Medical journalism and the challenges of accurate information dissemination during pandemics in Nigeria: An examination of corona virus

Abstract This paper provides an in-depth conceptual analysis of the expectations and performance of the mass media in public health concerns and emergencies and specifically in the dreaded corona pandemic from the perspective of medical journalism as an aspect of the broader health communication. This is an aspect of journalism that utilizes strategic communication techniques and technologies to improve personal, environmental, individual and public heath by effective gathering, storage, processing and dissemination of health-related news and information in the society. The media as a critical social institution is obliged to keep the society abreast of all contending socio-political and economic issues in the society by providing objective interpretation of events to the best understanding of the media audiences. The paper used theoretical sampling to select journal articles on health communication and medical journalism for analysis. Document analysis was employed as the primary method of data generation in the study to analyze the performances of the media in Corona Virus pandemic. The paper argues that effective utilization of the conventional media in information and news dissemination will ultimately enhance citizens’ understanding of the mystery, ambiguity and controversy associated with corona virus pandemic in Nigeria. Key Words: Corona Virus Pandemic, Media, Public Perception. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 15, No. 1, April 2023, pp. 46-53. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). About the authors *Hassan Alhaji Ya’u, Ph.D., is with the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. **Yusuf Adamu is with the Department of Mass Communication, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria. Article Citation Ya’u, H. A. & Adamu, Y. (2023). Medical journalism and the challenges of accurate information dissemination during pandemics in Nigeria: An examination of corona virus. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 15 (1): 46-53. Full Article Words: 5,550 Pages: 8 To access full article, click on download.