain Disability: this is a type of disability in the brain that occurs due to a brain injury. It is of

two types:

a. Acquired brain injury: degeneration of the brain caused by injury.

b. Traumatic Brain injury: brain injury resulting in emotional dysfunction and behavioural

disturbance.

(iv) Vision Disability: visual impairments such as blindness.

(v) Hearing Disability: people that are completely or partially deaf.

(vi) Cognitive/Learning Disabilities: impairment present in people who are suffering from

dyslexia and various other learning difficulties and includes speech disorders.

30
(vii) Psychological disorders: this includes the following:

a. Affective Disorders: disorders of mood or feeling states either short or long term.

b. Personality Disorders: deeply inadequate patterns of behaviour and thought of sufficient

severity to cause significant impairment to day-to-day activities.

c. Schizophrenia: a mental disorder characterised by disturbances of thinking, mood, and

behaviour.

(viii) Invisible Disability: disabilities that are not immediately apparent to others.

(ix) Unspecified disability: news reports on PWDs in general without reference to any specific

disability.

3.6 Reliability of Research Instrument

Mehren & Lehmann (1991), cited in Asemah, et. al., (2012), defined reliability as “the

degree of consistency between two measures of the same thing. It is the consistency of scores

obtained by the same person when retest with identical test or with an equivalent form of the test on

different occasions” (p. 205). To ensure the reliability of the research instrument, a coding schedule

was prepared using simple language in order to ensure simplicity of representation of the variables

to be content analysed. Categories on the coding schedule were mutually exclusive and arranged

sequentially. To further ensure the reliability of the research instrument, inter-coder reliability test

was conducted.

3.7 Validity of Research Instrument

According to Asemah, Gujbawu, Ekhareafo, & Okpanachi (2012), “validity, refers to the

accuracy or truthfulness of a measurement. It is the extent to which measurements are useful in

making decisions relevant to a given purpose. Validity is established by evidence” (p. 208). To

ensure the validity of the instrument for this study, the research instrument called a coding schedule

was drafted by the researcher, based on concepts identified in previous studies, confirming that the
31
method effectively evaluates communication in an objective and quantitative manner for the

purpose of measuring the variables. The drafted coding schedule was cross-checked against the

research questions to ensure that all items on it were in correlation with the objectives of the study.

Furthermore, the coding schedule was compared to those used in previous studies and, thereafter,

variables were modified where necessary. Lastly, the coding schedule passed through the scrutiny

of the researcher’s supervisor as well as three other academics in the field of mass communication,

in order to determine if it is measuring what it is to measure. The project supervisor’s observations

and corrections were used as guidelines in developing the final draft of the coding schedule.

3.8 Administration of Research Instrument

A coding schedule was used by the researcher and one trained research assistant to collect data

from the selected national newspapers sourced from the Abuja National Library, the Ilorin National

Library and the Laz Otti Memorial Library of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,

Nigeria over a period of three months.

3.9 Method of Data Analysis

The data collected from The Punch and The Guardian newspapers were recorded using the

Microsoft Excel program and analysed with the use of frequency distribution tables and charts.

32
 CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.0 Introduction

The central aim of this study was to examine the representation of persons with disabilities in

national newspapers in Nigeria. Content analysis was adopted to examine the daily editions of two

selected privately owned national newspapers in Nigeria – The Punch and The Guardian –

published between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019 (6 months). A total of 362 editions of the

two selected newspapers were examined to identify and analyse contents on persons with

disabilities in Nigeria.

Data for this study were generated through the use of coding schedule. In doing this, 8

content categories together with the variables under them were outlined in the coding manual

prepared for this study. Coding sheets were used to manually record codes assigned to variables in

the coding manual before they were transferred to Excel spreadsheet for analysis. Therefore, this

chapter presents the analysis and interpretation of data generated, and discussion of findings. The

chapter first presents an overview of the study, followed by answering of research questions and

discussion of findings. The statistical methods used include frequency counts, cross-tabulation and

charts.

