Generic framing of Boko Haram insurgency in the Nigerian print media

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Date

2017

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. Published by World Bank Step-B Centre of Excellence in Multimedia and Cinematography, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the patterns of frame adopted by Nigerian newspapers in the coverage of Boko Haram insurgency. It adopted the methodological justifications of content analysis as means of obtaining data. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select the newspapers. This involved a purposive and systematic random selection of the units of analysis. The study, which is situated within the assumptions, arguments and discussions of framing theory explores newspaper reportage of an ongoing crises rooted in spiritual beliefs in a multi-religious setting. A content analysis of two Nigerian newspapers (The Guardian and The Nation), conducted to determine the print media framing of the insurgency, produced 237 news articles during a period of six months in 2014. Findings show that Nigerian newspapers adopt the five generic frames of framing as postulated by Semetko and Valkenburg (2000). Hence, they reported the news stories along the responsibility, human interest, conflict, morality and economic consequences frames. The results show that the responsibility frame is the most prevalent frame. These findings demonstrate the role of the press as a builder of consensus and thus ascertain media social responsibility stance for a society in crisis.

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Keywords

Boko Haram, Framing, Insurgency, The Guardian The Nation

Citation

Mustapha, M. L., Ibraheem, I. A., Mustapha, L. K., & Udende, P. (2017). Generic framing of Boko Haram insurgency in the Nigerian print media. Journal of Multimedia Technology &Communication Studies, 3(1), 154-171

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