Journalism and Risk: The Impact of Boko Haram Attacks on News Content and Journalists’ Patterns of News Gathering and Reporting in Nigeria (2011-2012) __________________________________________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication Department of Media and Communication by Adepate Rahmat Mustapha-Koiki University of Canterbury 2019 ______________________________________________________________________ I TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT vi CHAPTER ONE 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Research Gaps and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 14 1.3 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................................... 18 1.4 Research Goals ...................................................................................................................................... 18 1.5 Summary of the Thesis .......................................................................................................................... 19 1.6 Concluding Remarks ............................................................................................................................. 20 CHAPTER TWO 22 Review of Relevant Literature ..................................................................................................................... 22 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 22 2.2 Conflict-Sensitive Reporting ................................................................................................................. 23 2.4 Risk in Reporting Boko Haram in Nigeria ............................................................................................ 38 2.5 Relevant Studies on Boko Haram ......................................................................................................... 44 2.6 Potential Synergy between Boko Haram and International Terrorists Groups ..................................... 47 2.7 Differences in Locations of the Newspapers to the Epicentre of Boko Haram Activities .................... 54 2.9 Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................................... 59 2.10 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................. 69 2.11 Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER THREE 73 Research Method and Design 73 3.1 Research Design .................................................................................................................................... 73 3.2 Justification for Mixed Methods ........................................................................................................... 76 3.3 Research Methods and Justification ...................................................................................................... 80 3.4 Content Analysis and Justification ........................................................................................................ 81 3.5 Critical Discourse Analysis and Justification ........................................................................................ 96 3.6 In-depth Interview and Justification .................................................................................................... 103 3.7 Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................................................... 111 CHAPTER FOUR 113 Analysis of Change in News Content when Representing Boko Haram in the Period following the Boko Haram Attacks on Journalists and Media Organisations in Nigeria ........................................... 113 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 113 4.2 Findings from Content Analysis – Source Category ........................................................................... 114 4.3 Findings from the CDA – Source Category ........................................................................................ 117 4.4 Findings in the Content Analysis – Label Category ............................................................................ 125 4.5 Findings from CDA –Label category .................................................................................................. 128 4.6 Findings from Content Analysis – Blame category ............................................................................ 136 4.7 Findings from CDA – Blame Category ............................................................................................... 139 4.8 Findings from Content Analysis – Tone Category .............................................................................. 146 4.9 Findings from CDA– Tone Category .................................................................................................. 148 4.10 Findings from Content Analysis – Frame Category .......................................................................... 156 4.11 Findings from CDA – Framing Category .......................................................................................... 159 CHAPTER FIVE 168 Analysis of Differences in the Representation of Boko Haram in Daily Trust’s and This Day’s reporting over the Timeline of the Study (2011-2012) ............................................................................. 168 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 168 5.2 Findings from the Content Analysis – Source Category ..................................................................... 169 5.3 Findings from CDA– Source Category ............................................................................................... 171 5.4: Findings from Content Analysis – Label Category ........................................................................... 179 5.5 Findings from CDA – Label Category ................................................................................................ 181 5.6 Findings from Content Analysis – Blame Category............................................................................ 189 5.7 Findings from CDA – Blame Category ............................................................................................... 192 5.8 Findings from Content Analysis – Tone Category .............................................................................. 196 5.9 Findings from CDA – Tone Category ................................................................................................. 198 5.10 Findings from Content Analysis – Frames Category ........................................................................ 205 5.11 Newspaper Analysis from the CDA – Frames Category .................................................................. 208 5.12 Concluding Remarks ......................................................................................................................... 214 CHAPTER SIX 216 Concerns about Risks in Reporting Boko Haram and an Assessment of the Safety Training, Insurance and Remuneration of Reporters in Nigeria ............................................................................ 216 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 216 6.2 Concerns about Risks in Reporting on Boko Haram .......................................................................... 218 6.3 Organisational Support for Journalists ................................................................................................ 229 6.4 Poor Remuneration and Irregular Salaries .......................................................................................... 236 6.5 Coping with Challenges in Reporting Boko Haram ............................................................................ 237 6.6 Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................................................... 238 CHAPTER SEVEN 240 Discussion of Findings 240 7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 240 7.2 Change in Representation of Boko Haram .......................................................................................... 241 7.3 Differences in Representation of Boko Haram ................................................................................... 245 7.4 Concerns about Risks in Reporting on Boko Haram .......................................................................... 250 7.5 Organisational Support for Journalists ................................................................................................ 254 CHAPTER EIGHT 259 Summary, Conclusion and Findings ........................................................................................................