Fake news and misinformation on COVID-19: Implications for media credibility in Nigeria

Abstract

The eruption of coronavirus disease in Nigeria in early 2020 created desperation for information. Everyone was eager to know something about the health issue, which killed people within days of infection. Questions requiring immediate answers ranged from what the symptoms were, to what self-help remedy was appropriate. The media, as expected, became a reliable platform to seek knowledge. The coronavirus disease came at a time when social media proliferated. So, most people depended on this innovation for information on the disease. This was where falsehood, masquerading as news, tainted the minds of Nigerians. This paper, anchored on the Framing Theory, sought to examine how fake news and misinformation influenced the management of Covid-19 in Nigeria. It also set out to establish whether, in the perception and experiences of the population, the Nigerian media still command the trust of the people as reliable primary sources of news. The research purposively drew 30 interviewees and discussants from Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. The outcome showed that while some Nigerians were not personally affected by fake news or misinformation, they were quite aware of its negative impact on people they could identify. This study recommends further investigation on why Nigerians still believe in the mass media despite infiltration and the influence of fake news. The general opinion points toward the need to make media content more credible through professionalism and legal control.