The Other Side of the Pandemic Reportage : Audience Perception of COVID-19 Media Framing and its Influence on Social Polarization

Sammanfattning: This research aimed to explore the experiences of Lagos State residents during COVID-19 and the relationship between COVID-19 reportage in Lagos State and ethnic inter-relationship. The goal is to understand media influence in a society from the perspectives of people directly influenced by the COVID-19 media frames. This thesis is the first research to explore ethnic polarization in Lagos State within the context of media and COVID-19. It is significant for researchers and decision-makers in the media to fully grasp what media audiences think about health reportage and how it influences them. It will help direct researchers on the way for further research and help the media decision-makers know what needs to be the focus of improvement for health reportage in Lagos State. The research adopted a non-media centric approach to study mediatization from below. A non-media centric approach means studying subjects in the lower part of the power relations in a mediatized society. The focus is shifted from what the media says to what the audiences perceive from the media and how it shapes their perception of a topic and their everyday actions. The theories of Mediatization and Framing were adopted to understand the power of media and the process of shaping the audience’s perception through media frames. Furthermore, Contact Theory was used to explain the relationship between the pandemic situation and ethnic polarization in Lagos State. COVID-19 changed Lagosians’ everyday lives, and amid these changes, there is an increased level of Lagosians’ independence on the media for information about the pandemic. Research findings show that COVID-19 reportage created and increased the fear and anxiety of Lagosians all through the pandemic period. This influence is attributed to the daily media report of COVID-19 confirmed cases and the lack of news about other phenomena in the media. However, these reportages also helped Lagosians stay aware of the preventive measures to take, and some interviewees affirmed that it was an essential factor that gave them confidence and helped reduce their anxiety. During COVID-19, social relationships were negatively affected as people could not physically meet with their friends, families, and colleagues. Furthermore, the research analysis showed that even though social relationships were affected, and ethnic relationships and contact were reduced, it yielded a good result for Lagos State. Unlike before COVID-19, ethnic conflicts drastically reduced while social cohesion and peace were promoted. However, there were other tragic happenings, such as palliatives looting and warehouse robbery. The media also did not report on ethnic conflicts and polarization as there was nothing to report on that. Therefore, this research concludes that ethnic conflicts were reduced during COVID-19 due to a lack of contact between individuals from different ethnic groups.