| Abstract: |
The media is replete with stories and investigations into the prevalence of sexual harassment in Nigeria, both in the academia and the workplace environment, with the story on the alleged Natasha-Akpabio sexual harassment case making rounds online and generating reactions from within Nigeria and beyond. In view of this, the study aimed to find out the perception of online (Vanguard and Punch) newspaper reportage of the alleged case among select Mass Communication students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. To achieve this objective, the study was anchored on the framing and perception theories and conducted using the descriptive survey design. With this research design, pre-tested close-ended questionnaire were administered to the students. Students in levels 200, 300 and 400 are 520 (224, 110 and 186, respectively), were selected and formed the population of this study. The students in 100 level were excluded from this study because the researcher was reliably informed that they were “unbundled”. With this being stated, the Taro Yamane formula was used to get the sample size of 226 that were studied. The samples were randomly selected before the onward distribution of pre-tested close-ended questionnaires to them. The data that were collected from the students, were analyzed using frequency tables and simple percentages. The outcome of the study, revealed, among others, that the students believe that the online reportage of the Natasha-Akpabio sexual harassment case by the selected national dailies triggers gender war online. Consequently, it was recommended, among others, that the selected national dailies should always gauge the reactions of their online readers whenever they put out their reports on the alleged case online. This will help them in structuring and presenting their online reports on the alleged case in ways they will not generate unintended reactions from their online readers. |
