Framing of security issues in Nigerian newspapers: Trends, implications and solutions (2011-2015)

Abstract

This paper emphasises the need for conscious effort and attention in exploiting the media to expose insecurity and proffer solutions as an effective way of shaping public opinion and influencing policy direction on the menace. Guided by the framing theory of media effects, the study employed content categorisation to determine the newspaper coverage of security news in various regions of Nigeria over five years (2011–2015). A purposive sampling technique was used to select Daily Trust, Thisday, and Guardian newspapers. A total of 913 security articles derived from 540 editions were analysed. Data were collected on the frequency of the coverage of security issues, the prominence given to security issues, and space allotment/depth of treatment of articles on security. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that the highest frequency of security article coverage occurred in 2015, indicating that reportage of security issues increased over the years. Overall, security issues were concentrated on inside-page articles in all three newspapers, implying that the issue of prominence was neglected. Many security issues fell in the news article category with over half (56.8%) one-quarter page space allotment, suggesting that these issues were not given depth in treatment. The study, therefore, recommends that security issues be covered frequently to influence the salience of the issues on the public’s agenda and policy direction. Also, security issues should be allotted front pages to project prominence and treated under total pages to ensure depth in treatment. Finally, stakeholders in the security sector are implored to take newspaper reportage of security issues seriously to develop strategies that would bring lasting solutions to the menace.