| Abstract: |
Digital media technologies have altered the ways in which news about events is gathered, circulated, and encountered by the public, allowing ordinary individuals to record and distribute information almost immediately through online platforms. In situations of insecurity, this development has made user-generated content a visible part of the information flow through which incidents are first communicated to wider audiences. This study evaluates the role of user-generated content in the reportage of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, with particular attention to the forms such materials take, the framing patterns they contain, and the extent to which they influence mainstream journalistic reporting. The study was guided by Gatekeeping Theory, Framing Theory, and the Networked Public Sphere perspective, which together help explain how citizen-produced materials enter the news process, how they shape interpretations of events, and how they interact with professional reporting practices. Mixed methods approach combining content analysis of selected social media materials, interviews with journalists, and an audience survey was adopted. The findings indicate that while user-generated content increases the speed with which information about insecurity incidents circulates, many posts appear without clear verification indicators and often employ emotionally charged framing. The study therefore highlights the continued importance of careful verification and responsible integration of citizen-produced materials within professional insecurity reporting. |
