THE PUNCH AND THE GURDIAN NEWS PAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

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THE PUNCH AND THE GURDIAN NEWS PAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE
Background of Study
In the past five to six years or more, terrorism has continued to assume more complex and worrisome dimension, not only in Nigeria but
across the globe. This trend has posed serious threat to the security of lives and properties. Acholonu (2012) argues that the prevalence of
terrorism across the globe are indicators of global danger. The incidences of terrorism indicate that the world today is growing more
insecure for humans.
Afowowe (2012) opines that terrorism has continued to claim the lives of millions and destroys property worth billions. Ofomegbe and
Orittesesan (2012) describe terrorism as activities that involve the use of violent acts with the intention to create fear (terror) in the society.
It is perpetrated to achieve a religious, political or ideological goal or objective. The use of violence to create fear is usually targeted at noncombat or military personnel, who are civilians and mostly aected byterrorism ). Throughout human
history, there have been countless threats to the security of human lives. In recent time, these threats have continued to lead to destruction
of human life and properties, while the society incurs devastating loss.
While all this takes place, the mass media which include newspapers have been described to be eective in carrying out campaigns and
public awareness to assist members of the society to confront problems which aect their societal life and existence. Asemah (2011) avers
that newspaper as an arm of the mass media play indispensable roles in the society in this direction as it serves as agent of tremendous
change with strong influence on human activities. The influence of newspapers cut across economics, politics, health and education. In
March 28, 2018, the Punch Newspaper on pg. 20, had a Letter to the Editor titled: Dapchi girls’ abduction: Some unanswered questions.
Temofeh (2017) argues that through newspaper reports on acts of terrorism, members of the society have been kept abreast of the activities
of the terrorists. In Guardian Newspaper report in March 8, 2018, the news story on pg. 5, titled: Why insurgency may not end soon, by
Fayose, is a good example to illustrate how newspaper reports on acts of terrorism, provide information on terrorism to the audience.
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Acholonu (2012) observes that while terrorism is becoming a common occurrence across the globe, mass media channels such as the
newspapers are responsible for bringing the activities and objectives of terrorists to the attention of members of the society. For instance, In
March 7, 2018, the Punch Newspaper on pg. 40, had a news story titled: Boko Haram no longer a serious fighting force, says
Buhari. Newspapers serve the role of watch dogs in the society and are considered major stake holders in bringing about positive change
and value re-orientation among the members of the society. Through newspaper reports, information, knowledge or ideas are enhanced in
the society. These reports also transmit information and ideas which counter the objectives of terrorists in the society as the roles of the
newspapers in the society include; formation of conscience, advocacy and mobilisation. The Punch Newspaper in March 7, 2018, had a
Letter to the Editor on pg. 18, titled Solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Information disseminated through newspaper reports have the capacity to foster social change and helped further the agenda of those who
share similar goals with it. Anaeto, Solo-Anaeto and Tejumaiye (2009) and Imoh (2007) argue that newspapers are relevant to the society in
the sense that they inform the public by supplying facts, opinions, statistics, photos and illustrations on issues, events or phenomenon that
aect the society. Newspapers have the capacity to educate, members of the society on issues that threaten their social existence, by going
beyond the basic facts to in-depth analysis through opinions pieces, feature stories, columns and editorials. Through all these, newspapers
provide records of human activities resources-material-2/)and events in the society. A good example to illustrate the provide records of human activities and events in the
society, is the Guardian Newspaper features article in March 8, 2018, pg. 45, titled: How insecurity is ruining education in Nigeria.
Acholonu (2012) argues that through newspapers reports and coverage on terrorism, people’s opinions and feelings on terrorism are
