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THE SYNTHESIS/CUMULATIVE REPORT ON THE MONITORING OF OIL & GAS REPORTAGE IN SIX NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS FOR THE PERIOD MARCH TO AUGUST 2015

Raji, Rasaki

Section I

1.0.        General introduction

This report covers the cumulative analysis of outcomes from the monitoring of the reporting of the oil and gas sector by six newspapers over a six-month period from March to August 2015. The newspapers monitored are: The Guardian, Vanguard, ThisDay, Business Day, The Punch, and Daily Trust.

The monitoring exercise was embarked upon by the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, with the funding support of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)

Section II

• 2.0.        Methodology

The newspapers were purposively selected being nationally published and circulated newspapers with robust coverage of the oil and gas sector. All the selected newspapers have specialized pages on which oil and gas issues are reported on a daily and weekly basis.

The methodology also entailed the tracking and analysis of oil and gas reports on the front and back pages as well as those published on such specialized pages as Oil & Gas page, Energy page, Business page, and Marketing & Finance page. Also considered were editorials whose content focused on the oil and gas sector.

Quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted for the analysis of the findings. Accordingly, the report is divided into two sections. The first deals with the quantitative analysis of the findings while the second relates to the qualitative analysis.

The quantitative analysis reflects:

•     The number of reports on oil and gas issues as published in the selected pages during the period;
• The number of references made in the relevant reports to the twelve (12) precepts across the Natural Resource Charter Decision Chain;
• The number of editorials on oil and gas issues;
• The total number of pages dedicated to the reporting of the relevant items;
• The situation (that is placement) of the reports; and
• The number of reports per Reporter or Correspondent.

 

The qualitative analysis addressed The diversity of sources of the reports

• The accuracy of the reports
• The language use
• The messaging

e.    The focus of the stories in relation to Natural Resource Charter Benchmark assessment tools.

 

Section III3

3.0. THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

(CUMULATIVE REPORT ON KEY FINDINGS)

3.1. General: Total number of relevant reports

The analysis of the survey of reports in the newspapers under review revealed that a total of 1,507 relevant reports were published in all the six newspapers for the month of March to August 2015

The comparative analysis is as follows:

Vanguard newspaper published the highest number of reports with 304 relevant reports, representing 20%. Next was the Guardian with 269 reports, representing 18%; The Punch had 264, representing 18%; This Day had 244, representing 16%; Business Day had 215, representing 14% while Daily Trust published 211 reports, representing 14% of the total.

 

Table i: Cumulative summary-number of relevant reports.

Media Outlet	Total No of Reports (Mar-Aug, 2015)	% representation (Approx.)
Vanguard	304	20%
The Guardian	269	18%
The Punch	264	18%
ThisDay	244	16%
Business Day	215	14%
Daily Trust	211	14%
Total	1,507	100%

 

 

3.2. The reference to Precepts.

The media monitoring carried out survey and analysis of relevant reports based on the following precepts:

 

v  Precept on Strategy/Decision-making and Public Participation (PSDP)

v  Precept on Accountability (PACC )

v  Precept on Exploration and License Allocation (PELA)

v  Precept on Taxation (PTAX)

v  Precept on Local Effects (PLEF)

v  Precept on Nationally-owned Resource Companies (PNRC)

v  Precept on Revenue distribution and Revenue volatility (PREV)

v  Precept on Government Spending (PGOS)

v  Precept on: Private Sector Development (PPSD)

v  Precept on Role of Multinational Companies (PRMC)

v  Precept on Role of International Community (PRIC)

 

The cumulative and comparative analysis in term of reference to the precepts revealed the following:

There were 1,676 instances in which references were made to the precepts across all the newspapers.

 

Out of these, Vanguard made the most references  to the precepts with 321, representing 19%; next was The Guardian with 300 references, representing 18%; The Punch made 279 references, representing 17%; Business Day had 266 references, representing 16%; This Day had 259, representing 15% and Daily Trust had 251, representing 15% respectively.

 

Table ii: Cumulative summary-reference to precept.

Media Outlet	Reports on precepts(Mar-Aug 2015)	% representation (Approx.)
Vanguard	321	19%
The Guardian	300	18%
The Punch	279	17%
Business Day	266	16%
ThisDay	259	15%
Daily Trust	251	15%
Total	1,676	100

 

Chart ii: Cumulative summary-reference to precept.

 

 

The cumulative analysis of reference in the reports to specific precepts during the period covered by the survey revealed the following:

The precept with the highest number of references was Strategy/Decision-making and Public Participation (PSDP) which accounted for 385 representing 23% of the entire reference to precepts.

