The Mass Media Coverage of the Kidnap of the Chibok School Girls

Abstract

The growing spate of terrorism in Nigeria and the new challenges it now posses for the mass media, had informed this study. Study adopted the survey research, with a population that comprised residents and journalists in Port Harcourt metropolis. A sample size of 300 was drawn. Yet 250 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and data analyzed using simple percentages and frequency distribution tables. The findings were that there is a preponderance of the use of conflict approach and lesser use of peace –oriented journalism by the mass media in reporting the Chibok school girls kidnap incident. While it concluded that the mass media is not complicit in aiding terrorism in Nigeria, it however, among others, recommended that it was time the adopted the peace oriented journalism approach, thereby emphasizing peaceful options in crisis situations.

Key words. Mass media, terrorism, framing peace-oriented journalism – conflict.