shaped and influenced in the society. Newspapers relay techniques and experiences which enable members of society better appraise their
own social conditions as humans. Ahuja (1997) cited in Tejumaiye and Adelabu (2007) opines that newspapers exert credible influence in
the formation of consciousness and concerted action against problems confronting the society. Newspapers provide information to
members of the society and the more information members of the society get from the newspapers, the more they interested they become
in the issues being reported.
Temofeh (2017) avers that the newspapers also play the role of agenda setting in their coverage of acts of terrorism. This clearly explains
that through newspapers coverage on terrorism members of the society can be directed on how to handle the issues relating to terrorism. A
typical example that better illustrate the agenda setting role of the newspapers in reporting acts of terrorism is: a news story in the Guardian
Newspaper in April 7, 2018, where a report mon p.6, was captured: Okoh Kicks Against Amnesty for Boko Haram Member.
In several other instances, newspapers have fallen short of its role as watchdogs in the society. Tejumaiye and Adelabu (2011) aver:
While it is hard to conclude their positive contributions outweigh their negative ones and vice-versa, many internal and external
problems have plagued the Nigerian mass media including newspapers. The problems range from: harsh economic environment, harsh
political and social environment, intimidation, assassination, closure harassment, outright ban, low professionalism, poor remuneration
system, unfriendly legal environment, ownership manipulations, incompetence, and poor adherence to professional ethics and standards.
All of these have contributed to the almost lack of purpose for the Nigerian mass media. For instance, the government owned mass media is
premised on not biting the fingers that feed them… many private stations that are supposed to be critical and unbiased in their views have
been compromised by ownership influence and sectional interests.
In such moments, newspapers have been accused to serve the interests of their sponsors and advertisers with little or no concern for the
public interests, as the quest to make profit or serve the hidden agenda of a select, which in most cases are top in their scale of preference.
The Guardian Newspaper in March 8, 2018 on pg. 12, had a classical example suggesting how newspaper served the hidden agenda of a
select in their coverage: Nigeria, EU, UNODC Renew Commitments against Terrorism.
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Acholonu (2012) notes that newspaper reportage on terrorism exerts considerable influence in either curbing the trend or in encouraging
the acts of terrorism in the society. This is because when mass media channels like the newspapers engage in reporting terrorism, they
perform not only the function of dissemination of information but also a tool to advance the objectives of terrorists. A good example to
illustrate how the newspapers coverage exerts considerable influence in either curbing the trend or in encouraging the acts of terrorism in
the society is: The Punch Newspaper report in March 8, 2018 pg. 3, where it was reported that: Okah, Nwabueze, bag life imprisonment for
Independence Day bombing.
Having established the considerable influence newspaper reports have in the society, this study seeks to investigate the extent to which
newspapers coverage influence terrorism in Nigeria.
Statement of Problem
Nigerian newspapers wield considerable influence in the society as it serves as channel through which members of the society are
informed, educated, enlightened and mobilized to take part in activities in the society. Newspapers have the power to direct public
attention and chart the way in confronting certain issues. This is evident in the agenda-setting function of the mass media.
Through its coverage, newspapers also perform the status conferral function. As such, newspapers report on terrorism can accord status or
credibility to acts of terror in such fashion where members of the society are either encourage or discourage from supporting such acts.
Over the years, newspapers have proven to have the capacity to create awareness, accelerate information flow and mobilize members of
the society to take part in activities which the newspapers play up before them. Therefore, to what extent has a newspapers report on
terrorism influence Nigerians to either support or join the fight against terrorism?
Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of this study are;

