Prominence of Agricultural Information in Print Media: A Content Analysis of Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

The study adopted a content analysis approach to describe the prominence given to agricultural information in print media using selected Newspapers. Specifically, the study sort to ascertain the quantum of space allotted to agricultural information, the number of agricultural information reported the prominence given to agricultural information in Nigerian newspapers. Stratified and purposive sampling procedures were used to select a sample of 384 editions. Data were collected from hard copies of the Newspapers and were presented using frequencies and percentages. The hypotheses were realised using Kruskal Wallis (H) test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings revealed that a total of 102,317.57cm2 space was allotted to agricultural information. Only 398 pieces of agricultural information were reported. There were significant differences across the newspapers in the number and quantum of space allotted to agricultural information and there was a correlation (r=0.794 P?0.01) between the quantum of space allotted to agricultural information and the number of agricultural information reported. The Majority (86.6%) of the agricultural information was reported on the other pages of the Newspapers. The study recommended that the quantum of space allotted to agricultural information should be increased. Specialized pages should be allotted to agricultural information on prominent pages.

Keywords

• Print Media
• Prominence
• Agricultural information