0 ONYEUKWU, GLADYS OLUCHI ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA, USING NEW NIGERIA, TRIBUNE, CHAMPION AND GUARDIAN ARTS MASS COMMUNICATION Okeke, chioma maryrose Digitally Signed by: university of nigeria DN : CN = okeke,chioma maryrose O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka OU = Innovation Centre
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ONYEUKWU, GLADYS OLUCHI
ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF
TERRORISM IN NIGERIA, USING NEW NIGERIA,
TRIBUNE, CHAMPION AND GUARDIAN
NEWSPAPERS
ARTS
MASS COMMUNICATION
Okeke, chioma maryrose
Digitally Signed by: university of nigeria
DN : CN = okeke,chioma maryrose
O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka
OU = Innovation Centre
1
ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA,
USING NEW NIGERIA, TRIBUNE, CHAMPION AND GUARDIAN
NEWSPAPERS
ONYEUKWU, GLADYS OLUCHI
PG/MA/10/57078
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
AUGUST 2012
i
TITLE PAGE
ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA,
USING NEW NIGERIA, TRIBUNE, CHAMPION AND GUARDIAN
NEWSPAPERS
ONYEUKWU, GLADYS OLUCHI
PG/MA/10/57078
A PROJECT PAPER PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN MASS
COMMUNICATION, DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION,
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
SUPERVISOR: PROF. IKE. S. NDOLO
AUGUST 2012
ii
CERTIFICATION
This research is an original work of Onyeukwu, Gladys Oluchi with registration number
PG/MA/10/57078. It satisfics the requirement for presentation of research report in the
Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
First and foremost, I thank God for giving me the strength and the zeal to accomplish this
project. I dedicate this work to my beloved daughter, Isabel for standing strong during
this program even as I took her to school at such tender age (2 months old). I also
dedicate this work to my beloved husband and my amiable father.
This project work is also dedicated to all those who have been adversely affected as a
result of acts of terrorism.
iv
ACKNOWLEDMENTS
This project would not have been possible without the contributions from many scholars
in the field of journalism. I, therefore, wish to express my indebtedness, first and
foremost to the authors whose works I consulted to make this project a success.
My profound gratitude also goes to my supervisor, Prof. Ike. S. Ndolo for his
constructive criticisms that led to the success of this project.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to my hardworking and respected lecturers whose insights I
have duly benefited, from my undergraduate days till today. These are no other persons
than: Professor Charles Okigbo, Dr. Nnanyelugo Okoro, Dr. C. S. Akpan, Dr. Ray
Udeaja, L. I. Anorue, Dr. Greg Ezea, E.U Ohaja., Ekwueme, and Mike Ukonu.
To all my classmates and all those exceptional people, who in their various capacities
helped make the process and production of this project successful, especially, Ugo Ololo
and Mrs. Ikhiriko, for their positive ideas, my good friends, Anorue Uchenna, Chimezie,
Alex, for their support and contributions, you are highly appreciated.
My warm appreciations also go to my one in a million Father elder R. M. Onyeukwu,
who without his immense support especially in taking care of my baby; I wouldn‟t have
been able to complete this program. To my mother and siblings- Mrs. V. I. Onyeukwu,
Mrs. Chinasa Aligwekwe and others, I say thank you, and to my uncle Mr. Ejike Ugorji
for his support throughout the period of this work, I also say thank you, sir.
Finally, my high regards go to my lovely and ever friendly husband Collins Imoh and my
destined child- Amarachi Isabella Chifurumnanya. You have been supportive and the
pillar of my strength.
Thank you all and God bless.
