Is News All About Politics?

Abstract

News covers all sorts of information that is worthy of publication. It includes reportage of all aspects of society following a strict observance of the media’s social responsibility function. In recent times, news publications have taken up specialized forms in respect to a more diversified audience. However, the so-called general interest newspapers are not so general in its interest. This study sought to ascertain if their idea of general interest is slanted to favour publication of more news on politics than any other aspect; the reason why this slant is prevalent and its effects on the audience and the society on the long run. The research employed the explanatory mixed method, using content analysis (Systematic random sampling) in two newspapers- Guardian and Daily Sun and survey research method (purposive random sampling) in Enugu State. Through the former, 644 out of 2862 news messages were published concerning politics (not as high as initially presumed). Respondents of both the interview and the questionnaire confirmed this high reportage. The survey methods affirmed the restive situation in the country was given as one of the major reasons for this trend and to a large extent; this large reports on politics have crippled the awareness to the needs of other aspects of the society but has also, sensitized the Nigerian society to the occurrences in leadership positions. The study, therefore, recommended that government should strive to be active in other areas of society so that they can give the media what to talk about and journalist should work towards a near equality in news coverage of all aspects of the society.

Keywords: news, politics, social responsibility and society