Abstract:

This study examined how selected international news media presented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies to their global audiences, with particular attention to the nature and extent of coverage, dominant frames, and tonal orientation of reportage. Anchored on the Framing theory, the study adopted a qualitative–quantitative method to sample and analyse 200 news items published by the BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, and The New York Times between May 29, 2023 and September 30, 2025. The findings revealed that international news media’ coverage of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies was moderate but uneven, with a focus on major reform milestones, including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the exchange rate, and fiscal restructuring. While Reuters and The New York Times focused predominantly on market reactions and investor confidence, the BBC and Al Jazeera emphasised the social and human consequences of the reforms. The dominant frames identified included economic reform, human impact, and governance accountability, which collectively portrayed President Tinubu’s policies as bold, yet socially disruptive. In terms of tone, the reportage ranged from neutral to negative, reflecting cautious skepticism about the short-term outcomes of the reforms despite acknowledging their long-term necessity. The study concluded that international media significantly shape global perceptions of Nigeria’s economic governance through selective framing and tonal emphasis. It therefore recommended that international news media must build a balanced coverage of Nigeria’s economic reforms beyond initial headlines, while adopting multi-perspective framing frameworks that reflect both the economic rationales and human consequences of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.