In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between tech-optimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse by looking at the claims of police abuse by Nigerian youth on social media. For decades, police abuse of powers has remained a subject of interest in academic and human rights circles. This interest has perhaps been amplified by online social movements. In Nigeria, this abuse is well documented in the #EndSARS campaign, which has lasted for three years with little success. In disparity to most academic studies that investigate success of online movement, this study critically inspects the limitation of the #EndSARS campaign by assessing how Nigeria's political environment can serve as a possible hindrance to successful movements. This research therefore answers two questions: What are the dominant themes in Nigeria's #EndSARS campaign? What are the limitations to activism in Nigeria?
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets...
The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the ‘web media ’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst o... more It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst other powers to influence and shape public opinions, the media worsen conflict situations in the society. This study found out that sensational and bias coverage and presentation of news and views on conflictrelated issues are among factors undermining the constructive contributions of mass media in conflict management and resolution in Nigeria. The paper concludes that over the years, the Nigerian media acted as key players in political crises and ethno-religious conflicts than as impartial judges. Hence, they have affected negatively, the management of such crises and conflicts in the country. Therefore, the study recommends that the media must learn to portray the diverse realities of the society within which they operate in such a way that it does not promote division and sectarianism. Also, the media should engage in responsible practices in times of conflict. This implies that the m...
In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between tech-optimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse by looking at the claims of police abuse by Nigerian youth on social media. For decades, police abuse of powers has remained a subject of interest in academic and human rights circles. This interest has perhaps been amplified by online social movements. In Nigeria, this abuse is well documented in the #EndSARS campaign, which has lasted for three years with little success. In disparity to most academic studies that investigate success of online movement, this study critically inspects the limitation of the #EndSARS campaign by assessing how Nigeria's political environment can serve as a possible hindrance to successful movements. This research therefore answers two questions: What are the dominant themes in Nigeria's #EndSARS campaign? What are the limitations to activism in Nigeria?
Nigerian Journal of Management Technology & Development, 2017
As technological innovations continuously affect and transform all facets of man’s activities, in... more As technological innovations continuously affect and transform all facets of man’s activities, including professional practices, concerns concurrently emerge as to whether the transformational effects of these innovations would not spare even petty traders by the roadside. Considering that the advent of computer and the internet has rapidly transformed the communication and media industry, this paper examines the enormous opportunities and challenges introduced to the media industry by the information communication technologies (ICTs), enabling tasks such as storing, processing, retrieval, and transmission of information takes place with ease. Again, this phenomenon ensued the move towards what is known as “switchover” from analogue to digital broadcasting. Bearing in mind the perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use of technology in accomplishing personal and professional tasks, this paper used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to argue that the deployment of ICTs in media practice, particularly in broadcasting is cost-effective and much more effortless compared to the conventional methods of operation. Using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), the paper found out that the development and deployment of technologies in the broadcast and other sectors of the Nigerian and indeed African economy has not advanced significantly, due to inadequate infrastructure, absence of coherent ICT policy or implementation modalities. Hence, the paper recommends that broadcast media organisations should focus on the training and retraining (capacity building) of staff on modern trends in ICT and new media journalism, in addition to providing digital broadcast facilities to enhance professionalism, as a sizeable number of broadcasters are not technologically-inclined.
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the ‘web media’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
Baze African Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2018
Over the years, debates about ethical issues affecting the practice of journalism, particularly i... more Over the years, debates about ethical issues affecting the practice of journalism, particularly in countries typically grouped within the category of ‘developing nations’ or ‘third world’ have attributed such puzzles to a number of factors including lack of qualitative education and professional training, on one hand, and unimproved working conditions and meagre salaries and wages of journalists, on the other. As well, arguments about the existence of some Islamic values that could transform the practice of journalism globally, has drawn numerous academic literature of conflicting perceptions. Mainly, the debate has been intensified among Western and Middle Eastern scholars and media professionals who have attempted to draw up a comparison between journalistic ethics in different parts of the world, and Islamic principles on communication and social responsibility. However, this paper analyses some values exhibited by prophets in the process of delivering the Divine Message of God to humanity. Stipulated in Qur’ānic verses and Hadiths (traditions or sunnah), these show the basic attributes of the Prophet’s life (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which mankind should to follow in order to excel in all endeavours, and to find the best solutions to all earthly problems. The paper compares and contextualises some aspects of tablīgh – delivery of the Divine Message by prophets – which it proposes and concludes that, journalists the world over, should emulate in order to perform their duties and social responsibilities justly without causing discomforts in the society.
