In this paper, selected online Nigerian newspapers' (Leadership, The Punch, and Vanguard) framing of the ASUU strike of 2022 from February 14 – October 14, 2022, is examined. The study investigated the frequency of framing of the ASUU strike of 2022, what were the themes used in framing the strike, the types of frames that dominated the coverage, and the direction of framing. Anchored in the framing theory and the agenda-setting theory, a total of 255 newspaper editions were analyzed for content in this study. Data was collected using a coding sheet and analysed. Results are that the framing of the ASUU strike was less frequent in the newspapers, but Vanguard had the most frequent of the reports with 51.9%. It was also found that insincerity in negotiation and implementation of MOA with 32(16.7%), protest 22(11.5%), and delegitimisation 13 (6.8%) were the most predominant themes found in the strike. Findings also revealed that the ASUU strike has a dominant frame in the coverage of definition/motivation with 43(22.5%) reports. It was further established on the direction framing of the strike that 132 (69.1%) news reports were positively framed. This research concluded that the newspapers did not accord much attention to the framing definition/motivation of the 2022 ASUU strike Therefore, this study recommended, among other things that Nigerian newspapers, in their framing of collective action, emphasize the definition/motivation frame to justify the essence of such an action in the public domain.
Vol. 1, No 1, pp. 25-38.