 

Next was Precept on Private Sector Development (PPSD) with 245 references representing 15% of the entire reference to precepts.

 

Others include Precept on Local Effects (PLEF) with 238 references representing 14% of the entire reference to precepts; Precept on nationally-owned resource companies (PNRC) which had 207 references representing 12%; Precept on Revenue distribution and Revenue volatility (PREV) with 145 references representing 9%; Precept on Accountability (PACC) with 124 references, representing 7%; Precept on Government spending (PGOS) with 111 references, representing 7%; Precept on Taxation(PTAX) with 66 references, representing 4%; Precept on Exploration and License Allocation (PELA) with 60 references, representing 4%; Precept on Role of multinational companies (PRMC) with 58 references, representing 3% and Precept on Role of the international community (PRIC) with 37 references, representing 2% of the entire reference to precepts.

 

Table iii: Cumulative summary-reference to reports on specific precept.

Precept	Total No of Reports (Mar-Aug 2015)	% representation (Approx.)
PSDP	385	23%
PPSD	245	15%
PLEF	238	14%
PNRC	207	12%
PREV	145	9%
PACC	124	7%
PGOS	111	7%
PTAX	66	4%
PTAX	66	4%
PELA	60	4%
PRMC	58	3%
PRIC	37	2%
Total	1676	100%

 

Chart iii: Cumulative summary-reference to reports on specific precept.

 

3.3.        The situation (placement) of the relevant reports

Cumulative summary:

Across the six-month period of monitoring, there were a total of 281 stories on the front page, 53 editorials, 225 stories on the energy page, 118 stories on the Oil and Gas page, 493 stories on the Business page and 337 stories in the other inside/back pages of the six newspapers.

Comparative summary: front page reports

Of the 281 relevant reports published on the front page, This Day published the highest number of relevant reports with 58 front-page stories, representing 21%; Business Day was next with 51 front-page stories, representing 18%; The Guardian had 46 stories, representing 16%; Punch and Vanguard had 45 stories each, representing 16% and Daily Trust had 36, representing 13% respectively.

Table iv: Comparative summary-front page stories

Media Outlet	No of stories on the front page	% representation (Approx.)
ThisDay	58	21%
Business Day	51	18%
Vanguard	45	16%
The Guardian	46	16%
The Punch	45	16%
Daily Trust	36	13%
Total	281	100%

 

Chart iv: Comparative summary-front page stories.

Comparative summary: Editorial page reports

Of the 53 relevant reports published on the editorial pages, The Punch published the highest number with 16 editorial page stories, representing 30%; Business Day was next with 15reports, representing 28%; The Guardian had 9, representing 17%; Daily Trust had 5, representing 9%; while This Day and Vanguard published 4 each, representing 8% respectively.

Table v: Comparative summary-Editorial page reports.

Media	No of stories on the editorial page	% representation (Approx.)
The Punch	16	30%
Business Day	15	28%
The Guardian	9	17%
Daily Trust	5	9%
ThisDay	4	8%
Vanguard	4	8%
Total	53	100%

Chart v: Comparative summary-editorial page stories.

Comparative summary: Energy page reports

Of the 225 relevant reports published on the energy pages, The Punch published the highest number with 65 energy page stories, representing 29%; The Guardian was next with 63reports, representing 28%; The Vanguard had 59, representing 26%; Business Day had 20, representing 9%; This Day published 17representing 8% and Daily Trust published 1 report respectively.

Table vi: Comparative summary-Energy page reports.

Media	No of stories on the energy page	% representation (Approx.)
The Punch	65	29%
The Guardian	63	28%
Vanguard	59	26%
Business Day	20	9%
ThisDay	17	8%
Daily Trust	1	0%
Total	225	100%

 

Chart vi: Comparative summary-energy page stories.

 

Comparative summary: Oil and Gas page reports

Of the 118 relevant reports published on the Oil and Gas pages, Vanguard published the most with 63 energy page stories, representing 53%; The Guardian was next with 49 reports, representing 42%; while Daily Trust published 6 representing 5% respectively. The other newspapers didn’t have reports on the Oil and Gas page.

Table vii: Comparative summary-Oil and Gas page reports.

Media	No of stories on the Oil and Gas page	% representation (Approx.)
Vanguard	63	53%
The Guardian	49	42%
Daily Trust	6	5%
ThisDay	0	0%
The Punch	0	0%
Business Day	0	0%
Total	118	100%

 

Chart vii: Comparative summary-Oil and Gas page stories.

