Role of the media and peace journalism in resolving recurrent communal clashes in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract Nigeria as a country has witnessed series of internal crisis such as, communal clashes, religious induced clashes, farmer’s herder’s debacles, kidnapping for ransom, agitation for secession, general insecurity and attacks by various groups. As such, there is need for the media to be accountable and focus in managing such crisis through peace-oriented journalism. This paper therefore, explores the role of the media in putting an end to more than three-decade clash between Effium and Ezza Effium in Ebonyi State. The research is anchored on Social Responsibility and Gate keeping theories of the media. We employed qualitative research design to randomly selected seventy two (72) registered journalists in Ebonyi State. The researchers used Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to ascertain the extent of journalist’s disposition to peace journalism practice Findings showed that some of the registered journalists in the state are not aware of peace oriented journalism practice; rather, they give attention to reports that will increase their sales, social media post, propaganda and favouritism. It was recommended among others that registered journalists should focus more on peace journalism practice that aimed on peace building and interrelationships among inhabitants of Effium and Ezza Effium in Ebonyi state for peaceful coexistence. Key Words: Media, Peace Journalism, Journalists, Communal Crisis. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 14, No. 1, April 2022, pp. 132-140 © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). About the authors * Adeola Sidikat Oyeleke is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike ,Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Her areas of research interest are Public relations and Advertising, Development communication, Gender Communication. ** Agatha Orji-Egwu, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Her area of research interest is Public Relations and Advertising. *** Olutope Lawrence Abiola is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Osun State Polytechnic Iree, Osun State, Nigeria. His area of research interest includes community journalism, language use in the media and applied communication. **** Samuel Chukwuemeka Nwamini is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. ***** Olutobi Michael Folorunsho is an Education Officer in the Department of Schools and Colleges Administration, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. He also teaches on part-time at the Institute of Professional and Continuous Education, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria. His research interests include Development/Political Communication, Print and Digital Journalism, Sports Marketing Communications and Public Relations. Article Citation Oyeleke, A.S., Orji-Egwu, A., Abiola, O.L., Nwamini, S.C. & Folorunsho, O.M. (2022). Role of the media and peace journalism in resolving recurrent communal clashes in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (1): 132 – 140. Full Article Words: 6,551 Pages: 9 To access full article, click on download.