33
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis

Variables Frequency Percent (%)

Newspapers
The Guardian 206 50.6
The Punch 201 49.4
Total 407 100.0

Months (2019) Frequency

January Percent
February 66 16.2
March 62 15.2
April 68
May 16.7
June 71
Total 17.4
70
17.2
70
17.2
407
100.0
Table 4.1.1: Summary of publications and stories analysed

Table 4.1.1 shows that two newspapers were considered for this study, namely The Punch and The

Guardian. The Guardian newspaper (50.6%) covered more stories about persons with disabilities

than The Punch newspaper (49.4%). Moreover, this is only marginal with a difference of 1.2%. In

all, both newspapers were fairly consistent in their reportage of persons with disabilities during the

period of study. In terms of frequency of reportage, the months with the highest aggregate coverage
34
of stories on persons with disabilities were April, May and June. The months with the least

coverage of persons with disabilities was February. These results show that coverage on persons

with disabilities is present in both The Guardian and The Punch newspapers with a slightly higher

number of stories being published in The Guardian.

Research Question One: What is the frequency of coverage on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers?

Table 4.1.2 Frequency of Coverage on Persons with Disabilities by Newspapers studied

Name of Newspaper Total
Months The The
Punch Guardian

January Freq (%) 28 (13.9) 38 (18.4) 66 (16.2)

February Freq (%) 30 (14.9) 32 (15.5) 62 (15.2)

March Freq (%) 32 (15.9) 36 (17.5) 68 (16.7)

April Freq (%) 36 (17.9) 35 (16.9) 71 (17.4)

May Freq (%) 37 (18.4) 33 (16.0) 70 (17.1)

June Freq (%) 38 (18.9) 32 (15.5) 70 (17.1)

Total Freq(%) 201 (100) 206 407 (100)

(100)

35
 Figure 4.1.1: Coverage of Persons with disabilities
by the selected newspapers across the selected
months
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
January February March April May June

The Punch The Guardian

Figure 4.1.1: coverage of persons with disabilities by the selected newspapers across the
selected months

Table 4.1.2 and Figure 4.1.1 indicate that overall, both The Guardian and The Punch newspapers

were constant in their reportage on persons with disabilities from January to June of 2019. The

Guardian (n=206, 50.6%) reported a slightly higher number of stories on persons with disabilities

than The Punch (n=201, 49.4%). The frequency of reportage on PWDs by The Guardian and The

Punch remained constant through the months. This suggests that both The Guardian and The Punch

frequently covered stories concerning Persons with disabilities for the entire period of study.

Research Question Two: What are the major formats used in the coverage on persons with

disabilities in the selected newspapers?

Table 4.1.3 Formats of coverage on persons with disabilities

Variables Name of Newspaper Total

The Punch The Guardian
News report Freq (%) 91(45.3) 105 (51) 196 (48.2)
Feature Freq (%) 34(16.9) 7 (3.4) 41 (10.1)
Articles
Photographs Freq (%) 40 (19.9) 83 (40.3) 123 (30.2)

Columns Freq (%) 36 (17.9) 11 (5.3) 47 (11.5)

Total Freq (%) 201 (100) 206 (100) 407 (100)

36
 Figure 4.1.2: Formats of coverage of
persons with disabilities
Column

Photograph

Feature

News Report

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

The Guardian The Punch

Figure 4.1.2 Formats of coverage on persons with disabilities

Table 4.1.3 and Figure 4.1.2 show the formats of coverage used to present news about PWDs in the

selected newspapers. The two newspapers presented news on PWDs most frequently through the

form of news report (n=196, 48.2%), photograph (n=123, 30.2%), column (n=47, 11.5%), and

feature articles (n=41, 10.1%). Photographs were used to give account of events as well as to

accompany news reports, column and feature articles in order to provide greater insight into the

subject of the story. Photographs were highly utilised in the coverage of PWDs in both newspapers.

News reports were the most utilised format of coverage of PWDs in both newspapers, implying the

reports were mostly for surveillance or informative purposes.

Research Question Three: What is the central nature of disability reported in the selected

newspapers?

Table 4.1.4 Forms of Disability reported in the selected newspapers

37
Variables Freq Name of Newspaper Total
(%)
The Punch The Guardian
Mobility/Physical Disability Freq(%) 74(36.3) 95(46.2) 169(41.5)

Spinal Cord Disability Freq(%) 0(0) 7(3.5) 7(1.7)

Head Injury/Brain Disability Freq(%) 7(3.5) 0(0) 7(1.7)

Visual Disability Freq(%) 25(12.4) 14(6.9) 39(9.6)

Hearing Disability Freq(%) 0(0) 7(3.5) 7(1.7)

Cognitive/Learning Disability Freq(%) 17(8.8) 18(8.7) 35(8.6)

Psychological Disorder Freq(%) 39(19.5) 18(8.7) 57(14)

Unspecified Disability Freq(%) 39(19.5) 47(23) 86(21.1)

