NEWSPAPER COVERAGE PATTERN OF THE RE-ARRESTS OF NNAMDI KANU. A CONTENT ANALYSIS REVIEW OF TWO NATIONAL DAILIES

Felix Olajide Talabi (PhD), Sunday Zechariah Olanihun

Abstract


Studies have shown that media coverage affects how the public learns, understands, or thinks about an issue. Therefore, this study examined the newspaper coverage pattern of the re-arrests of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB). The study aims at identifying the genre of stories, prominence, frame, and space allocated to the levels. The study was anchored on media framing and frustration-aggression theories. For this investigation, content analysis was used. Samples were drawn from select newspapers (The Nation and Vanguard). This study's duration was the first four months of Nnamdi Kanu's re-arrests, June 26 to September 2022, and the last two months of conducting the research, which is December and January 2022. The population of the study comprised all 289 editions. The findings show that newspapers have news stories dominating the re-arrests of Nnamdi Kanu in their publication, with slight prominence in the front-page lead. Another result shows that the Vanguard allocated more space to the coverage of the re-arrests of Nnamdi Kanu. The study, therefore, recommends that Nigerian journalists should always critically interpret and investigate issues in crises instead of depending on straight news stories. Interpretative features will help provide a more detailed report of a topic, like the re-arrests of Nnamdi Kanu.


Keywords


Newspaper, coverage pattern, re-arrests, Nnamdi Kanu

Full Text:

PDF

References


Agboeze, A.A (2017). Audience assessment of media coverage of the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra

Akpede, K. S. (2011). Implementation of ethics practice by the Nigerian media practitioners: The Journey so far, In Idebi, S. K. O and Madaki, W. M. (Eds.). Journalism ethics: A philosophical approach to issues in the Nigerian media. (pp. 56-62). Ibadan: Cobweb Book publishers.

Anuh, S. (2005). War propaganda and the media: unpublished work

Baran, S. and Denis, D. (2009). Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment and Future. New York: Academic Books Inc.Dennis, E., and J. Merrill (1991). Media Debates: Issues in Mass Communication. Toronto: Longman.

Chioma, R.C., Ezeji, A., Ezeqwu, D. (2017). Secessionist threat and media framing in Nigeria: Analysing IPOB/Nigeria Army clash/Effect on the public. Renaissance University Journal of Management and Social Science (RUJMASS) Vol.3, No 1, Dec. 2017 edition.

Egbejule, (2017 ). Fifty years later, Nigeria has failed to learn from its horrific civil war. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global

Entman, R. M. (1991). Framing United-States coverage of international news—Contrasts in KAL and Iran Air incidents narratives. Journal of Communication, 41(4), 6–27.

Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43, 51-59.

Ekwueme, A. C. (2008). Contemporary print media productions. Enugu: Tonedu Publishers.

Folarin, B. (1998). Theories of Mass Communication: An Introductory Text. Ibadan: Stirling-Horden Publishers.

Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis: An essay on the organization of experience. New York: Harper & Row.

Heavens, K. K. & Comfort, C. E (2021). Evaluation of newspaper coverage of IPOB secessionist agitation in Nigeria. SAU Journal of Management and Social Sciences. (ISSN: 2550-7302), Vol. 6, Number 3, December 2021. https:journals.sau.edu.ng/index.php/sjmas.

Hocking, J., Stacks, D. W. & McDermott, S. T. (2003). Communication research (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Ikhilae, E (2017). Court proscribes IPOB. The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved from http://thenationonlineng.net/court-proscribes-ipob/

International Media Newspapers (2016). Top newspapers in Nigeria by web ranking. Retrieved from http://www.4imn.com/ng

Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory—analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47, 263–291.

Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1984). Choices, values, and frames. American Psychologist, 39, 341–350.

Lakoff, G. (2004). Don't think of an elephant! Know your values and frame the debate. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green

Najakku, A. (2017). The rise and fall of IPOB. Daily Trust. Retrieved from https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/the-rise-and-fall-of-ipob.html

Nelson, T. (1996). Issue framing effects on belief importance and opinion. Journal of Politics. 61.4:1044- 67.

Nelson, T. E. & Kinder, D. R.(1996). Issue frames and group centrism in American public opinion. Journal of Politics. 58.1055-1078.

Nelson, T. E, Oxley, Z. M., & Clawson, R. A. (1997). Media framing of a civil liberties conflict and its effect on tolerance. American Political Science Review. 91. 3: 567-582.

Offodile, C. (2016). The Politics of Biafra and The Future of Nigeria. Nigeria: Safari.

Olley, O.W. & Ekhareafo, O.D. (2013).Social Media as the people's power: A textual analysis of the January 2012 anti-fuel subsidy removal protest. Nigerian Journal of Communication, 12-24.

Ohaja, E. U. (2003). Mass communication research and project writing. Lagos: John Letterman.

Okeke, Somtochukwu Victor; Okwumba, Ogechi Eucharia; Ezeah, Greg H.; and Verlumun Celestine, Gever, "Journalism Practice in a Country Facing Division Threats: Newspaper Framing of Secession Agitations in Nigeria" (2019). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 3009. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/3009

Somtochukwu V. O., Ogechi. E.O, Greg H. E., Gever. V. C., (2019). Journalism Practice in a Country Facing Division Threats: Newspaper Framing of Secession Agitations in Nigeria. University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Library philosophy and practice (e-journal)

Ugorji, B. (2017). Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). A revitalized social movement in Nigeria. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.