The study content analysed newspaper reportage of suicide. Framing and Agenda Setting theories were used to explain the study. Findings showed that The Punch newspaper had more (58.0%) reportage of suicide issues followed by The Nation newspaper with 42.0%. Also, 38.1% of suicide reportage in The Nation newspaper was in double columns while 24.1% of the reportage of suicide in The Punch newspaper was in multiple columns. Findings indicated that 71.4% and 58.6% of reports of suicide by The Nation and The Punch newspapers were published on inside pages respectively. Also, 19.0% and 17.2% coverage of suicide in The Punch and The Nation newspapers were on the back page (18.0%). The study concluded that suicide stories were given less prominence and were not deeply investigated and reported. The study, therefore, recommended that the media should continue to reduce the level of prominence given to suicide stories to mitigate suicidal behaviour among the general populace.
Vol. 1, No 1, pp. 129-136.