Social media has been adjudged an innovation which can be utilized to propel socioeconomic and po... more Social media has been adjudged an innovation which can be utilized to propel socioeconomic and political transformations in the modern society. Given the liberty in access and use of social media, Nigerians have in recent times, put to use the platform to express their views on national issues. Recent occurrences have revealed that the use of vile and hateful comments dominate the discourse among Nigerians on the social media space, particularly Facebook. This development indicates the potentials of social media to pose serious threats to peaceful coexistence through the proliferation of hate comments. This paper examines users' comments on Biafra agitations and the Arewa youths' ultimatum to Igbo residents in the North, with a focus on the Facebook accounts of selected media organisations. The critical discourse analysis approach was employed to explore the tone of comments (that attack or express support for a particular ethnic or religious group, and those that attack the personality of the president based on his regional and ethnic affiliations) and their implications on peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. Findings reveal that users were polarised along regional and religious lines in their comments, posting negative and injurious comments capable of turning the nation against itself. This is attributed to the ubiquitous nature of social media, making it possible for users to anonymously read contents and react with derogatory comments that insult or ridicule the ethnic, political, regional and religious affiliations of the diverse population of the country. Thus, there is the need for an articulate policy framework to moderate what goes on in the social media, to counter the negative effects of the platform on peaceful coexistence.
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal
relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub- Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent. This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria’s 2019 general elections influenced media coverage of election matters during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from our study affirm the existence of relationships between general issues—security, anticorruption, and economy—in Nigeria’s political discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.
Ebonyi State University Journal of Mass Communication, 2018
The role of social media has been adjudged powerful, especially in the construction and individua... more The role of social media has been adjudged powerful, especially in the construction and individual conception of social realities. In Nigeria, this influence has been prevalent due to the diverse nature of the society. Owing to the freedom associated with the use of social media, Nigerians tend to politicise, 'ethnicise' or even 'religionise' public discussions on the social media space. This trend continuously generates controversies among the diverse population, particularly on Facebook. Recently, a female graduate of the University of Ilorin, Amasa Firdaus was denied being called to bar by the authorities of the Nigerian Law School for refusing to remove her hijab. This issue, as reported by the media, has been contested by individuals, religious and civil society groups, thereby generating controversies among Nigerians who made negative and injurious comments via the Facebook social media platform. This study used the content analysis approach to identify the tone of comments and reactions on the aforesaid issue, with the aim of examining the implications of same on the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. Comments from the Facebook pages of four newspapers that reported the issue were purposively selected for the study. Findings reveal that users were polarised along ethnic and religious lines in their comments, posting negative and injurious statements capable of reducing the platform into a chaotic and indiscreet battlefield where Nigerians engage in war of words. The study recommends the need for social media education and media literacy to help better the pattern of users' interactions on the platform, so as to make all appreciate the obvious values of social media.
Nasarawa Journal of Multimedia and Communication Studies, 2017
In view of the unchanging trend in media coverage of insurgencies and ethno-religious conflicts i... more In view of the unchanging trend in media coverage of insurgencies and ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria which has continuously worsen, rather than reduced the crises, this study examines the operational methods of newspapers with a view to proffering recommendations on how print media reportage of insurgencies can be made responsible in order to reduce the tendencies of escalating and worsening conflicts in the society. Using the content analysis methodology, the study examined the contents of Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers with a view to analyse how socially responsible was their coverage of Boko Haram insurgent activities in 2014. Findings of the study revealed that the level of prominence accorded to Boko Haram activities by the Daily Trust within the period studied, was greater than that of The Nation. It further discovered that in terms of responsible coverage, The Nation newspaper had more socially responsible contents than the Daily Trust. On the factors which dictated the newspapers’ coverage of the insurgency, the study found that more contents published in the Daily Trust are profit-oriented, compared to those of The Nation. The study concluded that it is apparent newspapers have, over the years, reported ethno-religious conflicts with sentiments and in accordance with the economic, social and political interests of their owners. Among other things, it recommended that newspapers should report terror-related issues objectively and set positive agendas for policy actions, while stakeholders in the communication industry are urged to engage in responsible and ethical journalism committed towards discouraging the acts of terrorism like that of Boko Haram.