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page - - - - - - - - - - i
Dedication - - - - - - - - - - ii
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - iii
Table of contents - - - - - - - - - v
Abstract - - - - - - - - - - vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study - - - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of the problem - - - - - - - 4
1.3 Objectives of the study - - - - - - - 5
1.4 Research questions - - - - - - - 5
1.5. Significance of the study - - - - - - - 6
1.6 Definition of terms - - - - - - - - 6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Focus of Review - - - - - - - - 9
2.2 Review Itself - - - - - - - - 9
2.3 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - - 18
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design - - - - - - - - 24
3.2 Population of the Study - - - - - - - 24
3.3 Sample size - - - - - - - - - 25
3.4 Sampling Techniques - - - - - - - 25
3.5 Research Instrument - - - - - - - 31
3.6 Validity of the Instrument - - - - - - - 32
vi
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument - - - - - - 32
3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation - - - - - - 33
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Description of the sample - - - - - - - 35
4.2 Data Presentation and Analysis - - - - - - 36
4.3 Discussion of findings - - - - - - - 53
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of findings - - - - - - - 57
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 57
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 58
BIBLIOGRAPHY - - - - - - - - - 59
Appendix - - - - - - - - - 61
vii
Abstract
The issue of terrorism has attracted global attention as a result of its enormous harm to
the socio-economic fabric of nations. Its effects go beyond the physical damage to include
psychological effects on the people. In Nigeria, many people have suffered acts of
terrorism, including the media. The Boko Haram group had earlier complained that the
media are under reporting their activities and therefore have sworn to launch mass
attack on the media (Daily Sun, 2012, p. 3). This study, therefore, sought to examine
newspaper coverage of terrorism in Nigeria with the aim of finding out the frame of
presentation used by some selected newspapers in the country. This study adopted
content analysis as its research design. The population of the study comprises of four
selected national dailies namely: The Guardian, Tribune, New Nigerian and Champion
newspapers, which were studied for a period of one year (April 2011 to April, 2012).
Using multistage and composite week sampling techniques, the study arrived at 384
editions of the newspapers to be studied. The Pearson r correlational statistical
technique was used to calculate for intercoder reliability. The study found that 57.0% of
the news stories reported on the pages of the selected newspapers condemned the act of
terrorism as perpetuated by the terrorists in the country. It was also found that 45.8% of
the news stories were reported on the front pages of the selected newspapers; indicating
high prominence given to the issue of terrorism in the country. The study concluded that
newspaper coverage of terrorism in the country have been impressive. It was, however,
recommended that the media should improve on its investigative journalistic role to see if
it would be possible to monitor the activities of these terrorists, in order to help government curb their actions.
1
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.2 Background of the study
Studies, in recent times, have shown that many nations both developed and
developing that had never considered terrorism as a serious social and political issues
have begun to do so. This is due to the fact that the issue of terrorism has attracted global
attention as a result of its enormous harm to the socio-economic fabric of a nation.
Terrorism, as an issue, is not really a new phenomenon but has recently begun to
constitute major threat to different states and the entire global order.
Lacquer (2003, p. 7) captures the attention that has been given to terrorism in
recent times when he noted that:
From time to time, following some spectacular attack, terrorism
would figure prominently in the media for a few days. There would
be deliberations on the highest level of government, committees
would be appointed and resolutions passed... In any case, terrorism
never threatens all countries in an equal measure, but this has
changed now as terrorism is bound to remain high on the list of
country‟s priorities.
Some people have tried to query the attention government of nations pay to this
issue of terrorism. It was even said that terrorism is a child of economic difficulty and
illiteracy. However, Alan and Malecková (2003, p. 119) were quick to resolve this issues
when they noted that “the most glaring misconception about terrorism is the assumption
that terrorists are underprivileged, uneducated individuals on the fringe of society.
Increasingly, empirical studies of terrorism have demonstrated that such a notion is
2
flawed. Not only is there no empirical basis for this perception, but terrorism also appears
to be more of a desirable undertaking than a last resort for many individuals”.
