COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NEWS COVERAGE OF RURAL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGERIA OBSERVER AND EDO BROADCASTING SERVICE (EBS)
Abstract
This study was a comparative analysis of news coverage of rural social development in the Nigeria Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS). The unit of analysis focused on the frequency of coverage, prominence, and direction of coverage. Agenda-setting and Social Responsibility theories were adopted for the study. Data was sampled using purposive, stratified and systematic sampling techniques. Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) and Nigeria Observer were purposively selected for the study. A period of six months from November 2024 to April 2025 were studied for both media, giving a total of 181 days. Three days (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) were chosen for both media. This distribution resulted in 26 weeks × 3 days giving 78 days for both media. In the Nigerian Observer, 127 articles were found and in EBS, 143 news segments that bordered on rural social development, totalling 270 sample size. The study discovered that rural development received limited attention, with Nigeria Observer dedicating about one-third of its content and EBS just one-quarter to important issues on rural social development in the local government areas under study. The study recommended that media organizations should commit to giving more space and attention to rural development stories.
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