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FRAMING OF THE NIGER DELTA CONFLICT IN SELECTED NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS
By
Francis Osamwonyi AMENAGHAWON B.A. (Hons) Communication and Language Arts (Ibadan), 1998 M.A. Communication and Language Arts (Ibadan), 2002 Matric No. 69518
A thesis in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
JANUARY, 2016
CERTIFICATION I
certify
that
this
work
was
carried
out
by
Francis
Osamwonyi
AMENAGHAWON under my supervision in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) of the University of Ibadan.
……………………………… Date
…………………………………. Oyeyinka O. Oyewo, PhD Dept. of Communcation and Language Arts, University of Ibadan.
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DEDICATION This study is dedicated to Almighty God for His mercies in all ways and to my late mother Magdalene Ebvekozin Amenaghawon, who worked for me to attain this level of education, but never waited to be part of this scene.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To the Ancient of Days, for His ever present help, mercies, faithfulness, provision and protection. My sincere thanks go to my supervisor Dr. Oyeyinka Oyewo for accepting to supervise this work and seeing it through the different pathways of this journey. I thank Dr. Ayobami Ojebode for his support towards the completion of this study. I thank all the lecturers in the Department of Communication and Language Arts present and past. Their willingness to read the manuscript enhanced this study. I thank Professor Biola Odejide, Prof. F. Adesanoye, Prof. E.O. Soola, Dr. B. Laninhun, Mr. P.S. Omole, Dr. N. Christopher, Dr. L.B. Andah, Dr. Y. Egbokhare, Dr. K. Obono, Dr. G. Elegbe, Dr. N. Onyechi, Dr. B.R. Ojebuyi. I appreciate the support of Dr. E. Olawuyi at all times. Special thanks to Mrs. M.O. Babajide, Mr T.A. Shittu and all the administrative staff of the department. My special thanks to Dr. Akpos Adesi, Dr. Rudolph Kansese of the Niger Delta University, and staff of the Centre for Niger Delta Studies, for their support during my visit to the institution on Wilberforce Island, Amasoma, Bayelsa State. I am grateful to the following people for their support: Professor A. Ayantayo, Dr. Sola Isola, Dr. O. Olaniyi, Mr. Debo Adeosun, Dr.L.Adegoke and
Dr.B.O.
Awosanmi. I thank Rev. Father Raphael Adebayo, Alhaji Nurudeen Oyetunde Adeoye, Pastor and Mrs Olusegun Joseph,and members of RCCG Precious People Parish. I wish to thank my biological father Mr. Wilfred Amenaghawon Iyagbaye, my siblings; Sis Orobosa, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Amenaghawon, Mr and Mrs. Thomas Amenaghawon, Kehinde Amenaghawon, Reverend Father Paul Amenaghawon, Osaretin Amenaghawon, Anthony (Odion) and Mercy Amenaghawon, Efosa and Tolani Amenaghawon. My cousins John, Solomon and Richard Okhions and the rest of the family. To my in-laws the Abiloyes, I say a big thank you for the support always. To Mr. Kayode Oluwajulugbe who assisted me into the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and under whose tutelage I got direction for my third missionary journey to the Ivory Tower. To my students who nudged me on in my quest to complete this work, I say a big thank you. Finally, I thank my wife Modupe Esther Amenaghawon for the care and prayers always. To my son Osamudiamen Fortune Amenaghawon for giving me reasons to smile always especially when the sky looked misty and cloudy.
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ABSTRACT The Niger Delta is the major crude oil endowed region in Nigeria. The presence of oil has made it susceptible to conflicts, which attracted the attention of the print media. While previous studies on the Niger Delta hinged on environment, economic, ethnic and political dimensions, those specifically on media coverage failed to address framing, which is how messages are reported. This study, therefore, investigated sources of reports, frames employed, framing conditions, formats, media function, and ownership role in framing the conflict. The study adopted gatekeeping, agenda setting and framing theories. Data were obtained through media content analysis and in-depth interviews. Four newspapers (The Guardian, Vanguard, Nigerian Tribune and Daily Champion) were purposively selected based on frequency of reports, national spread and ownership. One hundred and thirty editions of each, totalling 520 were selected. Four editorial staff of the selected newspapers were interviewed. The study covered the period 1998 Kaiama Declaration, to 2009 Federal Government Amnesty to Niger Delta militants. Quantitative data were analysed using frequency, percentage and chi-square. Qualitative data were analysed using constant comparative technique. The main sources of reports were: correspondents (50.1%), government sources (17.2%), foreign media (12.2%) and Niger Delta community (12.3%). The Guardian had 5.2% reports from Government, Nigerian Tribune 3.3%, Vanguard 5.3%, while Daily Champion had 3.3%. Frame sources and selected newspapers showed a significant association (X2=58.917, df = 15, P
