Media and Pictorial Reportage of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria
Keywords:
Boko Haram, Insurgency, Media, Pictorial and Reportage
Abstract
Pictures are regarded as a universal means of communication. A good picture needs no translator as it fixes the mind more readily. It has a great advantage over the written word; it does not need to be translated. Thus, the media play an important role in information dissemination process in addition to its entertainment, education and enlightenment function. The media interpret issues and event that may have great impact on people and societies. Media are used in communicating information especially in times of crises and uncertainties thus; creating awareness about happenings around the world. The paper argues that the media and pictorial reportage of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria plays a significant role in shaping public perception, awareness, and understanding of the crisis. Boko Haram, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including Nigeria and the United States, has carried out numerous attacks leading to widespread displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of property. Media outlets must balance the need for impactful reporting with ethical concerns, such as respecting the dignity of victims and avoiding sensationalism or graphic depictions that may cause further trauma. With limited access for traditional media, social media platforms have become crucial in sharing real-time updates and personal accounts from affected regions. The paper concludes that the mass media have a lot of influence in the use of pictures in reporting Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. In media practice, professional journalists play the role of a gate-keeper by gathering, analysing and disseminating news and information about people, events and issues in society.
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References
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Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Aliyu, M. A. (2023). Secularism and Ethical Issues in Media Practice as a Bane for National Development. SIASAT, 8(3), 166-177.
Hudson, J., & Lowe, S. (2009). Understanding the policy process: analysing welfare policy and practice. Policy Press.
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Msughter, A. E., & Idris, M. K. (2023). Focus Group Discussions with Rural Women in Yobe State on Information Services for Community Engagement on Development Issues in Nigeria. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 5(2), 9.
Msughter, A. E., & Phillips, D. (2020). Media framing of COVID-19 pandemic: A study of daily trust and vanguard newspapers in Nigeria. International Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (IJHSE), 6(5), 588-596.
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Bappa, F. S. (2022). Have you Heard What They Are Doing to Women? Media Portrayal of Female Celebrities in Nigerian Press. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 9(2), 186-197.
Mustaffa H A (2011). Photography Its Significance Strands and Values in Education, UiTM Shah Alam, University Publication Centre, 7-8.
Nwafor, O. A., Amatu, C. U., Onyejelem, T. E., & Eze, C. C. (2021). Evaluation of Nigerian
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Onyejelem, T. E., & Aondover, E. M. (2024a). Digital Generative Multimedia Tool Theory (DGMTT): A Theoretical Postulation. Journalism, 14(3), 189-204.
Onyejelem, T. E., & Aondover, E. M. (2024b). Digital Generative Multimedia Tool Theory (DGMTT): A Theoretical Postulation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Adv Mach Lear Art Inte, 5(2), 01-09.
Onyejelem, T.E (2023). Digital photography and photojournalism in the era of artificial
Owens-Ibie, N., & Aondover, E. M. (2024). Hate postings on social media and peace imperatives in Nigeria. Legal challenges and political strategies in the post-truth era.
Popoola, I. S. (2012). Press and terrorism in nigeria: a discourse on boko haram. global media journal African edition, 6(1), 43-66.
Press Coverage of High Blood Pressure. International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 9(4), 28-416.
Saint, EJ, Aondover, EM, Ebele, UC, & Onyejelem, TE (2024). Influence of Social Media on Newspaper Patronage among Lecturers in University Of Nigeria, Nsukka. LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature, 5 (3), 142-157.
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Sharifi, N. (2015). Terrorists on the Dais: How Terrorists Exploit the Media. The south Asia channel.
Siebert, F. S., Peterson, T., & Schramm, W. (1956). Four theories of the press. Chicago: The University of Illinois Press.
Udeze, T.S. (2005). Essentials of photojournalism and photographs. Enugu: Rhycekerse publishers. (In appraisal).
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P.O, Onyejelem, T.E, & Okuneye, A.P. (2024). Understanding advertising in the era
Airaoje, O. K., Obada, A. A., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. Humanities, 3(2), 9-16.