Total: Freq(%) 201 (100) 206 (100) 407 (100)

Figure 4.1.3: Nature of Disability reported in the se-

lected newspapers
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
al rd i n al g ve ca
l
ed
s ic Co ra su rin iti i ifi
hy a l y/B Vi He
a gn ol
og e c
/P in ju
r Co h sp
il ity Sp In Ps
yc Un
ob a d
M He
The Punch The Guardian

Figure 4.1.3: Nature of Disability reported in the selected newspapers

38
Table 4.1.4 and Figure 4.1.3 show the various nature of disability reported in the news on persons

with disabilities in the selected newspapers. The most frequently reported nature of disability in the

selected newspapers was mobility/physical disability (n=169, 41.5%); reported more by The

Guardian (n=95, 46.2%) than The Punch (n=74, 36.3%). Unspecified disability (n=86, 21.1%) was

accorded the second highest coverage by both newspapers. The Guardian (n=47, 23%) recorded a

higher coverage of stories on unspecified disability than The Punch (n=39, 19.5%). The third

highest coverage was accorded to psychological disorder (n=57, 14%), by The Punch (n=39,

19.5%) and The Guardian (n=18, 8.7%). Visual disability was accorded 9.6% (n=39) of overall

coverage between The Punch (n=25, 12.4%) and The Guardian (n=14, 6.9%). Cognitive/learning

disability followed in coverage with 8.6% (n=35) of total coverage, by The Punch (n=17, 8.8%) and

The Guardian (n=18, 8.7%) having similar coverage proportion. The nature of disability least

covered by both newspapers were spinal cord disability (n=7, 1.7%) covered by only The Guardian

(n=7, 3.5%) in the form of photographs on the back page of the newspaper; head injury/brain

disability (n=7, 1.7%) covered only by The Punch (n=7, 3.5%) and hearing disability (n=7, 1.7%)

covered by only The Guardian (n=7, 3.5%). These imply that the extent of coverage was accorded

more for mobility/physical disability, unspecified disability, psychological disorder, visual

disability and cognitive/learning disability. While, spinal cord disability, head injury/brain

disability and hearing disability were accorded the lowest extent of coverage. Regardless, the

spectrum of disabilities was accorded coverage by the selected newspapers as all types of

disabilities were included in the reports.

Research Question Four: What is the level of prominence accorded persons with disabilities

in the selected newspapers?

Table 4.1.5 Level of Prominence accorded persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers

Variables Newspaper Total

The Punch The Guardian

39
 Main lead (front page) Freq(%) 0(0) 0(0) 0 (0)

Other (Front page) Freq(%) 4 (1.8) 14 (6.9) 18 (4.4)

Op-Ed page Freq(%) 7 (3.5) 4 (1.7) 11 (2.7)

Inside pages Freq(%) 190 (94.7) 184 (89.6) 374 (91.9)

Back Page Freq(%) 0(0) 4 (1.7) 4 (1.0)

Total Freq(%) 201(100) 206 (100) 407 (100)

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Other (Front page) Op-Ed page Inside page Back Page

The Punch The Guardian

Fig. 4.1.4 Level of prominence accorded persons with disabilities

Table 4.1.5 and Figure 4.1.4 show the position of stories published by the selected

newspapers. Majority of the stories on persons with disabilities were on the inside pages of the

selected newspapers (n=374, 91.9%) with slightly more appearing on the inside pages of The

Punch (n=190, 94.7%) than The Guardian (n=184, 89.6%). The Guardian (n=14, 6.9%), gave

more prominence than The Punch (n=4, 1.8%) to persons with disabilities through its front page

and back page (The Guardian n=4, 1.7%. The Punch n=0). This implies that The Guardian gave

slightly more prominence to issues concerning PWDs than The Punch. Overall, the selected

newspapers mainly accorded low prominence to persons with disabilities.

