Local and International News Coverage of Boko Haram: A Comparative Content Analysis of Online Reportage of BBC, GBC, and NTA.

Abstract

This study examined coverage of Boko Haram by local and international media between April 2014 and March 2015. Backgrounded in the theories of agenda setting and framing, the study undertook a quantitative content analysis of online news reportage of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to ascertain the differences in coverage as well as the sources of news on Boko Haram, and how these determined the coverage frames used in reporting on the group. Results indicated an extensive coverage of Boko Haram by BBC while GBC and NTA had a relative lower coverage. Also, two frames—political and human interest—dominated the news coverage of the group by all media. However, NTA had a little more human interest frames than political frames. Despite the difference in source of news for NTA and BBC, both media still used almost similar frames. While BBC used thematic frames for all of its stories, NTA maintained a balance between episodic and thematic frames. GBC, on the other hand, sourced majority of its stories from BBC, hence, it had very similar coverage as BBC. Generally, therefore, there existed marked differences and similarities in the online news coverage of Boko Haram by local and international media. The research concluded that though local and international media differed in sources of news and prominence in their coverage of Boko Haram, they used similar coverage frames. It was, however, recommended that local media should give more prominence to Boko Haram on their news agenda given the crucial role of the media in mitigating the crisis coupled with the fact that the insurgence poses an immediate security threat to Nigeria in particular and the sub-region in general.