How Emotional Laden Headlines Stimulate World’s Search about Shagari’s Death in 2 Days


The death of prominent people such as politicians, artistes, sports heroes and heroines are usually reported and accorded the right placement by the news media. On 28th December, 2018, Nigerian news media enveloped Nigerians and nationals of other countries with various banner headlines, announcing the death of the first Executive President Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari.
From 28th to 29th, December, 2018, the people across the world searched about the death using different search terms which resulted in President Shehu Shagari, Shehu Shagari Dead, Shehu Shagari Death, Shehu Shagari, Shehu Shagari News, Shehu Shagari Death, Shagari Nigeria and Shehu Shagari Biography as top searches. Analysis indicates that strong connection exists between the extent to which people searched about him on 28th and 29th December, 2018.
It was also discovered that one percent increase in the top searches reduces the interest in seeking knowledge about his death on 28th December, 2018 by 29%. On 29th December, 2018, the second day of his death, the interest was huge. Infoprations found that a one percent increase in the top searches enhanced world’s interest in him by 53.7%.
Further analysis with the specific reference to how online and conventional newspapers’ headline styles impacted the world’s understanding of his death indicates that joy and sadness were predominantly used by the newspapers. These resonated with the top searches by 44%.
Correspondence analysis reveals that President Shehu Shagari and Shehu Shagari Dead searched connected with sadness, while Shehu Shagari, Shehu Shagari News, Shehu Shagari Death, Shagari Nigeria connected with headlines laden with joy and sadness.

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