Newspaper Framing of Conflicts: Perceptions of Ethnic Group Leaders on Conflict Behaviours in a Multiethnic Society
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Malaysian Journal of Media Studies, The Department of Communication and Media, University Malaya, Malaysia
Abstract
Multiple forces contribute to and influence the course of ethnic conflict in developing
and multi ethnic societies. In Nigeria, media reporting and ethnic group leaders
play very important roles in determining the course and severity of ethnic conflict.
However, little research has been done examining both the roles played by ethnic
group leaders and newspaper framing in influencing interethnic conflict in Nigeria,
despite the growth of conflict studies. Within the community of conflict researchers,
little work has been done to understand ethnic group conflict behaviors and media
reporting as mutually influencing factors in ethnic conflict. This study aims to
address this gap. Through in-depth interviews with 26 ethnic group leaders, this
study explores how they view media and leaders’ roles in influencing violent
interethnic conflict in Nigeria. Interview data were analyzed thematically using
NVivo 8 software. Study findings suggest that ethnic group leaders tend to blame
the press, the government and ethnic group attitudes. Specifically, the leaders fault
the press for inflammatory reporting, name calling, double standards and for heavy
ownership influence and ethnic interest. They hold government, both past and
present, responsible for their failure to unify Nigerians. Interviewees agreed that
although media reports have influenced their decision and actions at one time or
the other, individual impunity among ethnic group leaders is also a serious cause
of conflict. political system of this region.
Description
Newspaper Framing of Conflicts
Keywords
Ethnic conflict, conflict behavior, conflict, ethnic group leader, newspaper framing
Citation
Ethnic conflict, conflict behavior, conflict, ethnic group leader, newspaper framing