MEDIA COVERAGE OF HERDSMEN ATTACKS IN JOS COMMUNITIES: A STUDY OF THE PUNCH AND VANGUARD NEWSPAPERS
- Dr Chinyere Mbaka
- Ibafo Mass Communication 2022
- vii,; 44p.
A plethora of reasons have been adjudged to be responsible for the incessant herdsmen conflict in different states of the country. The Global Terrorism Index in 2015 reports that between 2010 and 2013, herdsmen attacks have claimed the lives of 80 civilians in total. The media, being a tremendous source of information is tasked with the responsibility of communicating this conflict to ameliorate them with her power. This study launches an investigation on the media coverage of herdsmen attacks on Jos communities between January to June 2022, by comparatively studying the Punch and Vanguard newspapers. By adopting a content analysis method, the study analyses the content of the newspaper coverage within the period in a bid to ascertain the extent to which media covers, reports and frames conflicts as well as set the agenda. The study aligns its research with theoretical frameworks of agenda setting theory and framing theory of the media. The study finds that out of 362 publications between the newspapers, only 54 content reports cover attacks on the Jos community. The Punch newspaper gave more prominence to the regular occurrence of herdsmen attacks at 37% reportage compared to Vanguard newspaper's 63% reportage. Further, findings show that attacks on the Jos community are reported mostly through news, and despite the two newspapers having access to the same issues and conflicts in the state, their frame due to the angle of reportage and coverage are different as they aim to serve a different purpose and give the audience different agendas to discuss. Conclusively, the media's functions of surveillance and crisis communication have been achieved. However, it recommends that journalists should invest in investigative journalism while media houses should prioritize events that take human life in their news publications in the Nigerian media.