THE INFLUENCE OF ETHNICITY IN NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE PLATEAU STATE CONFLICT IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA (2010-2012) By ANDREW DANJUMA DEWAN PhD Thesis 2018 The Influence of Ethnicity in Newspaper Coverage of the Plateau State Conflict in North-Central Nigeria (2010-2012) Andrew Danjuma Dewan School of Arts and Media, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, September 2018 Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... vii List of abbreviations .............................................................................................................. viii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... x Chapter One: Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Rationale for the Study .................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study ..................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Research Methodology .................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Background to the Study .................................................................................................. 5 1.7 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 9 1.8 Scope of the Research ...................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Operational Definition of Terms .................................................................................... 10 1.9.1 Newspaper Coverage .............................................................................................. 10 1.9.2 News Media Professionals ...................................................................................... 10 1.9.3 Conflict ................................................................................................................... 11 1.9.4 Conflict Journalist ................................................................................................... 11 1.9.5 Indigenes/Settlers .................................................................................................... 12 1.9.7 Influence ................................................................. 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Bookmark not defined. 1.9.8 Ethnicity .................................................................................................................. 12 1.10 Description of Thesis Chapters .................................................................................... 13 1.11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 14 Chapter Two: Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 16 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Research Epistemology .................................................................................................. 16 4.2.1 Positivism ................................................................................................................ 17 4.2.2 Constructivism ........................................................................................................ 17 4.3 Theoretical Perspectives ................................................................................................ 20 4.4 Research Methodology: Qualitative .............................................................................. 22 4.5 Critical Discourse Analysis as a Method for the Analysis of the Two Chosen Newspapers .............................................................................................................................................. 26 4.6 Research Methods .......................................................................................................... 28 i 4.6.1 Semi-Structured Interviews .................................................................................... 28 4.6.2 Sampling Procedures .............................................................................................. 28 46.3 Interview Respondents’ Classification .................................................................... 29 4.7 Framework for Analyzing the two Chosen Newspapers (The Nigeria Standard and the Daily Trust) .......................................................................................................................... 31 4.8 Notes from Fieldwork .................................................................................................... 35 4. 9 Ethical Issues ................................................................................................................ 38 4.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter Three: Agenda Setting, News Framing and Human Rights Orientated Journalism ... 41 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 41 3.2 The Social Responsibility Model ................................................................................... 42 3.3 Primordial Theory of Ethnicity ...................................................................................... 44 3.4 Gate Keeping Theory ..................................................................................................... 45 3.5 The Agenda Setting........................................................................................................ 47 3.5.1 Who sets the Media Agenda? ............................................................................ 47 3.6 News Framing Theory ................................................................................................... 49 3.6.1 Origin of Frames on Conflicts ................................................................................ 50 3.4.7 Human Rights Orientated Journalism Theory ............................................................ 53 3.8 Media Approaches to the Coverage of Conflicts ........................................................... 55 3.8.1 The mainstream media ............................................................................................ 55 3.8.2 Reporting Human Rights ........................................................................................ 56 3.8.3 Peace Journalism ..................................................................................................... 57 3.9 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter Four: Newspapers and the Emergence of Conflicts in Plateau State ......................... 61 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 61 2.2 A History of the Press (Newspaper) in Nigeria ............................................................. 61 2.3. Ownership Influence of Newspapers in Nigeria ........................................................... 66 2.4. The Nigeria Standard Newspaper ................................................................................. 70 2.5 The Daily/Weekly/Sunday Trust ............................................................................... 71 2.6 The Origin of Plateau State ....................................................................................... 74 2.7 Ethnic Majorities and Minorities in Nigeria: A Colonial Legacy.................................. 78 2.8 Ethnic Majorities and Minorities in Plateau State ..................................................... 85 2.9 Ethnic Conflict in Plateau State ................................................................................ 86 2.10 The Press, Ethnicity and Identity Politics in Nigeria ................................................... 92 2.11 The Press in Colonial and Post-Colonial Times .......................................................... 93 ii 2.12 Examples of Media Coverage of Conflicts .................................................................. 95 2.12.1 Media Coverage of the Rwandan Conflict............................................................ 95 2.12. 2 Media Coverage of the 2007 Post-Election Conflicts in Kenya .......................... 97 2.12. 3 Media Coverage of Rohingya/Rakhine Buddhists Conflict................................. 98 2.13 Conclusion ............................................................................................................