To find out the level of prominence the selected Nigerian Newspapers gave to the terrorism.

To ascertain the magnitude of reportage accorded to stories on terrorism by the newspapers.

To point out the direction on terrorism which were highlighted by the newspapers.
Research Questions
The following questions were formulated for this study:

What level of prominence did the selected Nigerian Newspapers gave to acts of terrorism?

What magnitude of coverage did the newspaper gave to stories on terrorism?

What direction/slant on terrorism was highlighted by the newspapers?
Significance of the Study
The issue raised by this study is of immense benefits to achieving globe security, especially towards achieving the security of lives and
properties across the globe and particularly in Nigeria. Across the globe, more prominence seems to be accorded to issues on terrorism
especially in countries such as Nigeria where there is upsurge in the acts of terror daily. Newspapers while performing its agenda-setting
role in the society, also serve as platforms or channels through which issues that aect the society are highlighted. Therefore, the outcome
of this study would be useful to Nigeria as well as the world at large, as state actors across the globe continue to collaborate in finding
common ground to eliminate the monster called terrorism.
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This study would be of immense benefit to students of Mass Communication and students of journalism in higher institutions of
learning. It will also benefit mass media organizations in understanding the concept of communicating information that aect the security
of human lives and safeguarding of properties since it is only through newspapers, which are aspects of the mass media, that members of
the society get informed on issues that aect their social living.
Meanwhile, students of Mass Communication in other higher institutions and all those who wish to conduct further research in this
area would also find the outcome of this study useful as it would serve as a valuable reference material in the future.
Scope of Study
This study focuses on the newspapers reports on terrorism. Since every research has its time and limit, the scope of this study is the
newspaper reportage or coverage of terrorism between January and June 2018.
Therefore, this study will cover newspapers reports on issues relating to terrorism between January and June 2018 and appreciate the
extent of the newspapers coverage on the issues of terrorism. Two Nigerian newspapers were selected to include: The Punch Newspaper
and Guardian Newspaper. These newspapers were chosen purposively owing to their circulation strength, availability, wide readership as
well as wide range of coverage on issues of national interest such terrorism.
Limitation of the Study
The major limitation for this study was the time it took the researcher to undertake the manifest contents of the selected newspapers,
couple with the fact that the researcher was also pre-occupied with other academic activities such as lectures, and other forms of
assignments during the period of undertaken the study.
Operational Definitions of Terms
Communication: This is the process of sharing of information which includes five basic factors: an initiator; a recipient; a vehicle or channel;
a message and an eect. The initiator designs or encodes the message and transfer the message through the vehicle with the intent of
stimulating an eect.
Coverage: Coverage refers to the amount or totality of news and information provided by the newspapers on issues through its contents
over a specific period. It can also be defined as the way the Nigerian newspapers reported or gave account of issues pertaining to terrorism.
Newspapers: Newspapers are written publications containing published news and information on issues periodically published daily. It
refers to the newspapers that covered and reported about the issues relating to terrorism in Nigeria.
Print media: The print media refers to the channels of communication that present information on paper, published, printed medium such
as newspapers and magazines as opposed to the broadcast media.
Prominence: Prominence refers to the position or dimension to which newspapers placed on a given issues or news item that aect the
society.
Security communication: Security communication refers to the study and practice of communicating with the aim of promoting or providing
security information that will impact the socio- economy development of the society.
Society: Also refers to as a social system consists of a collective people who undertake dierent types of tasks to achieve common goals and
solve common problems.
Terrorism: This refers to the use of violence by groups in a society to create terrors through acts of destruction and sabotage of human lives
and properties
Theoretical Framework
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The theoretical framework for this research is built around the agenda setting theory and the social responsibility theory of
communication.
Agenda Setting Theory
The agenda setting theory is a theory of mass communication that provides explanation on how the media through its programmes
and contents consciously and unconsciously list, plan or outline things, events or issues to be considered. The media according to the
postulations of this theory set agenda for the public to follow through their coverage of issues, events or things in the society. The mass
media achieve this by focusing attention or highlighting silent issues in the society through their coverage thereby making people to think
along that line. The mass media according to the postulations of the theory of agenda setting play their drums and in the process the
members of the society begin to dance to the tune of the music played by the media. The mass media in acting as agenda setters to the
members of the society, the mass media may not tell the members of the society what to think about but what to think about.”
Considering this, McQuail (2010), posits that the term “agenda setting” was a coinage of McCombs and Shaw in 1972, in describing a
phenomenon which had been noticed and studied in the context to the role the mass media played during electioneering campaigns. The
main thrust of the theory holds that the news media through it coverage to issues, events and things in the society indicate to the public
who are members of the society what the main issues of the day are and as such it is reflected in what the public perceives as the main
issues. Trenaman and McQuail (1961) as cited by McQuail (2010) argues that “the agenda setting theory strongly suggest assumptions that
