ABSTRACT
The recent upsurge of crises in parts of Northern Nigeria has generated concerns in literature
with specific reference to the role of the media in fuelling crises in the region. Previous
studies on the Nigerian print media coverage of the Jos crisis focused on the obsolescent
peace journalism perspective, which emphasises the suppression of conflict stories, to the
neglect of the UNESCO Conflict-sensitive Journalism (CSJ) principles. These principles
stress sensitivity in the use of language, coverage of peace initiatives, gender and other
sensitivities, and the use of conflict analysis tools in reportage. This study, therefore,
examined the extent to which the Nigerian print media conformed to these principles in the
coverage of the Jos violent crisis between 2010 and 2011.
The study adopted the descriptive research design and was guided by the theories of social
responsibility, framing and hegemony. Content analysis of newspapers was combined with
In-depth Interviews (IDIs) with 10 Jos-based journalists who covered the crisis. Four
newspapers – The Guardian, The Punch, Daily Trust and National Standard were
purposively selected over a period of two years (2010-2011) of the crisis. A content analysis
coding schedule was developed to gather data from The Guardian (145 editions with 46
stories), The Punch (148 editions with 85 stories), Daily Trust (148 editions with 223
stories) and National Standard (132 editions with 187 stories) totalling 573 editions which
yielded 541 stories for the analysis.
Four forms of language use: inflammatory, conciliatory, moderate, and sensational were
identified. Items in the newspapers that contained inflammatory language were 32.2%; while
30.5% were conciliatory; moderate had 26.0% and 11.3%.were sensational. The high
percentage of inflammatory and sensational language at 43.2% is capable of escalating the
Jos crisis. Only 29.6% of the items focused on peace initiatives. The items that focused on
crisis were 70.1% while other themes had 0.4% showing the predilection of the newspapers
to be transfixed on the scene of violence without seeking solutions. The items lacked
gender-sensitivity featuring 88.0% male and 5.9% female speakers while 6.1% were either
from institutional or unidentified sources. The absence of gender-sensitivity confirms
previous studies on the relegation of the usually conciliatory female voices in conflict
situations. The privately-owned Daily Trust blamed the indigenes; the Plateau State
Government owned National Standard blamed the Hausa/Fulani settlers for the crisis in an
unconcealed pander to proprietorial interests while The Guardian and The Punch refrained
from apportioning blames. The IDIs did not show the use of conflict analysis tools by any of
the newspapers although journalists claimed awareness of the UNESCO initiative.
Journalists list poor remuneration, personal insecurity, and lack of insurance cover as
challenges hampering their optimum performance.
The predominant use of inflammatory language, scant focus on peace initiatives, gender
insensitivity and failure to use conflict analysis tools contributed to the cycle of reprisal
attacks characterising the Jos crisis of 2010 and 2011. The adoption and domestication of the
UNESCO principles on conflict-sensitive reporting by training institutions and a consistent
on-the-job training programme will ameliorate the deficits identified.
JIMOH, J (2021). Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and the Nigerian Print Media Coverage of Jos Crisis, 2010-2011. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/conflict-sensitive-journalism-and-the-nigerian-print-media-coverage-of-jos-crisis-2010-2011
JIMOH, JIDE "Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and the Nigerian Print Media Coverage of Jos Crisis, 2010-2011" Afribary. Afribary, 19 Mar. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/conflict-sensitive-journalism-and-the-nigerian-print-media-coverage-of-jos-crisis-2010-2011. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.
JIMOH, JIDE . "Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and the Nigerian Print Media Coverage of Jos Crisis, 2010-2011". Afribary, Afribary, 19 Mar. 2021. Web. 15 Aug. 2022. < https://afribary.com/works/conflict-sensitive-journalism-and-the-nigerian-print-media-coverage-of-jos-crisis-2010-2011 >.
JIMOH, JIDE . "Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and the Nigerian Print Media Coverage of Jos Crisis, 2010-2011" Afribary (2021). Accessed August 15, 2022. https://afribary.com/works/conflict-sensitive-journalism-and-the-nigerian-print-media-coverage-of-jos-crisis-2010-2011