Comparative summary: Business page reports

Of the 493 relevant reports published on the Business pages, Daily Trust published the most with 139 business page stories, representing 28%; The Punch was next with 105 reports, representing 21%; This Day published 94 reports, representing 19%; The Guardian published 59 reports, representing 12%; Vanguard had 52 reports, representing 11%; and Business Day published 44 reports, representing 9% respectively.

Table viii: Comparative summary-Business page reports.

Media	No of stories on the Business page	% representation (Approx.)
Daily Trust	139	28%
The Punch	105	21%
ThisDay	94	19%
The Guardian	59	12%
Vanguard	52	11%
Business Day	44	9%
Total	493	100%

Chart viii: Comparative summary-Business page stories.

Comparative summary: Inside/back page reports

Of the 337 relevant reports published on other inside/back pages, Business Day published the most with 85 stories, representing 25%; Vanguard was next with 81 reports, representing 24%; This Day published 71 reports, representing 21%; The Guardian published 43 reports, representing 13%; the Punch had 33 reports, representing 10%; and Daily Trust published 24 reports, representing 7% respectively.

Table ix: Comparative summary-Other inside/Back page reports.

 

Media	No of stories on Other inside/Back page	% representation (Approx.)
Business Day	85	25%
Vanguard	81	24%
ThisDay	71	21%
The Guardian	43	13%
The Punch	33	10%
Daily Trust	24	7%
Total	337	100%

 

Chart ix: Comparative summary- Other inside/Back page report 

 

3.4.        The genre of the reports

At 1,150 representing 76% most of the reports came across as news; next was interviews at 85, representing 6%; investigations were 84, representing 6%; Features reports were 79 representing 5%; opinion reports were 56, representing 4%; and Editorials 53, representing 4%.

Table x: Cumulative summary-Genre of reportage.

Genre	Total No of Reports (Mar-Aug 2015)	% representation (Approx.)
News	1150	76%
Interviews	85	6%
Investigations	84	6%
Features	79	5%
Opinion	56	4%
Editorial	53	4%
Total	1,507	100%

 

Chart x: Cumulative summary-Genre of reportage.

 

Comparative analysis in terms of the genre of the reports per specific newspaper.

News:

Vanguard had the highest with 225 reports; next was the Guardian with 215 reports; The Punch had 209; This Day had 179; Daily Trust had 165 and Business Day had 157.

Investigations:

Vanguard had the highest with 24 reports; next was This Day with 22 reports; The Punch had 18; The Guardian had 8; Daily Trust had 9 and Business Day had 3.

Features:

Business Day had the highest with 21 features; next was Vanguard with 15; The Guardian, This Day and Daily Trust had 11 features each while The Punch had 10.

Opinion:

Vanguard had the highest with 13 opinions; next was This Day and Business Day with 11 opinions each; The Guardian had 10 r; The Punch had 7; and Daily Trust, 4.

Interview:

Vanguard had the highest with 22 reports; next was the Guardian with 18 reports; This Day had 17 reports; Daily Trust had 16; Business Day 8 and The Punch, 4.

Editorial:

The Punch had the highest number with 16 editorials; next was Business Day with 15; The Guardian had 8; Daily Trust and Vanguard had 5 each while This Day had 4.

Table xi: Cumulative summary-Genre of reportage

Media	News	Investigation	Feature	Opinion	Interview	Editorials
The Guardian	215	8	11	10	18	8
The Punch	209	18	10	7	4	16
ThisDay	179	22	11	11	17	4
Daily Trust	165	9	11	4	16	5
Vanguard	225	24	15	13	22	5
Business Day	157	3	21	11	8	15
Total	1150	84	79	56	85	53

 

Section IV

3.0.        THE QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS  

This section of the report focuses on the degree of professionalism applied to the relevant reports with respect to:

A) Diversity of sources of the reports being assessed as follows:

·         Whether the story provides more than a direct statement;

·         Whether the story contains essential background; and

·         The focus of the story being assessed in relation to Natural Resource Charter Benchmark assessment tools.

 

B) Accuracy of the reports; that is

·         Whether there is evidence of research;

·         Whether there is evidence of back up of claims made;

·         Whether there is the use of secondary sources to confirm claims made; and

·         Whether there is the use of industry experts as sources.

 

4.1. Analysis of the diversity of sources of the relevant reports

 

·         Cumulative analysis on reports providing more than direct statement/quote

The survey in all the newspaper showed that 1154 reports representing 77% had more than the direct quotes in the media outlets under review. 353 reports representing 23% however showed no evidence of direct quote.

