Reportage and framing of cases involving the clergy in four selected Nigerian newspapers

*MICHAEL O. UKONU, Ph.D., ** CHUKWUMA L. NWOSU, Ph.D., ***ELIZABETH A. OLANREWAJU, ****MARCEL MBAMALU, Ph.D., & *****VICTOR NWOGBO Abstract Cases of scandals involving the clergy have been rising in the public domain, and as a result in the media. Clergy scandals are often controversial, and this affects framing, portrayal and general coverage as well as public perception of the clergy. Hence, the study examines newspaper reportage of scandals involving the clergy. It undertakes a content analysis of Daily Sun, Vanguard, Punch and Daily Trust from January 1 2016 to December 31, 2016. Anchored on the framing theory, the study used a sample of 192 issues of the four newspapers using continuous and constructed week techniques. The study found that the newspapers reported clergy scandals using mostly human-interest frame. Major subject matter of coverage was sex-related scandals. Majority of stories were news, while story prominence and magnitude were low. The study recommends more use of interpretive stories. It concludes that high-level use of news items as genre of reporting appeared to be an escape route for the newspapers. This is in view of the sensitive nature of religion in Nigeria and the inconclusive nature of scandal stories at the time of reporting. This however has dire implications for agenda setting role of the media. Key Words: Clergy, Abuse, Cases, Newspaper, Media JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 12, No. 2, October 2020, pp. 42-53 © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). About the authors * Michael O. Ukonu, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His research interest is in ICT, media analysis and criticism, media sociology and health communication. ** Chukwuma L. Nwosu, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Federal University of Lokoja, Kogi State. His research interest is in specialised writings, development communication, journalism education and health communication. *** Elizabeth A. Olanrewaju is a research fellow at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her research interest is in media analysis and communication advocacy. ****Marcel Mbamalu, Ph.D., is Deputy News Editor, The Guardian Newspapers Limited, Isolo, Lagos. His research interest is in media analysis and health communication. *****Victor Nwogbo is a Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His research interest is in media writing, media sociology and news editing. Full Article Words: 7,075 Pages: 13 To access full article, click on download. Article Citation Ukonu, M. O., Nwosu, C. L., Olanrewaju, E. A., Mbamalu, M., & Nwogbo, V. (2020). Reportage and framing of cases involving the clergy in four selected Nigerian newspapers. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 12 (2): 42 – 53.