Online News Media and Environmental Management in Nigeria: Evidence from Owerri Metropolis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v5i2.7917Keywords:
Development, Environmental Management, Media, Online News, OwerriAbstract
This study presents a critical investigation into the complex role of online news media in shaping Nigeria’s contemporary environmental management landscape. The advent of digital platforms has democratized access to environmental information, increasing the dissemination of pollution data, policy announcements, and news on nature to the Nigerian populace. This paradigm shift, while laudable for its informational democratization, has brought about challenges and therefore necessitated the need for this study. The primary research problem addresses the growing dissonance between the information flow and its veracity, depth, and analytical rigor. Employing a quantitative survey methodology, this research gathered data from a random sample of 134 online news media practitioners operating in the Owerri urban area in Imo State, Nigeria. The findings of the study indicate that the availability of information on flooding, soil erosion, waste management, and plastic pollution in online media platforms was mainly ranked high. PCA of environmental information availability has a three-component structure: anthropogenic, physical, and trendy environmental factors. Furthermore, the study found that online media platforms and influencers mostly had a minor to moderate impact on young adults’ increased environmental attitude, predominant use of eco-friendly items, and increased faith in eco-friendly products. Therefore, the study recommends that more efforts should be made towards expanding access to internet connectivity in the study area. This can be achieved by creating an enabling environment where broadband internet access can become more affordable. In addition, increased environmental awareness should be bolstered, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Faisal C. Emetumah, Fatima I. Emetumah
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