Communication campaigns and the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of contradictions in online discourse

Abstract The study examined the nature of discourse at national and international levels on the origin, treatment and cure, prevention and vaccine development against COVID-19.It was conducted in 2020 with the aim of finding out the global pattern of information flow; consensus and contradictions in the discourse among different interest groups and the directions of global information flow on the pandemic. It used Discourse Analysis as its theoretical foundation and method. The study found, among others, that the discourse by health organizations, scientists and politicians touched on all the themes (origin, prevention and cure, and vaccine) and, that the discourse on preventive measures from the top information-sharing organisations, politicians and scientists were the most mentioned and talked about. The study identified many contradictions on the themes, even though there are few areas of consensuses. It concluded that there is information glut and high levels of knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 which, ordinarily, should have led to substantial compliance by the public to the numerous advisories by health organisations, professionals and political leaders. It also concluded that inherent contradictions in the discourse had negative impact on the knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practices of citizens in the fight against the pandemic. Key Words: COVID-19, Pandemic, Infodemic, Communication Campaigns, Online Discourse. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 14, No. 1, April 2022, pp. 168-179 © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). About the authors * Danjuma Gambo, Ph.D., is a Professor of Development Communication at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. He teaches Development Communication, Speech and Public Speaking and News Writing. His research interests include, but not limited to, development communication, media and development, health communication and media and society. ** Mohammed Auwal Umar, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9756-0239, is a Graduate Assistant and M.Sc. student in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is a former journalist with the Daily Trust. His research interests include journalism, development communication, media and society, and communication technologies. *** Jude Melea Moses is a Graduate Assistant and M.Sc. student in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. His research interests include Communication Research and Development Communication. **** Hajara Ibrahim Garba is a Graduate Assistant and M.Sc. student in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Areas of research interests include, but not limited to, ICT, development communication, international communication/relations and human communication. Article Citation Gambo, D., Umar, M.A., Moses, J.M. & Garba, H.I. (2022). Communication campaigns and the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of contradictions in online discourse. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (1): 168 – 179 Full Article Words: 8,060 Pages: 13 To access full article, click on download.