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A Comparative Study of Climate Change Framing in Select Port Harcourt-Based Newspapers

Wowor, Baridule Christian, Nsereka B. G Nwankpa N. N

Abstract

Given the activities of industries in Rivers state, residents are exposed to the consequences of climate change, yet, how they view the phenomenon of climate change can be influenced by how Port Harcourt-based newspapers treat climate change in terms of importance and frames, hence, this study, which is aimed at comparatively analysing how the following Port Harcourt-based newspapers, The Tide, National Network, Weekly Star and the Port Harcourt Telegraph, framed climate change in their reportage from January 2023-December 2024. The study is anchored on the Social Responsibility, Framing, and Agenda Setting Theories. Using the content analysis research design, the study which reviewed over 10 empirical works, collected data from 672 sample size draw from a cumulative population of 2,920 editions of the newspapers. Analysing the data in tables of simple percentages, it was found, among others, that the National Network reported climate change more frequently than The Tide, Weekly Star, and the Port Harcourt Telegraph; and that human interests and solution/remediation were the dominant frames used by the newspapers in their reportage of the climate change. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that climate change reportage among Port Harcourt-based newspapers is increasingly gaining traction though the frequency of reportage and the prominence given it by the newspapers are relatively and comparatively low. Consequently, it was recommended among others that Port Harcourt-based newspaper houses should improve their coverage of climate change related issues.

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