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EXPLORING THE USE OF WHATSAPP IN DISSEMINATING COVID-19 INFORMATION AMONG JOURNALISTS IN ZAMFARA, NIGERIA

Uses and Gratification Theory guides this research to explore how journalists in Zamfara, Nigeria use WhatsApp to disseminate COVID-19 information to public. Despite some evidence from previous studies indicating that WhatsApp played a major role as a tool for communicating on health crises in African nations, such research in Nigeria is still quite scant. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore (i) why journalists use WhatsApp to disseminate information about COVID-19; (ii) how did journalists use it and (iii) how does WhatsApp help them in achieving their job satisfaction. 21 journalists with more than six years working experiences in communicating health issues were purposively selected for this study Findings revealed that journalists use WhatsApp because they are familiar with the apps, it is simple to use, and it is more effective than other social networking sites. They also disseminate COVID-19 news through WhatsApp groups and use hypertext to reach bigger audience. Majority of journalists found employment satisfaction through WhatsApp receiving work appreciation, frequent comment on news, and developed a journalist-audience network. This study adds to filling an academic vacuum in the use of social media in conveying health crisis in Nigeria. It is also capable of explaining how WhatsApp usage showed the social and psychological demands of journalists, their expectations in which indicated the required gratification, and other implications of WhatsApp use in communicating health crises.