40
Research question five: What is the depth of coverage on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers?

Table 4.1.6 Depth of coverage on persons with disabilities

Variables Newspaper Total

The Punch The Guardian

Full Page Freq(%) 53 (26.5) 7 (3.5) 60 (14.7)

Half Page Freq(%) 43 (21.2) 25 (12.1) 68 (16.7)

Quarter Page Freq(%) 105 (52.2) 174 (84.4) 279 (68.6)

Total Freq(%) 201 (100) 206 (100) 407 (100)

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Full Page Half Page Quarter Page

The Punch The Guardian

Fig. 4.1.5 Depth of coverage on persons with disabilities

Table 4.1.6 and Fig. 4.1.5 show the amount of coverage allocated to persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers. Majority of the coverage on persons with disabilities was published on quarter

pages in The Guardian (n=292, 84.4%) and The Punch (n=177, 52.2%). Compared to The

Guardian, The Punch published more stories in Full Pages (n=53, 26.5%) and Half Pages (n=43,

21.2%) than The Guardian (Full Page: n=7, 3.5%. Half Page: n=25, 12.1%). This implies a larger

41
depth of coverage of persons with disabilities by The Punch than The Guardian. The bulk of

coverage on persons with disabilities in The Guardian are recorded on half and quarter pages which

indicates a moderate-low depth of coverage of persons with disabilities by The Guardian. Overall,

the depth of coverage of persons with disabilities is low in both The Guardian and The Punch

newspapers.

Research question six: What is the tone of coverage on persons with disabilities in the selected

newspapers?

Table 4.1.7 Tone of coverage on persons with disabilities

Variables Newspaper
Total

The Punch The

Guardian
Positive Freq(%)
80 (39.8) 124 (60.1)
204 (50.1)
Negative Freq(%) 68 (33.6) 29 (13.9) 97 (23.8)

Neutral Freq(%) 53 (26.5) 53 (26.0) 106 (26.0)

Total 201 (100) 206 (100) 407 (100)

42
 70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Positive Negative Neutral

The Punch The Guardian

Fig. 4.1.6 Tone of coverage on persons with disabilities

Table 4.1.7 and Fig. 4.1.6 show the tone used in the coverage on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers. The predominant tone of coverage on persons with disabilities in the selected

newspapers was positive (n=204, 50.1%). This was followed by neutral tone (n=106, 26%) and

then negative tone (n=97, 23.8%). This shows that both newspapers gave more positive reports on

persons with disabilities than negative or neutral reports. Stories with a positive tone discussed

successes of persons with disabilities as well as programs to encourage the integration of PWDs in

the society. Stories with a negative tone were found to be discussing areas where PWDs are facing

difficulties with living in the society in a positive manner. The stories which were recorded as

neutral were of an informative content with neither a positive nor negative connotation.

4.2 Discussion of Findings

The main focus of this study was to examine the representation of persons with disabilities by

selected newspapers in Nigeria. 407 contents on persons with disabilities were identified and

analysed from the entire 362 weekday editions of The Punch, and The Guardian published between

January 1, 2019 and June 31, 2019 that were manually studied. The Guardian (n=206, 50.6%) had a

higher content on persons with disabilities than The Punch (n=201, 49.4%). With volume as a

43
criterion, it can be inferred that The Guardian gave more attention to persons with disabilities than

The Punch.

In line with the main aim of this study, specific objectives were set. The first objective was

to assess the frequency of reportage of persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers.

Findings reveal that coverage of persons with disabilities was frequent across all the months within

the 6-month study period. This is suggestive of the recent signing into law of the Discrimination

against persons with disabilities prohibition act, 2018 by president Muhammadu Buhari on 23 rd

January 2019. However, prior to the signing of the law, persons with disabilities have been

considered a current issue in the Nigerian media.

The second objective was to ascertain the formats used in the coverage on persons with

disabilities in the selected newspapers. Findings reveal that the selected newspapers all presented

issues relating to persons with disabilities majorly through news reports (48.2%), compared to

photographs (30.2%), columns (11.5%), and feature articles (10.1%). Feature articles, columns, and

photographs made up 54.7 % of The Punch’s coverage compared to 49% of The Guardian’s

coverage. Therefore, the coverage of persons with disabilities by the selected newspapers tended

more significantly towards the information function of the media.

The third objective was to determine the central nature of disability reported in the selected

newspapers. The findings of this study show that the spectrum of disabilities was accorded

coverage by the selected newspapers. The most frequently reported nature of disability in the

selected newspapers was mobility/physical disability (n=169, 41.5%); reported more by The

Guardian (n=95, 46.2%) than The Punch (n=74, 36.3%). Unspecified disability (n=86, 21.1%) was

accorded the second highest coverage by both newspapers. The Guardian (n=47, 23%) recorded a

higher coverage of stories on unspecified disability than The Punch (n=39, 19.5%). The third

highest coverage was accorded to psychological disorder (n=57, 14%), by The Punch (n=39,

19.5%) and The Guardian (n=18, 8.7%). Visual disability was accorded 9.6% (n=39) of overall

44
coverage between The Punch (n=25, 12.4%) and The Guardian (n=14, 6.9%). Cognitive/learning

disability followed in coverage with 8.6% (n=35) of total coverage, by The Punch (n=17, 8.8%) and

The Guardian (n=18, 8.7%). The nature of disability least covered by both newspapers were spinal

cord disability (n=7, 1.7%) covered by only The Guardian (n=7, 3.5%) in the form of photographs

on the back page of the newspaper; head injury/brain disability (n=7, 1.7%) covered only by The

Punch (n=7, 3.5%) and hearing disability (n=7, 1.7%) covered by only The Guardian (n=7, 3.5%).

