Examination of Television News Framing of Security Challenges in North East Nigeria

The framing of security challenges by Nigerian national television networks influences public understanding of the Boko Haram insurgency and related violence, shaping audiences' policy preferences and emotional responses to conflict in the North East. This study examined how national television stations framed security challenges in North East Nigeria in their news coverage over a six-month period. A framing analysis of 240 television news items on North East security was conducted, drawn from four Nigerian national television stations: NTA Network, Channels Television, TVC News, and AIT. Items were coded for dominant frames (episodic versus thematic, crisis versus resolution, military versus humanitarian emphasis), language choices, visual elements, and source attribution. Results showed that episodic framing dominated 71.3 percent of security news items, focusing on individual incidents rather than structural or political context. Military source attribution predominated in 64.2 percent of items, with civilian and humanitarian perspectives underrepresented. Humanitarian consequences of conflict received significant coverage only in 23.8 percent of items. Resolution and peace process framing appeared in only 15.4 percent of total coverage. Visual imagery in 58.7 percent of items featured weapons or destroyed infrastructure rather than community resilience or recovery. The study concludes that television framing of North East security is disproportionately episodic and militarised, potentially contributing to conflict normalisation. Recommendations include editorial guidelines for contextualising conflict coverage within structural analysis and peace-building narratives.

Keywords: television framing, security news, North East Nigeria, conflict journalism, media framing