There is no doubt that the act of terrorism spells doom to a nation. The effects go
beyond the physical damage to include diverse collateral consequences, part of which is
the psychological effects on the people. The psychological effects is increased when the
people feel they are not been carried along. Interestingly, major re-allocations of
resources occur to support the repair of physical and psychological damage, restore order
and alleviate fear, attempt to recreate a sense of normality, and to initiate protective
actions for the future, although many instituted after the terrorist act have emerged. The
general economic impact of terrorism is that it diverts resources and undermines
economic stability (Saul, 2002, p.18).
Nigeria is not left out in the target for terrorists‟ actions. As a country, she has
suffered series of conflicts. Bunmi (2011, p.5) observed that “the ethno-religious fracas in
parts of Jos, in Sept. 2001, July 2002, Nov. 2008 till date; acts of militancy in the Niger
Delta and most recently the attacks on innocent Nigerians that started in Maiduguri
(Borno State) and sporadically spread to other States in the North where the Boko Haram
adherents had pitched their tents, and the recent bombing of Abuja, are recent crises and
acts of terror this country faces”.
The Boko Haram sect which has pushed the country to a tight conner still
communicate treating messages to the government. During the 2009 uprising, their
3
leader, Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody. Since then, several arrests have been
made by the Nigerian security forces, yet the attacks are getting messy as the group are
demanding for the release of their members in Nigerian prisons. Recently, the media
house have had their own share of the attacks as ThisDay newspaper headquarters in
Abuja and the Daily Sun newspaper house in Kaduna were attacked by the sects. The
group had earlier complained that the media are under reporting their activities and
therefore have sworn to launch mass attack on the media (Daily Sun, 2012, p. 3).
The complain of the sect seems to have been a fallout from their knowledge of the
importance of the media in reporting events in the society. Stating the importance of the
media in terrorism report, Laqueur (1976, p.9) noted that “terrorists have learned that the
media are of paramount importance in their campaigns that the terrorist act by itself is
next to nothing, whereas publicity is all. But the media, constantly in need of diversity
and new angles, make fickle friends and so terrorists always have to be innovative. They
are, in some respects, the super-entertainers of our time”. Writing further, Miller (1982,
p.1) noted that terrorism “is the media‟s stepchild, a stepchild, which the media,
unfortunately, can neither completely ignore nor deny”.
In line with the relationship between the media and terrorism, this study sought to
examine newspaper coverage of terrorism in Nigeria with the aim of finding out the
frame of analysis and presentation used by selected newspapers in the country.
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1.2 Statement of the problem
The act of terror might not really have any effect without the coverage of the
media. Invariably, the mass media dramatically change, to some extent, the way and
manner most terrorist exhibit their act of terror. In other to attract media attention, in
most cases, terrorist identifies core areas of the fabric of the nation to perpetuate their evil
act. This might be to make sure their actions do not escape the pages of the newspaper‟s
account of the day‟s event(s). This is the only way their actions can be made known to a
vast majority of the public.
However, the way these events of terror are reported by the media might have lots
of implications attached to it. It can create more fear in the minds of the people,
encourage the terrorists to commit more acts of terror, hinder economic development,
create negative image for the government, and prevent foreign investment. The list of
implications might be more than what has been mentioned.
This study, therefore, sought to examine newspaper coverage of terrorism in
Nigeria with the aim of finding out the frame of analysis and presentation used by
selected newspapers in the country.
5
1.3 Objectives of the study
Primary objective
The main crux of this study is to examine newspaper coverage of terrorism in
Nigeria with the aim of finding out the frame of analysis and presentation used by some
selected newspapers in the country.
Specific objectives
Other specific objectives includes to:
1. Identify the direction of newspaper coverage of terrorism in Nigeria.
2. Examine the level of prominence given to the news stories on terrorism in the
country.
3. Find out the depth of newspaper coverage of the issues of terrorism in Nigeria.
4. Find out the economic implication of newspaper coverage of terrorism.
5. Identify how government responded to the news of terrorism in the country.
1.5 Research questions
This study was guided by the following research questions:
1. What is the direction of newspaper coverage of terrorism in Nigeria?
2. What is the level of prominence given to the news stories on terrorism in the
country?
