Newspaper Framing of Ethnic Issues and Conflict Behaviour in Nigeria

Abstract

News framing impact on public opinion and behaviour formation have been severally established. However, its influence on conflict behaviour has remained elusive or has not been adequately examined and positioned. This study explored framing of ethnic issues and conflict behaviour in Nigeria through a mixed methods design of qualitative and quantitative. Findings revealed that conflict behavior impulses and structural factors such as poverty, domination, and inequality are helixes but occasional realistic trigger for the eventual action was traced to newspaper framing and ethnic group leaders’ rheostat. The study concludes that the existence of ethnic groups in Nigeria is not a sufficient reason for hostility and ethnic conflict but for certain roles played by media and manipulation of some ethnic group leaders that cached in on government failure. This paper recommends further examination of social media influence on conflict behaviour and possibility of ethnic conflict triggering due to its wider reach and timeliness than conventional media.