These imply that the extent of coverage was accorded more for mobility/physical disability,

unspecified disability, psychological disorder, visual disability and cognitive/learning disability.

While, spinal cord disability, head injury/brain disability and hearing disability were accorded the

lowest extent of coverage. Although some types of disabilities were mentioned more than others,

the findings reveal that all types of disabilities were included in the reports.

The fourth objective was to identify the prominence placed on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers. Prominence was measured using position of story. Stories on the front page

and back page signify high prominence, stories on the Op-Ed page depict medium prominence,

while stories on the inside pages signify low prominence. Findings of this study show that out of a

total of 407 stories across the selected newspapers, majority of the stories were concentrated on the

inside pages (n=374, (91.9%) signifying low prominence. Stories on the front page were 18 (4.4%),

stories on the back page were 4 (1.0%), and stories on the Op-Ed page were 11 (2.7%). Going by

the criteria set in determining the level of prominence, high prominence accounted for 5.4%,

medium prominence accounted for 2.7%, and low prominence accounted for a significant 91.9% of

all stories published by the selected newspapers within the period of study. When the newspapers

are considered independently in their coverage of persons with disabilities, findings show that high

prominence was accorded more by The Guardian (8.6%) than The Punch (1.8%).

45
 The fifth objective was to determine the depth of coverage on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers. Depth of coverage was measured by the amount of space the story occupied

on a page. Full page indicates a large depth of coverage, half page indicates a moderate depth of

coverage, quarter page indicates a small depth of coverage. The findings of the study show that

majority of the stories on persons with disabilities was published on quarter pages in The Guardian

(n=292, 84.4%) and The Punch (n=177, 52.2%). However, The Punch covered more stories in

larger depth than The Guardian. Compared to The Guardian, The Punch published more stories in

Full Pages (n=53, 26.5%) and Half Pages (n=43, 21.2%) than The Guardian (Full Page: n=7, 3.5%.

Half Page: n=25, 12.1%). This implies a larger depth of coverage on persons with disabilities by

The Punch than The Guardian. The bulk of coverage on persons with disabilities in The Guardian

are recorded on half and quarter pages which indicates The Guardian had a moderate-low depth of

coverage on persons with disabilities. Overall, the depth of coverage on persons with disabilities is

significantly low in both The Guardian and The Punch newspapers.

The sixth objective was to determine the tone of coverage on persons with disabilities in the

selected newspapers. Tone was measured in terms of positive, negative and neutral tone. A positive

news report is one which reports successes or achievements of persons with disabilities and

improvements to their standard of living. A negative news report is one which reports problems in

need of a solution with regard to persons with disabilities. A neutral news report is one which

simply provides information concerning persons with disabilities without alluding to negative or

positive outcomes. The findings of the study show a majority of positive reports (n=204, 50.1%) on

persons with disabilities in the selected newspapers. Negative reports took up 23.8% of the findings

while neutral reports took up 26%. The Guardian newspaper reported 60.1% of positive stories,

13.9% of negative stories and 26.0% of neutral stories. The Punch newspaper reported 39.8% of

positive stories, 33.6% of negative stories and 26.5% of neutral stories. Therefore, the findings

show that most reports on persons with disabilities had a positive tone in The Punch followed by a
46
negative and then a neutral tone. In contrast The Guardian reported more positive stories followed

by neutral and then negative stories on persons with disabilities. In general, the selected newspapers

presented news on persons with disabilities from various perspectives.

4.3 Limitations of the Study

This research work was limited in the following areas:

It was labour intensive and expensive to undertake the research. It was inconvenient to spend long

hours at the library to go through the newspapers. There is a restricted amount of previous

empirical research about the representation of persons with disabilities by the press in Nigeria.

Before embarking on my research, I only found one existing related research carried out in 2013 by

Ogundola Olusola.

