Sahara Reporters and Premium Times online coverage of the Russia–Ukraine war

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The mass media have continued to be significant news sources for human society, particularly during conflict and war. The media dependency theory posits that during crisis or instability, society relies more on traditional and new media to help it understand the developments in the war. This article investigated the frequency of the coverage of the Russia–Ukraine War by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times, ascertained the most dominant tone used by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times in the reporting of the Russian–Ukraine War, and unfurled the frame of coverage of Russian–Ukraine War by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times. Theoretical and Methodical Considerations Anchored in Robert Entman’s Framing Theory, online publications of Sahara Reporters and Premium Times from March 2022 to September 2022 served as the population of the study and the census sampling technique was used to draw a sample for the study. The explanation-building model was the method of data analysis. Findings Results showed that Sahara Reporters and Premium Times reports on the 2022 Russian–Ukraine War were frequent. Also, they paid more attention to the impacts of the war on Nigerian emigrants or students overseas in Russia and Ukraine. Implications Our findings suggest that online newspapers mostly toned the Russian–Ukraine War in negative slants and framed the stories highlighting the impact of the war on Nigerians, especially Nigerian students in Russia and Ukraine. Value The article brings a new perspective to the Russian–Ukraine War in media scholarship by examining Nigeria’s online news reporting of the Russian–Ukraine conflict. It is, therefore, recommended that Nigerian online newspapers not solely focus on negative reports of the war and its implications for stakeholders in Nigeria. They should adopt a more diverse range of frames and tones in their coverage, to influence stakeholders to take action to prevent wars and hold the Nigerian government accountable for providing adequate infrastructure and human capital that discourages emigration in search of a better life both academically and otherwise.