The study examined panic and solution journalism framing and assessment of Nigerian newspapers' reportage and spread of coronavirus. A triangulation method consisting of content analysis and a survey was adopted. For content analysis, the sample size involved three Nigerian newspapers The Punch, Vanguard, and Daily Trust. Purposive and multistage cluster sampling techniques were used for the survey. The study found out that Vanguard, with the news placement, Punch newspaper reported forms of news with the use of solution tone in their reportage and patterns of frames, which helped Nigerians to understand the framing of coronavirus and how to prevent themselves from the virus and reduce the spread of the pandemic. The study concludes that the framing and assessment of the reportage and spread of coronavirus in respect of creating panic and solutions by the Punch, Vanguard, and Daily Trust newspapers created panic in the readers' minds using sensitive words in their publications. The study recommends that The Punch, Vanguard and Daily Trust newspapers' reporters should do more by critically analysing, interpreting, and investigating issues of a pandemic nature, reporting pandemic news positively, and being cautious of the language and words used in reportage.
Vol. 1, No 1, pp. 147-160.