Another limitation to this study was the use of only two newspapers – The Guardian and The

Punch - as a sample of the privately owned national newspapers in Nigeria, which limits the scope

of the study. However, I believe it was still a good way to assess the representation of PWDs by the

Nigerian press, as I cannot carry out a content analysis of all the newspapers in Nigeria, I had to

select a sample. Also my research only took into account newspapers, leaving out other forms of

the media. However, I believe the newspaper is a good place to start due to its accessibility and

wide reach across the nation.

47
 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary

This study sought to investigate the representation of persons with disabilities in privately owned

national newspapers in Nigeria. The Guardian and The Punch Newspapers were used as a case

study. The essence of this was to see how the Nigerian press is performing one of its primary roles

which is to provide information and surveillance on happenings in the Nigerian society. One major

issue in Nigerian society is the rights of persons with disabilities and their integration in the
48
Nigerian society. The Nigerian press has a role to play in representing marginalised groups such as

persons with disabilities in the Nigerian society. In light of this, the purpose of the study was to

score how Nigerian Newspapers have utilised the freedom of the press to publish stories about

persons with disabilities in order to influence changes in the functionality of the government for

this group of people.

Using the pressing issue which is the need for a complete implementation of the Discrimination

Against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018 in all aspects of the Nigerian society, it is

important for the media to prioritise its agenda setting role for the purpose of increasing the

awareness of the public to the issues surrounding PWDs and to create a greater sense of social

responsibility in the mind of the Nigerian towards supporting and encouraging the Nigerian

government to take measures to assist PWDs in living a life that is progressive in the Nigerian

society.

Review of literature in this study took into consideration the review of relevant concepts, the

theoretical framework and empirical review. Under the review of relevant concepts, disability was

conceptualised and related sub-concepts were outlined including the rights of persons with

disabilities outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as well as

presented in the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act, 2018. Existing

literature on persons with disabilities and their representation in the media was also explored.

The agenda-setting theory, the framing theory, and the development media theory formed the

theoretical foundation for the study. Each theory was discussed with its relevance to the study being

pointed out.

The empirical review for this study took a look at previous studies which analysed the

representation of persons with disabilities by the media in various parts of the world, including in

Nigeria. The review also examined how the Nigerian media has performed in representing persons

with disabilities. It was observed that there is a dearth of research on the representation of persons

49
with disabilities by the Nigerian media. There was only one research found on the representation of

persons with disabilities by the Nigerian newspapers which was a qualitative content analysis

carried out in 2013. This was a major gap in literature this study attempted to fill.

Content analysis was the research method adopted for this study. The accessible population of the

study encompassed the 362 weekday and weekend editions of The Punch and The Guardian

published between January 1 – June 30, 2019. A total of 407 contents on persons with disabilities,

in the selected newspapers were found, coded, and analysed using the Microsoft Excel application.

Findings of the study revealed that persons with disabilities are significantly reported in the

selected newspapers through news reports and photographs than through features, columns, and

editorials. It also revealed that the coverage of persons with disabilities was all inclusive of the

various types of disabilities. Another finding is that stories on persons with disabilities was mainly

given low prominence as they were located on the inside pages of the selected newspapers.

Furthermore, findings, showed a low depth to the coverage of persons with disabilities. This was

indicated by the space allocated to individual stories in the selected newspapers. It was found that a

majority of stories in the selected newspapers were published on quarter pages. Lastly, it was

discovered that the general tone of coverage of persons with disabilities varied between positive,

negative and neutral. It was implied that the varieties of tones to the coverage is a reflection of the

variety of issues beleaguering persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

5.2 Conclusion

Due to its findings, this study concludes that The Punch and The Guardian newspapers

represent persons with disabilities through frequent coverage in a variety of formats of reportage. It

was also discovered that stories which are inclusive of all forms of disabilities are reported by the

selected newspapers. In The Guardian and The Punch Newspapers, a vast majority of stories on

PWDs were presented through news reports and photographs and to a much lesser extent in the

form of features and columns which are more analytical and interpretive of the experience of

50
persons with disabilities. Therefore, the privately owned national papers were more focused on

reporting events related to PWDs than about the personal experiences of PWDs.

The level of prominence the media accords to issues faced by PWDs in their coverage is

fundamental to how the public would come to see such issues as important. In this study, it was

discovered that The Punch gave attention to the personal experience of persons with disabilities by

the sustained frequency of its coverage of persons with disabilities through photographs and

features. The Guardian did this through the use of photographs and columns.