3. What is the depth of newspaper coverage of the issues of terrorism in Nigeria?
6
4. What is the economic implication of newspaper coverage of terrorism in the
country?
5. How did government respond to the news of terrorism in the country?
1.5. Significance of the study
Professionally, this work will help to know how the media has effectively covered
the activities of terrorists in Nigeria, the economic implications, and how government
responds to news of terrorism in the country. Academically, this study will also serve as
an empirical data for future researchers who may wish to carry out a further investigation
on the activities of terrorists in Nigeria.
1.6 Definition of terms
Terrorism: Terrorism is the use of force against people and/or property by an individual
or group to create intense, overpowering fear.
Mass media: A paper printed daily or weekly, containing news.
Coverage: Reporting of news in the media.
New Nigerian: It is a daily newspaper which represents the northern part of the
country and published in Nigeria.
Tribune: It is a daily newspaper which represents the southwest part of the country
and published in Nigeria.
7
The Guardian: This is a Nigerian daily newspaper which represents the south-south
part of the country.
The Champion: This is a Nigerian newspaper which represents the south-east part of
the country.
8
References
Adeoye, M. (2003). Aviation security and terrorism: An overview of Nigerian
experience. Terrorism Watch, Vol. 6, No.1, pp. 12-15
Agwu, F. A. (2004).The Al-Qaeda scare and Africa capacity for the discharge of its anti-terrorism obligations. UNILAG: Journal of Politics, Vol. 1(1), 5-37.
Alan, K. & Malečková, J. (2003). Education, poverty, and terrorism: Is there a causal
Connection? The Journal of Economic Perspectives. Vol17, No.4 pp. 119-144.
Arinze, F. (1991). Situations of inter-religious misunderstanding. Enugu: Bigard Jubilee
Publication.
Bunmi, O. (2011). Boko Haram movement and its deadly impact. Retrieved September
10, from http://www.masterweb.com/article-menewswire.htm
Daily Sun, (2012). Boko Haram denies dialogue with FG. August 23, Vol.7
Lacquer, W. (2003). No end to war: Terrorism in the twenty-first century. London: Continuum publishers.
Miller, A. (1982). Terrorism, the media and the law enforcement: An introduction and
overview. In Miller, A. (ed.). In terrorism, the media and law. New York: Transnational publishers
Saul, W. (2002). The essence of terrorism: Using information, education, and
communication as weapons of prevention and defense. Retrieved September 10,
from http://www.intlhorizons.com/article-menewswire.htm
This study is anchored on two theories of mass communication namely; agenda-
setting theory and framing theory.
Agenda-Setting Theory
Izuogu (2009, p. I) cited in Anorue, Obayi, Onyebuchi, Odemelam, Ekwe (2012,
p.149) noted that “agenda- setting theory refers to the media‟s capacity to cause an issue
to be elevated in importance in the mind of the public through repeated focus or
coverage”. This statement was supported by Anyadike (2009, p. 37), who opined that
“the basic principle in the agenda-setting theory is the ability of the mass media to
restructure the audience thinking and perception of events”. Izuogu (2009, p. 3) observes
that;
19
Considerable evidence has accumulated that editors and
broadcasters play an important part in shaping our social reality as
they go about their day-to-day task of choosing and displaying
news… In short, the mass media may not be successful in telling
us what to think but they are stunningly successful in telling us
what to think about.
From the aforementioned statements, it is obvious that the media through its
news selection establish not only issues of public importance, but also determine how
much importance to attach to a given issue. The media do this through the reports they
present for public consumption. Anorue, et al. (2012, p.149) noted that “Walter
Lippmann, an American columnist for the New York Times and a strong supporter of
Harold Lasswell, writing about agenda-setting function of the media in his famous
article Public Opinion (1992) argued that the people do not deal directly with their
environments as well as they respond to „pictures‟ in their heads. Lippmann (1922: 16)
as cited in Baran and Davis (2006: 316) notes that:
For the real environment is altogether too big, too complex, and
too fleeting for direct acquaintance. We are not equipped to deal
with so much subtlety, so much variety, so many permutations and
combinations. And although we have to act in that environment,
we have to reconstruct it on a simplier model before we can
manage with it. But average people just can‟t be trusted to make
important political decisions based on these simplified pictures.
