Appraisal of Ethical Issues in the Media Framing of the Conflict in Peoples' Democratic Party

Abstract

The core aim of this study is to provide media outfit, journalists and would-be journalists with higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all journalists and politicians a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among people, and to help lessen obstacles and threats to our internal democracy. Therefore, the study estimate the value of how newspapers in Nigeria, particularly Daily Trust, The Nation and Punch newspapers are setting agenda of conflict/peace journalism in reporting crisis ridden opposition party in their sustainability effort towards solidifying internal democracy; especially the issue of intra-party democracy which is vital to the development of the nation. In specific terms, the study focus on the recent crisis in Peoples’ Democratic Party by raising three objectives based on Johan Galtung classification of conflict/peace journalism. Empirical literatures were reviewed in line with the objectives of the study. A selected random sampling of 180 editions of selected newspapers published between August, 2016 to March, 2017 was reviewed using content analysis and discourse analysis research method. Results shows that conflict journalistic frame was the dominant frame adopted by the selected newspapers and stories that employ elite/government sources were prevalent and thereby contributed in escalating the tension between the two warring factions by focusing on groups differences and reaction to early stories. The framing and the social identity theories were also used to explain the study and it was discovered that the way the media have set the agenda and frame the conflict in Peoples’ Democratic Party has gone in a long way in determining party members’ drive for positive change and identity, self-esteem and social comparisons they make, this to large extent contributed to defection of members to other parties seeking an avenue to protect their political interest and office. Both the quantitative and qualitative data were clearly presented and analysed which helped in answering the research questions.

Keywords: Conflict Sensitivism, Ethics, Framing, Internal Democracy, Intra-Party Conflict, PDP.