THE PUNCH AND VANGUARD NEWSPAPER’S COVERAGE OF NGOS’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST RAPE

This study examined the reportage of The Punch and Vanguard Newspapers on Non-Governmental Organisations’ (NGOs) campaigns against rape in Nigeria, with specific focus on frequency, prominence, and framing of coverage between June 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. The research was anchored on the Agenda-Setting and Framing Theories to explain how the media influences public perception and awareness of social issues. A quantitative content analysis design was adopted, using purposive sampling of 34 editions, 19 from The Punch and 15 from Vanguard. Data were analyzed through frequency tables to determine the extent, depth, placement, and tone of coverage of NGOs’ anti-rape campaigns. Findings revealed that both newspapers gave minimal coverage to the issue, focusing primarily on straight news reports (72.09% in The Punch and 73.34% in Vanguard) with little or no feature articles, editorials, or columns. Coverage was largely confined to inside pages, with limited prominence on front or back pages. The framing analysis showed that the reportage was predominantly negative, though both dailies attempted neutrality in some reports. The study concluded that The Punch and Vanguard Newspapers reported NGOs’ campaigns against rape in low quantity and quality, with limited depth and inadequate agenda-setting impact. However, their coverage demonstrated attempts at objectivity and inclusivity. The research recommended that Nigerian newspapers should increase the frequency and depth of their reportage on rape issues by incorporating investigative reports, feature stories, and columns to enhance public understanding and mobilization. It further suggested greater attention to gender-sensitive reporting, and further studies on media framing of rape using diverse.