| Title: | Perspectives of Peace Workers on Methods of Reporting Conflict and Terrorism in the News Media in Nigeria |
| Author(s): | Peter UGONDO, Vitalis TORWEL, Rodney CIBOH, & Amos JEV |
| Abstract: | This study investigated the perspectives of peace workers on methods of reporting conflict and terrorism in the news media in Nigeria. The study employed the Critical Participatory Action Research method using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) for data collection. Eight staff of the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre (DREP), a Nigeria-based registered national NGO based in Jos, Nigeria were selected. The group comprised a gender mix of 3 females and 5 males. Data collected were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively, identifying major themes that emerged from interaction with the group. Findings show that the present manner of conflict reporting in Nigeria rather focuses more on the actions of individuals, journalists’ profile, ethnic or religious groups and misrepresents facts using photographs of previous events and happenings in other places. Old stories are also re-shared in current circumstances. Many news media rely on unverified social media blogs or user-generated contents without thorough investigations. Activities of crisis merchants who want crisis for certain benefits and the attempt by journalists trying to satisfy the curiosity of human beings who want to read more of odd events than good news were the possible reasons for that approach to conflict and terrorism reporting. Sectionalism, ethnicity, and religious biases also had influence on how crisis were reported. Apart from introduction of peace journalism courses into the Mass Communication curriculum, the study further recommends for more adherence to the ‘Do no Harm’ ethical principle in conflicts and terrorism reporting among reporters. |
| Keywords: | Peace journalism, Conflict, Counter Terrorism, National security, News media |