From the results of the study, it is clear that The Guardian published more stories than The

Punch as it is a bulkier publication than The Punch. Also, The Guardian newspaper gave more

prominence to issues relating to PWDs compared to The Punch Newspaper.

The findings show that the newspapers performed their information function which is useful to

draw people together in the society to cause positive change.

5.3 Recommendations

In view of the lower percentage of editorials published on the issues concerning PWDs in

the newspapers studied, it is pertinent to recommend that more attention be devoted to this category

of reportage in order to provide more in-depth exposition and analysis of issues concerning persons

with disabilities in Nigeria. Such reports will be read by people in a position to implement positive

change for PWDs in Nigeria.

For issues that concern persons with disabilities, it is imperative that the Nigerian Press

places greater attention on informing the public about the challenges, successes, and participation

of persons with disabilities in the Nigerian society. The press should also endeavour to get

information from reliable governmental and non-governmental bodies in order to provide a well-

rounded report on PWDs for a more representative coverage of the group of persons.

51
5.4 Suggestion for Further Studies

As this study only examined national newspapers, further research should be conducted on

the representation of persons with disabilities in other forms of Nigerian media such as the

broadcast media i.e. television and radio. Secondly, researchers could increase the scope of this

research by studying other news coverage categories such as origin/source of disability related

news stories, and geographical area of focus of disability related news coverage. The 6-month

period of this study merely represents a phase in what is a large and continuous environment

fostering a need for continuous study of disability related communication by the Nigerian media.

Further research should analyse the representation of PWDs by the media in different states

of Nigeria in order to assess how they are represented in those regions. Importantly, future research

studies should adopt a mixed method of content analysis and survey in order to receive feedback

from persons with disabilities and to analyse perceptions about the media representation of such

groups of individuals.

REFERENCES

Adekunle, S.A. (2014). Media coverage of people living with disabilities in Nigeria (A
content Analysis of the Guardian and The Nigerian Tribune). Retrieved on January 10, 2019
from
https://www.academia.edu/29629748/media_coverage_of_people_living_with_disabilities_
in_nigeria_a_content_analysis_of_the_guardian_and_the_nigerian_tribune_

Al Ju’beh, K. (2015). Disability inclusive development toolkit. Bensheim: CBM. Retrieved January
15, 2019 from http://www.cbm.org/article/downloads/54741/CBM-DID-TOOLKIT
accessible.pdf

52
AnswersAfrica. (n.d.). Top 10 Nigerian Newspapers most read online. Retrieved December 19,
2019, from https://answersafrica.com/top-10-nigerian-newspapers-most-read-online.html

Asemah, E. S., Gujibawu, M., Ekhareafo, D. O., & Okpanachi, R.A. (2012). Content Analysis. In
Research Methods and Procedures in Mass Communication. (p.79). Jos: Great Future Press.

Asemah, E. S., Gujibawu, M., Ekhareafo, D. O., & Okpanachi, R.A. (2012). Reliability of
Instruments. In Asemah, E. S., Gujibawu, M., Ekhareafo, D. O., & Okpanachi, R.A. (Eds).
Research Methods and Procedures in Mass Communication. (p. 204). Jos: Great Future
Press.

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Retrieved 12 th July 2019, from
www.nigerialaw.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm

Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Retrieved on June 15, 2019, from
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-
with-disabilities.html

Cunningham I. (2016). Media and Disability - Issues of Portrayal and Access. NUI Galway, Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/5731

Davie, G. (2011). Agenda Setting Theory. Retrieved January 9, 2019, from

http://masscommtheory.com/theory-overviews/agenda-setting-theory/

Davis, L. J. (2010). Constructing normalcy. In L. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader
(pp. 3-19). New York: Routledge.

Department for International Development (DFID). (2000). Disability, Poverty and Development.
RetrievedJanuary9,2019,fromhttps://www.dochas.ie/sites/default/files/dfid%20disability.pdf

Ewang A. (2019, January 25). Nigeria Passes Disability Rights Law. Human Rights Watch.
Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/01/25/nigeria-passes-
disability-rights-law

Folarin (2002). The Development Media Theory. In Anaeto, S. G., Onabajo, O. S., & Osifeso, J. B.
(2008), Models and Theories of Communication (pp. 63-64). Lagos:African Renaissance
Books Incorporated.

Fundación ONCE (2008). Increasing and Improving Portrayal of People with Disabilities in the
Media. Spain Madrid.

