Depth, Direction, and Salience in the Reportage of the #EndBadGovernance Protests: A Comparative Analysis of Select Nigerian Newspapers

This study examined the newspaper coverage of the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria, focusing on The Punch, Vanguard, and The Nation newspapers between June and August 2024. It specifically investigated the depth of reportage, directional focus, salience, and framing techniques employed by the selected newspapers. Anchored on the Agenda Setting Theory and Social Responsibility Theory, the study adopted a content analysis research design. A total of 117 editions of the three national dailies were sampled, and relevant news items were systematically coded and analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings revealed that Punch provided the most in-depth coverage, characterized by a higher frequency of stories, longer article length, greater source diversity, and richer analytical depth compared to Vanguard and The Nation. The newspapers exhibited distinct directional emphases: Punch adopted predominantly problem- and solution-oriented frames, Vanguard maintained a balanced mix of frames, while The Nation leaned towards neutral and blameoriented reporting. In terms of salience, Punch gave the highest prominence to the protests through consistent front-page placement, while Vanguard and The Nation offered moderate visibility across various sections. Framing analysis showed that Punch emphasized economic and political issues, Vanguard focused on security and political dimensions, and The Nation combined political and economic frames. The study concludes that Nigerian newspapers displayed differentiated editorial approaches to protest reportage, with Punch demonstrating a more balanced and analytical engagement. It recommends that newspaper organizations should promote more solution-oriented and context-rich coverage of civic protests to enhance public understanding, democratic participation, and media responsibility in governance discourse.