Evaluating the participation of Nigerian newspapers in flood disaster risk reduction

This study assessed the role played by the Nigerian media in flood risk reduction.It evaluates the content of two major newspapers in reportage of 2012 flood disaster.In 2012, worst flood disaster in the history of Nigeria occurred wreaking havoc in 30 out of its 36 states. Aftermath of the hazard, stakeholders traded blames and resolved to work together to reduce flood risk.Media is one of the key stakeholders in the society.It informs, educate and mobilize people for common goal, hence the need to examine role it played in 2012 flood disaster. The research method employed in this study is quantitative content analysis of two widely circulated Nigerian newspapers – The Punch and The Trust. The manifest contents of the newspapers were critically analysed from Januari, 2012 – December 31, 2012.The result of the analysis showed that the media did little to create awareness of impending flood and educate people of activities than could make the society disaster –prone.Also, it was observed that the media was highly active during and after the flood occurrences, reporting human misery, economic woes and blaming disaster management organisations and government.The study, therefore, among others, recommends that the media needs to engage more in proactive reporting, development journalism and collaborate with other stakeholders to reduce disaster risks