Newspaper Coverage of the Declaration of State of Emergency in Three States of Northern Nigeria (A Case Study of Sun Newspaper of January - August 2013)

ABSTRACT 

Following the insurgency of Boko Haram attacks which have claimed many innocent lives since 2009 in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, on May 14, 2013, announced a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. The proclamation, according to President Jonathan, was an effort to maintain peace, law and order in Nigeria, especially in the Northern states. Against this backdrop, this study is aimed at investigating the extent to which newspaper cover the situation for the interest of the public. So, the researcher adopted content analysis as the best research method to achieve objectives of the study. Out of 243 daily Sun Newspaper publications, 125 papers were sampled out for the study which, in turn, covered 384 stories (news, features, editorials pictures / cartoons) about activities of the declaration in the north. The researcher reviewed enough literatures related to study as well as Agenda- Setting and Social Responsibility Theories of media/ press as the theoretical frameworks of the study. The findings showed that the Sun displayed enough coverage, prominence, truthful and magnitude to issues of the state of emergency as declared in the North; the sun effectively covered the issues with utmost objectivity fair reporting. The researcher, therefore, recommended that the Federal Government should review the on-going emergency rule to asses the level of human and materials wastages since May 14; the media should intensify effort in its reportage about the situation with accuracy and fairness; and that the Joint Task Force (JTF) should aim with   caution to ensure that innocent citizens are not attacked in the situation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 Objectives of the study

1.4 Significance of the study

1.5 Research questions

1.6 Research Hypothesis

1.7 Theoretical framework

1.8 Scope of the study

1.9 Limitation of   study

1.10 Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review

2.1 Source of literature

2.2 The Review

2.3 Summary of Literature

CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology

3.1 Research Method

3.2 Research Design

3.3 Area of study

3.4 Research population

3.5 Research sample

3.6 Sample Techniques

3.7 Instrument of Data Collection

3.8 Method of data collection

3.9 Expected Results

CHAPTER FOUR: Presentation and analysis of Data

4.1 Data presentation and Analysis

4.2 Testing of research Hypothesis

4.3 Discussion for the Results

CHAPTER FIVE: Summary Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

Appendix I

Appendix II

Bibliography