AN EVALUATION OF PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF FUEL PRICE INCREASE IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate public perception  newspaper coverage of Fuel Price Increase in  Nigeria. Survey Research method was adopted to carefully collect data using questionnaire and secondary sources. . A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, collated and analyzed. The theoretical framework used to discuss the relevance of the media in covering fuel price Increase are the Psychological theory of Perception, Agenda setting theory and Media dependency theory.  Findings show that mass media especially newspapers give a high level of media coverage to fuel Price increase and subsidy removal in the country. Findings also reveal that the mass media has a way of influencing audience attitude. However, the study recommends As the fourth restate of the realm and watchdogs, there is need for the media to publish credible information to the interest of the public. Egbon (1994), a renowned professor of communication, who compiled comprehensives guideline to help media organizations in their reportage of crises and conflicts, was cited by Ekeanyanwu (2001) as saying: “Collective national interest must supersede parochial ethnic and individual interest.