Abstract
This research is a content analytic study of five Nigerian online newspapers – Daily Trust, Premium Times, Vanguard, The Guardian, and The Nation. The study seeks to establish patterns of readers’ comments under the parameters of response rate according to medium and subject, identities used by readers who comment online and the implications of readers’ comments on peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. Study findings show that readers’ response rate by medium follows this order - The Vanguard, Premium Times, Daily Trust, ThisDay, and The Guardian while by subject, issues of politics and occasionally, sports elicit more comments. Over 70 percent of readers who comment online in Nigeria do not use their true identities but rather resort to pseudonyms and initials. On the quality of comments, the study found a mixed grill of constructive, half baked and nonsensical commentary with the later two in overwhelming majority. Comments on politics and religion reveal deep distrust among sections of the country as well as adherents of the two major religions – Christianity and Islam. While this study has identified numerous shortcomings in the patterns of comments on online media, it nonetheless submits that the practice has greatly widened the space allowing audiences to freely express themselves on issues of the day which no doubt promotes the time honoured tenet of freedom of expression. What the study suggests is more effective moderation on the part of online media administrators to cut down on most of the deficits identified.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
ONLINE MEDIA, READER'S COMMENTS, USES AND GRATIFICATION, DIVERSION, MODERATION