Average people have to be protected, and the important decisions
have to be made by technocrats who use better models to guide
their actions.
The idea of agenda setting which was made popular by Cohen‟s further
researched in media coverage and Mccombs and Shaw further studies, has it that “in
choosing and displaying news, editors, newsroom staff, and broadcasters play an
important part in shaping political reality. Readers learn only not about a given issue,
20
but how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a
news story and its position… The mass media may well determine the important issues
of society” (McCombs and Shaw, 1972, p. 176 as cited in Baran and Davis, 2006, p.
317).
The relevance of this theory to this study is that the media of communication
help the formation of perception in the minds of the people. The media may cover
issues that bother on terrorism in the society. But the way the people would see the
event, especially those who are not present will depend entirely on the media
presentation. This means that the media play a major role in shaping ideas in peoples
mind.
Framing Theory
Scheufele (2000: 309) cited in Anorue, et al. (2012, p.149) noted that “framing
is based on the concept of prospect theory; that is, on the assumptions that subtle
changes in the wordings of the description of a situation might affect how audience
members interpret that situation. In order words, the choice of words and sentences
used in reporting a story may influence how audiences think about the issue, not by
making aspect of the issue more salient, but by invoking interpretive schemas that
influence the interpretation of incoming information”.
Writing on framing theory, McCombs, Llamas, Lopez-Escober and Rey (1997,
p. 704) cited in Baran and Davis (2006, p. 320- 321) observed that “framing is the
21
second level of agenda-setting. Both the selection of objects for attention and the
selection of attributes for thinking about these objects are powerful agenda-setting
roles”. This is a pointer to the fact that the way the media packages an event has a
tremendous influence in the way the audience would perceive such information.
This theory is relevant to this study because it explains how media reportage of an
event contributes in shaping the perception of the people. Invariably, as journalists
harmlessly go about their day-to-day activities, reporting events within the social
system, their choice of words and the sentences constructed and the logical presentation
of ideas, affect the understanding and interpretation of the news story. Therefore, the
way the media cover events of terrorism in the society, the pictures they gather and
present, the logical account of the event that transpired has some worth influence on the
readers of the newspapers.
22
References
Acholonu, R. (2012). Terrorism and mass media public information role. In Wilson, D.
(ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria. Uyo: BSM
Resources Nig. Ltd.
Anorue, L. I, Obayi, P. M., Onyebuchi, C. A., Odemelam, C.C., Ekwe, O. C. (2012). The
polemics of deregulation of the downstream sector in Nigeria: A journalist‟s
perspective. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol. 2, No. 21, pp 145-154
Apooyin, A. (2012). Mass media: Major weapon in the prevention of terrorism and
violence in sports. In Wilson, D. (ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria. Uyo: BSM Resources Nig. Ltd.
Baran, S. & Davis, D. (2006). Mass communication theory: Foundations, ferment and future. (4
th edition). Belmont, CA: Thamson Wadsworth
Ekhareafo, O. D. & Olley, O.W. (2012). Global terrorism: Fighting the media way. In
Wilson, D. (ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria.
Uyo: BSM Resources Nig. Ltd.
Ekwueme, A.C. & Akpan, C. (2012). Mass media and boko haram insurrection: A call
for reportorial paradigm shift. In Wilson, D. (ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria. Uyo: BSM Resources Nig. Ltd.
Galadima, D.J. & Soola, E.O. (2012). The press and group identity politics in Nigeria: A
study of newspaper framing of the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections. The Nigeria Journal of Communication. Vol. 10, No. 1, pp.1-27.
