GENDER REPRESENTATION IN POLITICAL REPORTING IN NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

Despite global trend towards gender inclusion in politics and media representations, it seems Nigeria is still steep in patriarchal approach to politics and gender representations in the media. The study examined gender representation in political reporting during the 2019 governorship election in Kogi state, North Central Nigeria.  The study examined the level of prominence in terms of gender-based difference in the news coverage, placement of stories of each candidate and the format of news story used by the selected newspapers for each candidate. The study was premised on media framing theory while content analysis of 177 editions of three purposively selected newspapers namely The Punch, Nigerian Tribune and The Nation newspapers were undertaken. The findings revealed gender marginalization as the only female candidate Natasha Akpoti received less prominence (19.5%) and was reported once in the front page of Punch newspaper and featured eight times compared to the two male candidates; Bello had 44.8% and Wada 42.2% respectively. Based on the findings, the study recommended that newspaper houses as conscience of the society should be at the vanguard of championing gender inclusiveness in politics and more female political participation through giving media coverage, prominence and positive reportage of women politicians activities.