Hanifen, K. (2019, July). Living with Disabilities in Nigeria. Retrieved September 12, 2019, from
The Borgen Project Web site: https://borgenproject.org/disabilities-in-nigeria/

Iyengar, S., & Kinder, D. (1987). In News That Matters: Television and American Opinion (2010
Ed.). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

53
McCombs, M., & Reynolds, A (2002). News influence on our pictures of the world. In Bryant, J.,
&
Zillmann, D. (Eds.), Media Effects:
Advances in Theory and Research (pp. 1-18). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

McCombs, M., & Shaw, D. (1972). The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media. The Public
Opinion Quarterly, 36(2), 176-187. doi: 10.1086/267990

Mitra, S. & Sambamoorthi, U. (2014). Disability prevalence among adults: Estimates for 54
countries and progress toward a global estimate. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36(11), 940-
947. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2013.825333

Ogundola, Olusola John, "Framing Disability: A Content Analysis of Newspapers in Nigeria"

(2013). Media Studies - Theses. 15. https://surface.syr.edu/ms_thesis/15

Pelka, F. (2012). What we have done: An oral history of the disability rights movement.
Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press. 4.

Popoola, N., Falayi, K., Eniola, T. (2017, December 7). PUNCH Wins Newspaper, Editor of the
year
awards at DAME. The Punch. Retrieved August 10, 2019, from
https://punchng.com/punch-wins-newspaper-editor-of-the-year-awards-at-dame/

Sanchez, J (Ed). (2010). Media Guidelines for Portrayal of Disability. International Labour
Organisation(ILO). Retrieved July 29, 2019, from http://www.dpiap.org/resources/pdf/
Media_Guidelines_Disabilities_10_05_17.pdf

Shakespeare, T. (2010). The social model of disability. In L. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies
reader. (pp. 266-273). New York: Rutledge.

UN General Assembly, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: resolution / adopted
by the General Assembly, 24 January 2007, A/RES/61/106. https://www.refworld.org/docid/
45f973632.html [accessed 28 July 2019]

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). (n.d.) Fact sheet on
persons with disabilities. Retrieved March 2nd, 2019 from https://www.un.org/development
/desa/disabilities/resources/factsheet-on-persons-with-disabilities.html

Walgrave, S., & Van Aelst, P. (2006). The contingency of the mass media's political agenda
setting power: Toward a preliminary theory. Journal of Communication, 56, 88-109.

World Bank, Disability & HIV/AIDS (World Bank: 2020). Retrieved on 5th January 2019, from
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability

WHO & World Bank. (2011). World report on disability: Main report (English).

54
 Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. Retrieved January 15, 2019 from http://documents.
worldbank.org/curated/en/665131468331271288/Main-report

APPENDIX I: CODING MANUAL

1. Name of Newspaper

The Punch …………………………………………………………… 01

The Guardian …..………………………….....……………………… 02

55
2. Year

2019 ……………………………………………………………..........01

3. Month

January ……........…………………………………………………… 01

February …………………………………………………………….. 02

March ………..……………………………………………………… 03

April…………………………………………………………………..04

May…………………………………………..……………………… 05

June………………………………………………..………………… 06

4. Format of Coverage

News reports ………………………………………………………... 01

Features ………..…………………………………………………….... 02

Photographs ......................…………………………………………...... 03

Columns …….............………………………………………………… 04

5. Position of Story:

Front Page (Main Lead) ………………………………………………………… 01

Front page (Other) ……………………………………………………………... 02

Back page ………..........……………………………………………………….. 03

OP-Ed page ……………………………………………………………………. 04

Inside Pages ………………..………………………………………………….. 05

6. Space Allocated:

Full Page ………………………………………………………………………. 01

Half Page ………………………………………………………………………. 02

Quarter Page …………………………………………………………………… 03

56
 7. Tone of Coverage:

Positive Tone ……..........……………………………………………………… 01

Negative Tone …………………………………………………………………. 02

Neutral Tone …………...……………………………………………………… 03

8. Nature of Disability

Mobility/Physical Disability ………………………………………………….….01

Spinal Cord disability ……………………………………………………………02

Head Injury/Brain Disability ……………………………………...……………..03

Vision disability ………………………………………………………………....04

Hearing disability ………………………………………………………………..05

Cognitive/Learning disability …………………………………………………...06

Psychological disorder …………………………………………………………..07

Invisible disability ………………………………………………………………08

APPENDIX II: CODING SHEET

S/N. PAGE DATE/CATEGORY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
NO.

57
58