members of the society think what they are told but at no time or level do they think what they are told.” Findings of studies on the agenda
setting theory over the years are the development of the theory indicated that there is a correspondence between the order of importance
given in the media to ‘issues’ and the order of significance attached to the same issues by members of the society and government officials.
The assumptions of the theory revolve around how the media play an active role in giving importance to issues which they highlight
as important to the society. Nwabueze (2006), added that the media frequent coverage and highlighting or emphasizing prominence to
issues in the media, members of the society attached importance to those issues the media have giving prominence to more than others.
Newspapers reports, or coverage on terrorism outlines and highlight the importance it attached to the issues of terrorism.
Governments and Nigerians began to pay serious attentions and attach importance to terrorism as result of the consistent and sustained
coverage of activities of terrorist groups by mass media channels such as the newspapers. Newspapers coverage on issues and events
surrounding terrorism indicate to Nigerians what the main issues relating to terrorism areas reflected in pages of the newspapers. This in a
way influences the growth of terrorism in Nigeria.
The way in which acts of terrors are reported on the pages of most newspapers most one ends up suggesting to Nigerians that terrorism
has come to stay with them. The corresponding importance attached reporting terrorism on the pages of newspaper plays significant role
in escalating the objectives of terrorism and how members of the society and government officials react to it.
The agenda setting theory neglected the possible eects on what people think concerning who is important, where important things
happen and why things are important. In it assumptions, the agenda setting theory did not give credence to who is important in the
coverage of the media that makes the individual important for the media coverage, the location the importance things happen and why are
the things or issues highlighted by media coverage are important to the members of the society. All these are not considerations to the
postulations of the theory.
Another point of concern not reflected in the assumptions of the theory is the definition of what the agenda portrayed by the media is,
are the issues reflected on the media coverage the agenda or priorities of the media, those of the public who are members of the society or
those of the policy? In a way, was the coverage or highlight or prominence accorded to reports on terrorism, the priorities or interest of the
media, members of the society or policy of the government?
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The other theory that supported the theoretical framework of this study is the social responsibility theory.
Social Responsibility Media Theory
The social responsibility media theory is a development of the libertarian theory of the press. Okunna (1999) cited in Asemah (2011)
described the theory as a modern theory which was developed in the mid-20th century. The thrust of the theory, was developed from the
growing concern and awareness that in some important respects, the free market idea in the media popularise by the libertarian theory has
failed to fulfil the promises of the media and deliver expected benefits to the members of the society.
Asemah (2011) argues that the social responsibility media theory is anchored on the notion of a free press acting responsibly to the
society. This indicates that the media which enjoys considerable freedom from the government is obliged to be responsible to the
communication needs in contemporary society.
Ojobor (2002) cited in Okujeni (2013) opines that the theory postulates that the operations and activities of the mass media
practitioners and the media as institutions in the society can only be guarantee when the society is safe for all. Therefore, the mass media
must consciously assist the society to achieve considerable safer environment for all its members.
In addition, the thrust of the theory indicates that the mass media in appreciation for enjoying considerable freedom in disseminating
information to the members of the society must be accountable and responsible to the social needs of the society.
McQuail (2010, p.147) argues that a social responsible media should ‘provide a full, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of
the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning’. It should ‘serve as a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism’ and be a
‘common carrier of the public expression’. The media should also give a ‘representative picture of constituent groups in society’ and also
present and clarify the ‘goals and values of society’.
McQuail (2010) however, highlighted the principles of the social responsibility media theory to include the following:

The media have obligations to society, and media ownership is a public trust.

News media should be truthful, accurate, fair, objective and relevant

The media should be free, but self-regulated

The media should follow agreed codes of ethics and professional conduct.

Under some circumstances, government may need to intervene to safeguard the public interest.
Terrorism in Nigeria has continued to assume worrisome dimensions. It threatens the survival of the society and human lives and
properties. Terrorism in Nigeria accounts for the loss of thousands of human lives and the displacement of the living. Properties worth
billions are lost the scourge of terrorism.
However, the thrust of this theory emphasizes the responsibility of the newspapers channels of communication in the society with strong
influence in the society. It can influence the de-escalation of terror activities. Newspapers like other channels of the mass media are
expected to be socially responsible and accountable to the sustenance of the society and can be eectively deployed in winning the war
against terrorist. Since most newspapers in Nigeria enjoy considerable freedom from the control of government, it is therefore, expected
and obliged to be responsible in communicating meaningful information that discredit the objectives of terrorism, which is chiefly to spread
fear and terror in the society.

THE PUNCH AND THE GURDIAN NEWS PAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

THE PUNCH AND THE GURDIAN NEWS PAPER COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA