NEWSPAPERS AND BLOGS COVERAGE OF INSECURITY IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigates, the “Public Perception of Media Coverage of Insecurity in Benue State: A Comparative Study of Newspapers and Blogs”. The agenda setting theory was harnessed to support the research. The survey research design was used with the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Findings reveal that people see insecurity issues on newspapers and blogs in Benue State on weekly basis. It was also found that that the depth of newspapers and blogs stories on insecurity in Benue State is semi-lengthy stories. Findings also proved that that online newspapers carry news on insecurity issues most in Benue State and the newspapers coverage of insecurity in Benue state is satisfactory. The study recommends among other things that since it has been realized that online newspapers are timelier and more frequent in reporting insecurity issues in Benue state, members of the public in the state should cultivate the habit of visiting the online versions of these daily newspapers in order to keep themselves abreast of not just news on insecurity but also news of varying subjects of public concern.