COVERAGE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES ON COVID-19 BY THE GUARDIAN AND PUNCH NEWSPAPERS (MARCH – DECEMBER, 2020)

Abstract

Following the spate of infodemic that trailed the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study sought to examine coverage of conspiracy theories. Adopting the content analysis research methodology, the study among other objectives sought to identify the frames of conspiracy theories in The Guardian and Punch newspapers and the extent to which the reports addressed health myths and related challenges in the nation’s health sector. The study was anchored on the theory of Planned Behaviour and Framing theory. The population consisted of all the 38 national dailies in Nigeria in the first stream and a total of 300 (i.e. 150 each) issues of The Guardian and Punch newspapers respectively, in the second stream. A sample size of 40 was determined from the population, using the composite week method. This was aided by the constructed study calendar that covered the period between March to December 2020. The instruments for data collection were the coding sheet and coding guide, while the units of analysis were straight news, editorial, interview, special reports, cartoons and letters to editors. Quantitative data were presented using frequency distribution tables and percentages, and analysed with the constant comparative technique. In view of the above, findings in the study indicated that reports on conspiracy theories appeared prominently on both The Guardian and Punch newspapers, while the dominant conspiracy theory frames were that COVID-19 is a means to install 5G network, COVID-19 is a Western ploy to weaken the rest of the world’s economies, and that the failing health sector exacerbated the spread of COVID-19. Results also showed that there were sustained reportage of COVID-19 stories in The Guardian and Punch newspapers, and that these reports adversely addressed health myths and related challenges in the nation’s health sector. Thus, the study concludes that there has been a preponderance of media reports on COVID-19, of much interest to communication researchers, including the extent to which the media have succeeded in juxtaposing facts with misinformation and conspiracy theories. It therefore becomes imperative for the media to shift from merely reporting COVID-19 pandemic from the periphery to further focus on issues that mitigate containment efforts. To this end, the study recommends that in tackling the effect of conspiracy theories on COVID-19, media should dedicate substantial space in providing all the right information about the virus, juxtaposing them with misinformation, while the media should galvanize all stakeholders to live up to their responsibilities by framing reports on efforts stakeholders are making towards containing the virus.