COVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSE STRATEGIES: THE PLACE OF MASS MEDIA

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a health crisis that has introduced fear, anxiety, uncertainties, and anger in many individuals across the world and in Nigeria. Alongside the deep distress and pains felt and exhibited by many citizens in the country, there is also a growing concern and confusion about the several myths and information associated with this virus: as such, the need for demystification with the various mass media channels. This study, however, discussed the importance of mass media with special emphasis on film during crisis and their roles in sensitizing citizens on the various crisis response strategies employed by a country during a crisis. The study found that film is an important mass media tool for health/healthy communication towards behavioural change during a crisis because of its persuasive physiognomies and its ability to evoke audiences emotions and induce them into taking positive health actions. The study also found that in the wake of COVID-19 in Nigeria, that the country adopted several pre-and-on-the-crisis response strategies to handle the crisis including documentaries by Actors Guild of Nigeria, Animated Videos, Pre-instructing strategies, lockdowns, social distancing, use of celebrities/influencers, screening at different ports of entries in the country among other. The study recommended that for effective behavioural health change to occur during a crisis, the mass media especially films must be adopted in the sensitization, education of masses, as this would help in instilling in the masses certain behaviours required to survive a pandemic. It also recommended that crisis response strategies are germane during a crisis because they help reduce the negative effects of a crisis on citizens of a country but must be simplified and effectively communicated using various mass media channels.