 

Chart xii: Cumulative analysis on reports providing more than direct statement/quote

 

 

·         Cumulative analysis per newspaper on the diversity of sources in respect of reports providing more than direct statement/quote

 

The Guardian: Out of 269 reports published by The Guardian, 208 or 77% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 61 of them representing 23% did not contain more than direct quotes. 

 

The Punch: Out of 264 reports published by The Punch, 212 or 80% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 52 of them representing 20% did not contain more than direct quotes. 

 

Daily Trust: Out of 211 reports published by Daily Trust, 152 or 72% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 59 of them representing 28% did not contain more than direct quotes. 

 

Business Day: Out of 214 reports published by Business Day, 157 or 73% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 57 of them representing 27% did not contain more than direct quotes. 

 

This Day: Out of 244 reports published by This Day, 192 or 79% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 52 of them representing 21% did not contain more than direct quotes. 

 

Vanguard: Out of 305 reports published by Vanguard, 233 or 76% of them showed evidence of the information provided having more than direct quote while 72 of them representing 24% did not contain more than direct quotes.

 

Table xii

Reports in terms of professionalism and diversity of sources
Media	Reports that have more than Direct Quotes	Reports that do not have more than Direct Quotes	Total per specific newspaper
The Guardian	208	61	269
The Punch	212	52	264
Daily Trust	152	59	211
Business Day	157	57	214
This Day	192	52	244
Vanguard	233	72	305
Cumulative Total	1154	353	1507

 

·         Cumulative analysis on professionalism in terms of reports that provided background information.

The survey in all the newspaper showed that 1136 reports representing 75% provided some background to the stories while 371 reports representing 25% did not provide background information.

 

Chart xiii: Cumulative analysis on reports providing background information

 

·         Cumulative analysis per newspaper in terms of background information

 

The Guardian: Out of 267reports published by The Guardian, 190 or 71% of them provided background information while 77 of them representing 29% did not provide background information.

 

The Punch: Out of 264 reports published by The Punch, 219 or 83% of them provided background information while 45 of them representing 17% did not provide background information.

 

Daily Trust: Out of 215 reports published by Daily Trust, 146 or 68% of them provided background information while 69 of them representing 32% did not provide background information.

 

Business Day: Out of 214 reports published by Business Day, 151 or 71% of them provided background information while 63 of them representing 29% did not provide background information.

 

This Day: Out of 244 reports published by This Day, 187 or 77% of them provided background information while 57 of them representing 23% did not provide background information.

Vanguard: Out of 303 reports published by Vanguard, 243 or 80% of them provided background information while 60 of them representing 20% did not provide background information.

 Table xiii

Reports in terms of professionalism and provision of background information
Media	Reports that provided background information	Reports that do not have background information	Total per specific newspaper
The Guardian	190	77	267
The Punch	219	45	264
Daily Trust	146	69	215
Business Day	151	63	214
This Day	187	57	244
Vanguard	243	60	303
Cumulative Total	1136	371	1507

 

4.2. Cumulative analysis in terms of Accuracy of reports

 Here, the focus of the monitoring determined:

·         Whether there is evidence of research;

·         Whether there is evidence of back up of claims made;

·         Whether there is the use of secondary sources to confirm claims made; and

·         Whether there is the use of industry experts as sources.

 

Summary cumulative analysis on Evidence of Research

564 reports, representing 37% showed evidence of research while 913 reports, representing 61% did not show evidence of research. 30 reports representing 2% were not applicable.

Chart xiv: a cumulative analysis on evidence of research 

Summary cumulative analysis on evidence of backup claims

 527 reports, representing 35% showed evidence of back up claims while 933 reports, representing 62% did not show evidence of back up claims. 47 reports, representing 3% were not applicable.

 

Chart xv: a cumulative analysis on evidence of Backup Claims

 

 

Summary cumulative analysis on use of secondary sources

A total of 1137 reports, representing 75% showed evidence of the use of secondary sources while 329 reports, representing 22% did not show evidence of the use of secondary sources. 41 reports, representing 3% were not applicable.

 

Chart xvi: a cumulative analysis on evidence on the use of secondary sources

 

Summary cumulative analysis on use of experts

A total of 487 reports, representing 32% showed evidence of the use of experts while 989 reports, representing 66% did not show evidence of the use of experts. 31 reports, representing 2% were not applicable.

 

Chart xvii: cumulative analysis on evidence of experts