Aliyu, M. A., Msughter, A. E., & Nneka, A. Q. (2023). Comparative Study of National Development Plans in Nigeria and India: Media Dimension. SIASAT, 8(4), 202-212.
Aloa, D & Uwom, O. (2001). Terrorism in Nigeria: An analysis of the North/South media coverage of Boko haram (November 2011- march 2012). International review of Business and Social Science 1 (8) pp 49 – 62.
Aondover, E. M. (2020). Internet meme as a campaign tool to the fight against Covid-19 in Nigeria. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: A Arts & Humanities – Psychology, 20(6), pp. 27-39.
Aondover, E. M. (2024). Media Outlook of Hate Speech in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Rotura–Revista de Comunicação, Cultura e Artes, 4(1), 50-63.
Aondover, E. M., & Akin-Odukoya, O. (2024). Trends and Dynamics of Popular Culture and Media Messages on Public Transport Literature in Nigeria. Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture, 5(3), 183-195.
Aondover, E. M., Ebele, U. C., Onyejelem, T. E., & Akin-Odukoya, O. O. (2024). Propagation of False Information on Covid-19 among Nigerians on Social Media. LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature, 5(3), 158-172.
Aondover, E. M., Hile,M. M. & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2023). Ethical Issues and Insecurity in Africa: The Media Dimension. Konfrontasi Journal: Culture, Economy and Social Changes, 10 (2), 58-68 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33258/konfrontasi2.v10i2.272.
Aondover, E. M., Igwe, E. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Ridwan, M. (2024). Influence of Social Media on News Consumption and Credibility in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(2), 80-92.
Aondover, E. M., Maradun, L. U., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2022). Mediatization of the net and internetization of the print media in Northern Nigeria. Unisia, 40(2), 335-356.
Aondover, E. M., Okuneye, A. P., & Onyejelem, T. E. (2024). Application of new media in peace building and conflict resolution in Nigeria. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 6(1). https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jacaps/vol6/iss1/8
Aondover, E. M., Oyeleye, S. A., & Aliyu, M. A. (2023). New World Information and Communication Order and its changing role in Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kano. Unisia, 41(1), 17-38. https://doi.org/10.20885/unisia.vol41.iss1.art2
Aondover, E. M., Oyeleye, S. A., & Aondover, P. P. (2022). Analysis of Iconographic Effect of Visual Communication Genre on Covid-19 in Nigeria. Journal of Gynaecology and women’s health, 23(3).
Aondover, P. O., Aondover, E. M., & Babele, A. M. (2022). Two nations, same technology, different outcomes: Analysis of technology application in Africa and America. Journal of Educational Research and Review, 1(1), 001-008.
Butler (2007). Torture and ethics of photography. Environment and planning D: Society and space, vol 25, no. 951-966.
Christian, J. T. (2004). Geotechnical engineering reliability: How well do we know what we are doing?. Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, 130(10), 985-1003.
Cyton B (2004). Hometown journalism can include the war on terror. The digital journalist.http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0401/assign/assign/sc_0401.htm retrived April 2017
Ezeonyejiaku, N.P & Onyejelem, T.E (2021). The Nexus between Communication and Migration in Age of Social Media. Madonna University Journal of Communication Studies 3 (1), 167-186
Fahmy, S., & Smith, C. Z. (2003). Photographers note digital's advantages, disadvantages. Newspaper Research Journal, 24(2), 82-96.
Folarin, B. (1998). Theories of Mass communications: An introductory text. Ibadan: Sterling Horden Publishers
Fosdick, S. & Fahmy, S. (2003). Epistemic honesty and the default assumption that photos are true. SIMILE: Stud. Media Inf. Lit. Educ. 7 (1), 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/sim.7.1.003.
Hamid, M. & Baba, M. (2014). Resolving Nigeria’s Boko Haram Insurgence: What Role for the Media? Social and Behavioral Sciences 155 ( 2014 ) 14-20.
Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Aliyu, M. A. (2023). Secularism and Ethical Issues in Media Practice as a Bane for National Development. SIASAT, 8(3), 166-177.