In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between tech-optimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse by looking at the claims of police abuse by Nigerian youth on social media. For decades, police abuse of powers has remained a subject of interest in academic and human rights circles. This interest has perhaps been amplified by online social movements. In Nigeria, this abuse is well documented in the #EndSARS campaign, which has lasted for three years with little success. In disparity to most academic studies that investigate success of online movement, this study critically inspects the limitation of the #EndSARS campaign by assessing how Nigeria's political environment can serve as a possible hindrance to successful movements. This research therefore answers two questions: What are the dominant themes in Nigeria's #EndSARS campaign? What are the limitations to activism in Nigeria?
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets...
The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the ‘web media ’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst o... more It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst other powers to influence and shape public opinions, the media worsen conflict situations in the society. This study found out that sensational and bias coverage and presentation of news and views on conflictrelated issues are among factors undermining the constructive contributions of mass media in conflict management and resolution in Nigeria. The paper concludes that over the years, the Nigerian media acted as key players in political crises and ethno-religious conflicts than as impartial judges. Hence, they have affected negatively, the management of such crises and conflicts in the country. Therefore, the study recommends that the media must learn to portray the diverse realities of the society within which they operate in such a way that it does not promote division and sectarianism. Also, the media should engage in responsible practices in times of conflict. This implies that the m...
In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between tech-optimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse by looking at the claims of police abuse by Nigerian youth on social media. For decades, police abuse of powers has remained a subject of interest in academic and human rights circles. This interest has perhaps been amplified by online social movements. In Nigeria, this abuse is well documented in the #EndSARS campaign, which has lasted for three years with little success. In disparity to most academic studies that investigate success of online movement, this study critically inspects the limitation of the #EndSARS campaign by assessing how Nigeria's political environment can serve as a possible hindrance to successful movements. This research therefore answers two questions: What are the dominant themes in Nigeria's #EndSARS campaign? What are the limitations to activism in Nigeria?
Nigerian Journal of Management Technology & Development, 2017
As technological innovations continuously affect and transform all facets of man’s activities, in... more As technological innovations continuously affect and transform all facets of man’s activities, including professional practices, concerns concurrently emerge as to whether the transformational effects of these innovations would not spare even petty traders by the roadside. Considering that the advent of computer and the internet has rapidly transformed the communication and media industry, this paper examines the enormous opportunities and challenges introduced to the media industry by the information communication technologies (ICTs), enabling tasks such as storing, processing, retrieval, and transmission of information takes place with ease. Again, this phenomenon ensued the move towards what is known as “switchover” from analogue to digital broadcasting. Bearing in mind the perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use of technology in accomplishing personal and professional tasks, this paper used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to argue that the deployment of ICTs in media practice, particularly in broadcasting is cost-effective and much more effortless compared to the conventional methods of operation. Using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), the paper found out that the development and deployment of technologies in the broadcast and other sectors of the Nigerian and indeed African economy has not advanced significantly, due to inadequate infrastructure, absence of coherent ICT policy or implementation modalities. Hence, the paper recommends that broadcast media organisations should focus on the training and retraining (capacity building) of staff on modern trends in ICT and new media journalism, in addition to providing digital broadcast facilities to enhance professionalism, as a sizeable number of broadcasters are not technologically-inclined.
