Sexuality in Media: Emerging Issues in Africa - Africa Regional ...

Introduction
This project was conceived by the Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre to
examine media reports on issues of Sexuality, Sexual Health and Sexual Rights
(S/SH/SR) which are very central to human well being. This is in recognition of
the role of the mass media in the dissemination of information in all issues
including those of S/SH/SR.
The Mass media amongst others have educative and persuasive functions. They
contribute to enlightening, broadening and deepening one's perspective,
suggesting alternative ideas and to entertainment. Thus, the mass media is
important in the dissemination of information on S/SH/SR. In an era when issues
of S/SH/SR have become important and sometimes threatening to human
existence, it becomes therefore imperative to examine what the media publishes
concerning these issues. Knowledge of the nature and quality of publications is
important as a basis for developing strategies on how to influence the media to
disseminate the type of information which is educative and empowering so as to
achieve a safe, responsible, respectful, and pleasurable and not life threatening
sexual life.
Objectives
This study sets out to achieve three basic objectives:
• To examine the level of print media reportage of sexuality issues in Nigeria,
in order to determine the quantity and quality of focus.
• Determine the contribution of the media to information, misinformation and
negative treatment of issues of sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights.
That is, how does the media use pictures, cartoons, language and positioning
of articles, editorials etc. to promote or devalue issues regarding sexuality,
sexual health and sexual rights?
• To determine the factors influencing the publishing (or absence) of articles
on sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights in the media.
Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Nigeria
Mass Media
The media are means though which members of the public could be reached
with information. According to DeFleur and Dennis (1981: 148), “Mass media
are devices for moving messages across distance or time to accomplish mass
communication”. Thus, the mass media are the various avenues through which
members of the public could be reached through a complex of devices
including, mechanical, print and electronic devices (Popoola, 2003: 94-95). The
present study is limited to the print media.
Methodology
The present study is limited to the print media. Five popular newspapers were
selected. These include: The Guardian, The Punch, The Vanguard, The Sun and
The Comet. These papers are widely read in Nigeria. The Guardian is perhaps,
the most widely read newspaper in the country. It is known for its seriousness
and the quality of its publications. The Punch is also widely read and its easy
style makes it appealing to the lower middle and lower classes. The same goes
for The Vanguard. The Sun is well known for its love for scandalous issues
especially those concerning sexuality and for that reason it is a popular daily.
The Comet was chosen because it is widely read in Western Nigeria. Since it is
relatively cheaper it is read also by the lower classes.
The study also tried to assess some soft sell magazines. Attempts to locate
archives of soft sell newspapers and magazines failed to yield successful results.
Publishers were reluctant to co-operate because they could not determine the
reasons why their magazines were of research interest. Many of the publishing
houses surprisingly claimed not to have an archive of their old papers. No
library had copies of the soft sell newspapers and magazines. So research into
their publications proved very difficult. In the end, the magazines chosen for
research were Excellence and Celebrity Magazine due to availability. Even
then, not all the copies could be found. Excellence had production problems
and was not published for some months including January to March 2004.
Celebrity was produced but the copies for January to March 2004 could not be
located even in their archives despite a frantic search. So, for the magazines, the
research was confined to three months for which the publications were available
i.e. April- June 2004. Some journalists and members of some Editorial Boards
were interviewed. People were also interviewed concerning their dispositions