NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF RELIGIOUS CRISES AND SECURITY IN NIGERIA (A STUDY OF THE GUARDIAN AND THE PUNCH)

 

¹Oluwatoniloba Itabiyi, ²Tolulope Kayode-Adedeji, ³Funke Omole and ⁴Thelma Ekanem

¹Ms, Covenant University, Nigeria, Oluwatoniloba.Itabiyi@stu.cu.edu.ng

²Ms, Covenant University, Nigeria, Tolulope.kayode-adedeji@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

³Mrs, Covenant University, Nigeria. olufunke.omole@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

⁴Ms, Covenant University, Nigeria, Thelma.ekanem@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

 

Abstract

Religious crises is a very controversial issue that has been in the history of Nigeria for years. The study reviews the depth coverage of religious crises and their effects on the security of citizens. Prominence, slant, frequency and the media representation were analysed using content analysis. Relevant literatures on religion, media and crises were also reviewed. Specific theories were stated to make emphasis on the role of the media. This study employed the aid of a coding sheet in gathering data, the content of two major daily newspapers, The Guardian and The Punch were reviewed and they served as the sampling size. Most of the research questions were aimed at examining the attention these newspapers give to new stories, features and cartoons that address religious crises by investigating the prominence, slant and frequency of news reports. The findings of the research shows that the press reportage on religious crises are mostly in news stories category. Data was presented using tables and bar charts for comparison. The study concludes that the media have shown professionalism in the reportage of religious crises and these reports have promoted unity and security. The study recommends that the media should always abide with the journalistic code of ethics and make sure they report sensitive issues like religious crises consciously in other to avoid triggering unforeseen crises in the nearest future.

Keywords: Security, Crises, slant, Newspaper reportage