Abstract

Sustainable forest management is central to reducing climate change impact. The media can help impress this importance on the minds of policymakers and the general public. However, the extent to which the media is carrying out its agenda-setting role in this respect is not absolute. This study, therefore, examined the reportage of forestry-related issues in Nigerian newspapers. A purposive sampling technique was used to select three Nigerian daily newspapers (Punch, Guardian and Vanguard) that have wide readership and report on forestry-related issues. The study was carried out between 1st January and 31st June 2016. Data on type of issues reported, the frequency of reportage, space allotted and placement was collected and analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result of the findings show that more than half of the forest-related issues reported were on public awareness (64.7%) with the modal frequency of reportage being11-20days (41.2%) while modal space allotted was 66-767cm2(76.5%). All issues (100%) were placed on the inner pages. Forestry related issues were not adequately covered in the newspapers. The study recommends that Government sponsor or subsidise forest related news in Nigerian newspapers to increase their reportage.

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