Assessment of the frame patterns of Nigerian newspapers in the reportage of financial corruption in Nigeria

Abstract Corruption is endemic in the Nigerian society and it needs close monitoring, and the media is best equipped to do this through the effective discharge of its surveillance and correlation functions. However, research on media and the coverage of corruption stories have often been done quantitatively, leaving out the qualitative aspect. Consequently, this study sought to analyse the pattern of frames, genre and valence the newspapers used in constructing stories of financial corruption in Nigeria. Financial corruption stories, involving three former government officials, who allegedly embezzled public funds under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, were purposively selected and content- analysed from the websites of three purposively selected Nigerian newspapers. Findings reveal that attribution of responsibility, economic consequence, conspiracy, conflict and response frames were the dominant frames Nigerian newspapers used in constructing their stories. The newspaper reports do not favour those involved in financial corruption cases as the newspapers commonly emphasised the newspapers’ stand against corrupt acts. The journalistic genres used in exposing financial corruption cases were mainly features, straight news stories and editorials. The study concludes that the selected newspapers gave adequate coverage to corruption stories and recommends that the media should move beyond mere coverage of corruption stories and focus more on structural causes that perpetuate corruption, and at the same time, should prescribe solutions to it. Key Words: Nigerian Newspapers, Financial Corruption, Economic development communication and advocacy; crisis and conflict management; human, social and civic rights; children’s health and safety; and gender studies. **** Obaloluwa Oyewo is a chartered accountant and business scholar with particular emphasis on Entrepreneurship and Small business. He works at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Nigeria where he lectures and performs other administrative duties. He is also a doctoral student of Business Administration (Entrepreneurship and Small Business) at Babcock University. His areas of interests are e-Eommerce, Financial Technology and Entrepreneurship. ***** Olusola Oyeyinka Oyewo, Ph.D., is a Professor of Organizational/Applied Communication and Head, Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan. Ibadan. Nigeria. His research focus and interests include: Rumour, Diversity Studies, Applied Communication, Organizational and Business Communication, Business Journalism, and Fake News. Article Citation Emechebe, G.I.O., Odebiyi, S.D., Oyewo, A., Oyewo, O. & Oyewo, O.O. (2022). Assessment of the frame patterns of Nigerian newspapers in the reportage of financial corruption in Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (2): 97-108. Full Article Words: 8,432 Pages: 12 To access full article, click on download.