Perspectives and issues on the framing of ethnic nationalists’ agitations in Nigerian newspapers: An exploratory discourse

Abstract Overtime, ethnic nationalism in Nigeria which has often led to full blown conflict situation has not only become a trending issue, but has become a major source of concern in the country. The media which has been at the center of reporting actions and inactions around the agitations should play an important role in diffusing tension, reducing and containing conflicts. However, scholars of communication have continued to express worry about the media’s failure to de-escalate and set the appropriate agenda which will trigger tolerance and resolution of issues promoting the agitations especially in the reportage of the conflict. This paper, analyzed arguments relating to how the media (newspapers in particular) has played the role in its framing of ethnic nationalists’ agitations in Nigeria. Using the Peace Journalism model as its theoretical basis, the paper highlights, issues emanating from the various arguments as well as point out the implications of the nature of frames utilized by the newspapers. The paper concludes that Nigerian newspapers (press generally) may not have grown beyond ethno-religious partisanship demonstrated by its forerunners. Consequently, the paper as a way forward, suggested that Nigerian journalists should be more sensitive to national interests and begin to frame the current ethnic nationalists’ agitations through framing, in a balanced and fair manner that will make problem more susceptible to resolution. Key Words: Framing, Ethnic Nationalists, Agitations, Ethnocentric, State, Nation. About the Authors * Patrick Monday Agbo is a Chief Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria and a doctoral student at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria. Studies in Emerging Trends in Information and Communication Technology as well as the New Media are his research bias. ** Ter Moses Akase, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria and was a one-time Postgraduate Studies Coordinator in the department. His research interests are in Media and Society, New Trends in Advertising, Public Relations, Corporate Communication and Digital Journalism. *** Josiah Sabo Kente, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and a former Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. His research interests are in Media and Society, New Media, Political Communication and Development Journalism. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 2023, pp. 118-130. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). Article Citation Agbo, P. M., Akase, T. M. & Kente, J. S. (2023). Perspectives and issues on the framing of ethnic nationalists’ agitations in Nigerian newspapers: An exploratory discourse. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 15 (2): 118-130. Full Article Words: 9,047 Pages: 13 To access full article, click on download.