Mbazie, S. & Nnah, F. (2012). Media responsibilities in the era of bomb blast terrorism.
In Wilson, D. (ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria. Uyo: BSM Resources Nig. Ltd.
McQuail, D. (1987). Mass communication theory: An introduction. Beverly Hills CA:
Sage Publications.
Ojobor, I. J. (2002). Mass communication theories. In Okunna, C. S. (Ed.), Teaching
mass communication: A multi-dimensional approach. Enugu: New Generation Books.
Senam, N. (2012). Crime reportage by Akwa Ibom State-based newspapers. The Nigeria Journal of Communication. Vol. 10, No. 1, pp.222-238.
Udoudo, A. & Diriyai N. (2012). Reportage of terrorism in Nigeria. The Nigeria Journal
of Communication. Vol. 10, No. 1, pp.77-95.
23
Umuerri, A. & Galadima, J.D. (2012). Mass media, development of national security and
strategic communication against terrorism. In Wilson, D. (ed.), The media, terrorism and political communication in Nigeria. Uyo: BSM Resources Nig. Ltd.
24
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
This study adopted content analysis as its research design. According to Wimmer
and Dominick (2011, p. 157), “the goal of content analysis is an accurate representation
of a body of messages”. Supporting this statement, Ohaja (2003, p. 14) writes that
“content analysis refers to the examination of the manifest content of communication to
discover the patterns existing therein. Such manifest content could be advertisements,
As stated earlier, Osuala (2005: 149) noted that “high reliability is indicated by a
high correlation coefficient. It is difficult to say how high the correlation should be before
accepting the measure as reliable but for most measures the correlation would probably
be at least + 0.80”. Since the test result shows a correlation coefficient of 0.99, it means
that the intercoder reliability between the two coders is very high.
52
Analysis:
The table above indicates that 836 news stories amounting to 58.9% reported that
the government responded swiftly to the news of terror immediately it heard about the
event. On the other hand, 422 news stories representing 29.7% reported that government
delayed in their response to the scene of event, after the act of terrorism must have been
perpetuated. However, 162 (11.4%) news stories reported that most of the articles were
not really specific about the time government showed up at the scene of the terrorist act.
The implication of this analysis is that 58.9% of the stories published by the
selected newspapers indicated that government response to acts of terrorism is almost
immediate. This result was arrived at a coefficient reliability of 0.99.
4.3 Discussion of findings
Research Question 1: What is the direction of newspaper coverage of terrorism
in Nigeria?
The result of the analysis conducted in response to this research question indicated
that 57.0% of the news stories reported on the pages of the selected newspapers were
negatively reported. This means that the Nigerian newspapers that were studied greatly
condemned the act of terrorism as perpetuated by the terrorists in the country. Though,
there were pockets of news stories that tried to explain the reason behind some of the acts
of terror as carried by the terrorist groups that were instilling fear in the minds of the
53
people. This news stories were not that significant considering the fact that over 50% of
the stories condemned the terrorists act.
Research Question 2: What is the level of prominence given to the news stories
on terrorism in the country?
Analysis of research question two indicated that 45.8% of the news stories were
reported on the front pages of the selected newspapers. This figure is the highest in the
distribution on a four point scale. On its own, it indicates high prominence given to the
issue of terrorism in the country. Other placement of news stories on terrorism, which
were lower than that of the front page ranges from 18.1% news stories placed on the back
pages, 24.7% news stories placed on the inside pages to 11.5% news stories were placed
on the centre spread.
Research Question 3: What is the depth of newspaper coverage of the issues of
terrorism in Nigeria?