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the ‘web media’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
Baze African Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2018
Over the years, debates about ethical issues affecting the practice of journalism, particularly i... more Over the years, debates about ethical issues affecting the practice of journalism, particularly in countries typically grouped within the category of ‘developing nations’ or ‘third world’ have attributed such puzzles to a number of factors including lack of qualitative education and professional training, on one hand, and unimproved working conditions and meagre salaries and wages of journalists, on the other. As well, arguments about the existence of some Islamic values that could transform the practice of journalism globally, has drawn numerous academic literature of conflicting perceptions. Mainly, the debate has been intensified among Western and Middle Eastern scholars and media professionals who have attempted to draw up a comparison between journalistic ethics in different parts of the world, and Islamic principles on communication and social responsibility. However, this paper analyses some values exhibited by prophets in the process of delivering the Divine Message of God to humanity. Stipulated in Qur’ānic verses and Hadiths (traditions or sunnah), these show the basic attributes of the Prophet’s life (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which mankind should to follow in order to excel in all endeavours, and to find the best solutions to all earthly problems. The paper compares and contextualises some aspects of tablīgh – delivery of the Divine Message by prophets – which it proposes and concludes that, journalists the world over, should emulate in order to perform their duties and social responsibilities justly without causing discomforts in the society.
Social media has been adjudged an innovation which can be utilized to propel socioeconomic and po... more Social media has been adjudged an innovation which can be utilized to propel socioeconomic and political transformations in the modern society. Given the liberty in access and use of social media, Nigerians have in recent times, put to use the platform to express their views on national issues. Recent occurrences have revealed that the use of vile and hateful comments dominate the discourse among Nigerians on the social media space, particularly Facebook. This development indicates the potentials of social media to pose serious threats to peaceful coexistence through the proliferation of hate comments. This paper examines users' comments on Biafra agitations and the Arewa youths' ultimatum to Igbo residents in the North, with a focus on the Facebook accounts of selected media organisations. The critical discourse analysis approach was employed to explore the tone of comments (that attack or express support for a particular ethnic or religious group, and those that attack the personality of the president based on his regional and ethnic affiliations) and their implications on peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. Findings reveal that users were polarised along regional and religious lines in their comments, posting negative and injurious comments capable of turning the nation against itself. This is attributed to the ubiquitous nature of social media, making it possible for users to anonymously read contents and react with derogatory comments that insult or ridicule the ethnic, political, regional and religious affiliations of the diverse population of the country. Thus, there is the need for an articulate policy framework to moderate what goes on in the social media, to counter the negative effects of the platform on peaceful coexistence.
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal
relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub- Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent. This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria’s 2019 general elections influenced media coverage of election matters during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from our study affirm the existence of relationships between general issues—security, anticorruption, and economy—in Nigeria’s political discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.
Ebonyi State University Journal of Mass Communication, 2018
The role of social media has been adjudged powerful, especially in the construction and individua... more The role of social media has been adjudged powerful, especially in the construction and individual conception of social realities. In Nigeria, this influence has been prevalent due to the diverse nature of the society. Owing to the freedom associated with the use of social media, Nigerians tend to politicise, 'ethnicise' or even 'religionise' public discussions on the social media space. This trend continuously generates controversies among the diverse population, particularly on Facebook. Recently, a female graduate of the University of Ilorin, Amasa Firdaus was denied being called to bar by the authorities of the Nigerian Law School for refusing to remove her hijab. This issue, as reported by the media, has been contested by individuals, religious and civil society groups, thereby generating controversies among Nigerians who made negative and injurious comments via the Facebook social media platform. This study used the content analysis approach to identify the tone of comments and reactions on the aforesaid issue, with the aim of examining the implications of same on the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. Comments from the Facebook pages of four newspapers that reported the issue were purposively selected for the study. Findings reveal that users were polarised along ethnic and religious lines in their comments, posting negative and injurious statements capable of reducing the platform into a chaotic and indiscreet battlefield where Nigerians engage in war of words. The study recommends the need for social media education and media literacy to help better the pattern of users' interactions on the platform, so as to make all appreciate the obvious values of social media.