Hudson, J., & Lowe, S. (2009). Understanding the policy process: analysing welfare policy and practice. Policy Press.
intelligence: Challenges and prospects in Emeka-Nwobia, et al (ed) Media and technology for a better society: A festschrift for Prof Ifeyinwa Nsude. Rhyce Kerex Publishers. 200-216
Kunczick, M. (1988). Concepts of journalism: North and South. Bonn: Friedrich– Ebert–Stiftung.
Kurfi, M. Y, Aondover, E. M. & Mohammed. I. (2021). Digital Images on Social Media and Proliferation of Fake News on Covid-19 in Kano, Nigeria. Galactica Media: Journal of Media Studies, 1(1), 103-124. Doi: https://doi.org/10.46539/gmd.v3i1.111.
Mojaye, E. M., & Aondover, E. M. (2022). Theoretical perspectives in world information systems: A propositional appraisal of new media-communication imperatives. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14(1), 100-106.
Msughter, A. E., & Idris, M. K. (2023). Focus Group Discussions with Rural Women in Yobe State on Information Services for Community Engagement on Development Issues in Nigeria. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 5(2), 9.
Msughter, A. E., & Phillips, D. (2020). Media framing of COVID-19 pandemic: A study of daily trust and vanguard newspapers in Nigeria. International Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (IJHSE), 6(5), 588-596.
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Bappa, F. S. (2022). Have you Heard What They Are Doing to Women? Media Portrayal of Female Celebrities in Nigerian Press. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 9(2), 186-197.
Mustaffa H A (2011). Photography Its Significance Strands and Values in Education, UiTM Shah Alam, University Publication Centre, 7-8.
Nwafor, O. A., Amatu, C. U., Onyejelem, T. E., & Eze, C. C. (2021). Evaluation of Nigerian
Obasi, M. C., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). Assessment of media coverage of environmental hazards in mining communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Environmental Challenges, 13, 100758.
of social media. Information System and Smart City, 3(1): doi: 10.59400/issc.v3i1.502
Onyejelem, T. E. (2018). Photograph framing influence on newspaper readers’ emotion of violence representation. Online Journal of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, 3(1), 73 – 85.
Onyejelem, T. E., & Aondover, E. M. (2024a). Digital Generative Multimedia Tool Theory (DGMTT): A Theoretical Postulation. Journalism, 14(3), 189-204.
Onyejelem, T. E., & Aondover, E. M. (2024b). Digital Generative Multimedia Tool Theory (DGMTT): A Theoretical Postulation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Adv Mach Lear Art Inte, 5(2), 01-09.
Onyejelem, T.E (2023). Digital photography and photojournalism in the era of artificial
Owens-Ibie, N., & Aondover, E. M. (2024). Hate postings on social media and peace imperatives in Nigeria. Legal challenges and political strategies in the post-truth era.
Popoola, I. S. (2012). Press and terrorism in nigeria: a discourse on boko haram. global media journal African edition, 6(1), 43-66.
Press Coverage of High Blood Pressure. International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 9(4), 28-416.
Saint, EJ, Aondover, EM, Ebele, UC, & Onyejelem, TE (2024). Influence of Social Media on Newspaper Patronage among Lecturers in University Of Nigeria, Nsukka. LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature, 5 (3), 142-157.
Sharif and Yousafzai (2011) Depicting acts of Terrorism: Ethical Standard of Photography in Pakistani Press.
Sharifi, N. (2015). Terrorists on the Dais: How Terrorists Exploit the Media. The south Asia channel.
Siebert, F. S., Peterson, T., & Schramm, W. (1956). Four theories of the press. Chicago: The University of Illinois Press.
Udeze, T.S. (2005). Essentials of photojournalism and photographs. Enugu: Rhycekerse publishers. (In appraisal).
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P.O, Onyejelem, T.E, & Okuneye, A.P. (2024). Understanding advertising in the era
Published
2024-12-31
How to Cite
Timothy Ekeledirichukwu Onyejelem, Perpetua Ogechi Aondover, Lawal Umar Maradun, Chioma Rose Chime-Nganya, & Omolara Oluwabusayo Akin-Odukoya. (2024). Media and Pictorial Reportage of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi Dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(4), 287-299. https://doi.org/10.33258/konfrontasi2.v11i4.320
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