Media Coverage of the Political Crisis in Rivers State: An Analysis of Select Newspapers in Nigeria

Published July 18, 2026 | Version v1

Journal article Open

1. Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt.

This study investigates how The Guardian, Punch, and Vanguard newspapers reported the

political crisis in Rivers State between October 30, 2023, and October 30, 2024. The objectives were to examine

the frequency of media coverage and to identify the dominant frames employed in reporting the crisis. Anchored

on Conflict Theory and Agenda-Setting Theory, the study adopted a one-tiered content analysis design. The

population comprised 1,095 newspaper editions within the study period, from which 312 issues (104 per

newspaper) were purposively sampled. Data were gathered using coding sheets and coding guides focusing on

story direction, theme, and prominence. Validity was ensured through expert vetting by communication scholars,

while reliability was tested using Holsti’s inter-coder reliability formula. Data collection involved systematic

review and coding of both print and online editions, and analysis was conducted using the Constant

Comparative Technique (CCT) to identify emergent frames and patterns. Findings revealed that the crisis

received sustained coverage—312 stories in total—with Vanguard publishing the most (39.1%), followed by

The Guardian (32.1%) and Punch (28.8%). The Conflict/Power frame (32.7%) dominated coverage, followed by

Peace/Resolution (24.4%) and Judicial/Political Strategy (19.2%) frames. The study concludes that while

newspapers ensured consistent reporting, they amplified elite-driven conflicts more than peace narratives, and

recommends integrating conflict-sensitive and peace journalism principles to promote balanced reporting.

Keywords: Media coverage, political crisis, Rivers State, content analysis, framing

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