Analysing this research question, it was indicated that 28.7 % of the news stories
published were reported within the space of 6-10 inches of the selected newspapers,
which is a moderate reportage of terrorism in volume. Considering the space length
between 6-10 inches, it could be argued that the necessary depth in coverage sought was
not really given. Though this is in close relationship with the percentage of depth given to
other news stories which fell between 11inches and above, it is not appropriate to see the
depth given to media coverage of terrorism as low. Therefore, the research interpreted
this situation as a moderate depth provided in the reportage of issues on terrorism. Other
variable of analysis indicated that 15.6% news stories on terrorism were published in 1-5
inches, 27.5% news stories were published in 11-15 inches of the newspapers, while
54
28.2% news stories were published in 16 inches and above spaces of the newspapers
selected.
Research Question 4:What is the economic implication of newspaper coverage of
terrorism in the country?
From the analysis of data in respect to this research question, it was revealed that
54.6% news stories on terrorism reported that the act of terror affect infrastructural
facilities within the vicinity it took place, without necessarily stating it in monetary term.
This means that most terrorism acts affects mainly the infrastructural facilities within the
area it occurred. This is what the press really points it reportage to. Invariably, terrorism
acts affects the social infrastructural facilities put in place for the benefit of the people.
There are other important but not most dominant effect of terrorism in the social
system, which include: 26.6% news stories on terrorism stipulating money lost, 12.9%
news stories stated that the act of terror affected foreign investment, while 5.9% news
stories reported that it affected economic movement within the areas affected.
Research Question 5: How did government respond to the news of terrorism in
the country?
The result of the analysis in respect to this research question revealed that 58.9%
of the news stories published by the selected newspapers reported that government
response to acts of terrorism was swift. This means that as soon as government got wind
of the terrorist acts, they immediately activated the necessary agencies to report to the
scene of event to help rescue the victims. This interpretation is more so considering the
fact that more than 50% of the news stories indicated fast government response.
55
References
Osuala, E. C. (2005). Introduction to research methodology (3rd
ed.). Onitsha: Africana-First Publishers Limited.
Wimmer, R. & Dominick, J. (2011). Mass media research: An introduction. Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
56
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.2 Summary of findings
The result of the analysis indicates that 57.0% of the news stories reported on the
pages of the selected newspapers were negatively reported; meaning that the Nigerian
newspapers that were studied condemned the act of terrorism as perpetuated by the
terrorists in the country. It was also revealed that 45.8% of the news stories were reported
on the front pages of the selected newspapers; indicating high prominence given to the
issue of terrorism in the country. Further analysis also indicated that 28.7 % of the news
stories published were reported within the space of 6-10 inches of the selected
newspapers, which is a moderate reportage of terrorism in “volume-estimate”.
The study also revealed that 54.6% news stories on terrorism reported that the act
of terror affect infrastructural facilities within the vicinity it took place. Finally, analysis
showed that 58.9% of the news stories published by the selected newspapers reported that
government response to acts of terrorism was swift; meaning that as soon as government
got wind of the terrorist acts, they immediate activated the necessary agencies to report to
the scene of event to help rescue the victims.
5.2 Conclusion
Considering the fact that results presented in this study indicated that newspapers‟
reportage condemned the acts of terrorism in the country, gave high prominence to news
57
on terrorism and moderate in-depth report of news stories on terrorism, it would be
pertinent to conclude that newspaper coverage of terrorism in the country have been
impressive, generally. This is because on its part, newspapers have tried to provide the
people with information that bother on their day-day interest by bringing to them news on
terrorism and condemning in public what would usually instil fear in them.
5.3 Recommendations
It would be good for government to adopt a pre-emptive approach to the issue of
terrorism. That is the major way government can be on top of the situation in the country.
a situation where the government rely on responding quickly to terrorists attack is not
enough. Government should strengthen its agencies and armed forces, through further
training and financial benefits, to keep them a step ahead of every terrorists attack in the
country.
The media should improve on its investigative journalistic role to see if it would
be possible to monitor the activities of these terrorists, in order to help government curb
their actions.
The media should have a well planned style for reporting news stories on terrorism
in order not to glorify the situation. This well taught out plan would help the reporter
fashion out better ways to tackle terrorism stories. This style might be an in-house style
for the medium.
58
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