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

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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
Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa to soft sell magazines. Each of the newspapers had 182 issues (including the Sunday editions) during the period. Every copy was searched for news, articles, editorial, comments, opinions and letters to the editor on issues of S/SH/SR. Some issues carried more than one piece of information on S/SH/SR while some issues contained no related information. The articles were counted and presented on frequency tables below. Articles were assessed to determine the contents which were then grouped under different headings according to themes. Some articles contained information which could qualify them for more than one group. Nevertheless, attempts were made to group each article under one heading depending on the main information in the article. To determine the percentage of coverage and presentation, each article was treated as if it were carried on one issue of the newspapers assessed. Statistical Layout And Analysis Question 1: How many articles were published on issues of S/SH/SR between January 1 and June 30? Table 1: Number of articles on issues of S/SH/SR Newspapers The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet No. Of Times Percentage Issues with Matters of S/SHSR 112 62% 82 45% 69 38% 56 31% 51 28% Question 2: What Aspects of Sexuality were featured in the media? Table 2: Frequency of Representation of aspects of S/SH/SR Newspapers The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet Table 3: Frequency of articles for specific audience Newspapers The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet No. Of Times No. Of Times 14 9 10 7 4 84 70 26 26 15 Sexuality Sexual Health Sexual Right Percentage No. Of Percentage No. Of Percentage Times Times Audience Youths Men Women General Percentage No. Of Percentage No. Of No. Of Percentage Times Times Times Percentage 13% 11% 14% 13% 8% 75% 85% 38% 46% 29% Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Nigeria Aspects Discussed 28 25% 0 0% 12 15% 0 0% 37 53% 6 9% 22 39% 8 14% 27 53% 9 18% Question 3 : For which Audience were the articles meant? 4 4% 5 4% 89 79% - -% 2 2% 71 87% 4 6% 4 6% 51 74% 2 4% 2 4% 44 80% 1 4% 6 12 % 40 78%
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