Exposure to Economic News on News Tickers and its Influence on Perception of Nigeria Economy by Television Audience in Awka

Abstract

This study set out to identify the frames adopted by television stations in Nigeria in the reporting of economic news through news tickers.  Three television stations, The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), African Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, were analysed to find out the framing patterns of economic news content of news tickers. The study further set to find out whether economic news content of news tickers influence viewers' perception of the Nigerian economy. The survey and qualitative content analysis methods were used for this study; 591 news tickers were analysed for three months. The survey research design was used to interview 50 respondents purposively selected from five Ministries in Awka, the administrative capital of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. Finding indicate that private television stations reported economic   news in   a predominantly fear frame while the government owned television stations adopted more of solution frame in economic news on news tickers. Findings also showed that majority of television audience in Awka were exposed to economic news in news tickers but this exposure does not influence their perception of the Nigeria economy.

Keywords: Newstickers, Framing, Economic news. Television Stations, Journalists