ONLINE MEDIA REPORTAGE OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY – STUDY OF ENVIRONEWS AND PREMIUM TIMES

This paper studied online media coverage of modern biotechnology in Nigeria with special focus on reports published by Premium Times and Environews. The objective is to examine the quality of online media reporting on this contested science and new technology. The study employed both a qualitative and quantitative approach to data collection: content analyzed the two media platforms as well as conducted in-depth interviews with their editors. The study sought to find out the sources of modern biotechnology stories reported by online media, the frequency of such reports and the tones of the headlines and stories reported and found that the online media is not according huge attention to the reportage of biotechnology. Environews and Premium Times are not devoting adequate media spaces to the stories which are sourced mainly from press releases and event coverage