Nasarawa Journal of Multimedia and Communication Studies, 2017
In view of the unchanging trend in media coverage of insurgencies and ethno-religious conflicts i... more In view of the unchanging trend in media coverage of insurgencies and ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria which has continuously worsen, rather than reduced the crises, this study examines the operational methods of newspapers with a view to proffering recommendations on how print media reportage of insurgencies can be made responsible in order to reduce the tendencies of escalating and worsening conflicts in the society. Using the content analysis methodology, the study examined the contents of Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers with a view to analyse how socially responsible was their coverage of Boko Haram insurgent activities in 2014. Findings of the study revealed that the level of prominence accorded to Boko Haram activities by the Daily Trust within the period studied, was greater than that of The Nation. It further discovered that in terms of responsible coverage, The Nation newspaper had more socially responsible contents than the Daily Trust. On the factors which dictated the newspapers’ coverage of the insurgency, the study found that more contents published in the Daily Trust are profit-oriented, compared to those of The Nation. The study concluded that it is apparent newspapers have, over the years, reported ethno-religious conflicts with sentiments and in accordance with the economic, social and political interests of their owners. Among other things, it recommended that newspapers should report terror-related issues objectively and set positive agendas for policy actions, while stakeholders in the communication industry are urged to engage in responsible and ethical journalism committed towards discouraging the acts of terrorism like that of Boko Haram.
Theatre, Media and Cultural Re-engineeeing in Nigeria: An Ovation of Excellence to Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, 2017
The multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature of the Nigerian society – a country characterised wit... more The multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature of the Nigerian society – a country characterised with diverse political, cultural, social and religious beliefs and ideologies, result to what is known as ‘identity politics.’ In fact, identity politics played a key role in aggravating regional and ethnic crises and other politically-motivated conflicts that took religious colouration in the past and present dispensations. However, what we have been witnessing in media reportage of insurgency and ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria over the years is a form of journalistic recklessness that reflects total disregard for the ethics of the journalism profession, social responsibility and the continuing survival of the country as a corporate and sovereign entity. Ethno-religious crises and insurgent activities of militia groups that emerged from different regions, have threatened the economic and political developments of the country, over the years. These are the core issues that this chapter addresses, with particular interest on the militancy in the Niger Delta region and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern area. It concludes that the amount of responsibility and objectivity exhibited by the Nigerian media in their reportage, especially of ethno-religious crises and insurgencies, has not been up to public expectations. Therefore, it recommends that the Nigerian media and stakeholders in the industry should engage in responsible and ethical journalism committed towards discouraging the acts of terrorism like that of Boko Haram. Also, the public should complement media’s role in fighting against terrorism through citizens or civic journalism.
Language, Communication and Society: Festschrift in Honour of Professor Bamidele Rotimi Badejo, 2018
Communication and language are two concepts that have attracted diverse and conflicting definitio... more Communication and language are two concepts that have attracted diverse and conflicting definitions, explanations and perceptions among linguists and communication scholars. As a multilingual society, Nigeria has been subjected to varying contestations over the effectiveness of English language in bridging the communication gaps created by the existence of many languages. This paper therefore, attempts an evaluation of the role of English language as Nigeria's lingua-franca in bridging the communication gaps, thereby fostering unity among the diverse citizens of the country and also contributing to national development. Using the observational research method, the paper acknowledges that English language occupies an important and dominant position in Nigeria; it does not only serve as a medium of communication, but is used in every aspect of life - in educational institutions, administration of government, businesses, religious institutions, formal meetings, and so on. The paper concludes and recommends that since language is an essential component of human communication, government should strive towards the incorporation and legalising the use of indigenous languages in all sectors as applicable in some countries around the world, as this would contribute greatly to socioeconomic and political development and further strengthen unity and coexistence among Nigerians.
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Papers by Ahmad Muhammad Auwal
that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode
of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these
technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to
whether the ‘web media’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues
surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these
differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in
the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of
the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on
the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is
characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news
and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share
information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political
tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub-
Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent.
This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets
from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria’s 2019
general elections influenced media coverage of election matters
during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A
total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from
our study affirm the existence of relationships between general
issues—security, anticorruption, and economy—in Nigeria’s political
discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these
issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.
that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode
of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these
technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to
whether the ‘web media’ will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues
surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper.
world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these
differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in
the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of
the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on
the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is
characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news
and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share
information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political
tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub-
Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent.
This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets
from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria’s 2019
general elections influenced media coverage of election matters
during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A
total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from
our study affirm the existence of relationships between general
issues—security, anticorruption, and economy—in Nigeria’s political
discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these
issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.