PRESS COVERAGE OF CRIME IN NIGERIA NEWSPAPER, A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF GUARDIAN AND DAILY SUN NEWSPAPER: JUNE 1^ST 2011 TO MAY 31^ST 2012

ABSTRACT

 

In this project research work, on press coverage of crime in Nigeria newspaper, A content analysis of Guardian and Daily sun newspaper: June 1^st  2011 to May 31^st 2012.  The press offers an invisible hand towards eradication of the incident of crimes in the society by attacking the problems from its grass root. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources to gathered information for the write up. I also employed many methods of collecting the information such as research methodology which includes, research design, population of the study, sample size, method of data collection, method of data analysis etc, which help in organizing and the arrangement of the write-up. The summary of findings was made from the analysis in chapter four of the project write-up. In this research work analysis and presentation of data have shown vital information from (Daily Sun and Guardian Newspaper). This shows the activities and performance of Daily sun and Guardian newspaper. From table 5, the percentage of the respondents on whether number of crimes stories on the front and back pages and inside pages were guardian 66% the inside pages while daily sun were 34.3% and also guardian 40% for front and back while daily sun were 60%, this shows that in checking the inside pages guardian has highest response while in front and back page daily sun has greater. This research work recommend that the generally focus on the quantity and quality of coverage of crime stories in the selected Nigerian newspaper had not be addressed attention on how the press could assist the police in combination crime nor did it consider other environmental factor that can be incidental to a crime. Further studies could table care of these defeats.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION                                              1

• Background of the Study 1
• Statement of the Research Problem 4
• Objectives of the Study 6
• Research Questions 6
• Research Hypothesis 7
• Assumption 8
• Scope and Limitation 9
• Definition of Terms 10

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW                                       12

2.1  Sources of Literature                                        12

2.2  An Overview of Crime and Terrorism in Nigeria     14

2.3  Summary of Literature Review                           26

 

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY                                               28

3.1  Research Method                                             28

3.2  Research Design                                              28

3.3  Area of Study                                                  29

3.4  Research Population and Sampling                     29

3.5  Determination of Sample Size                                  30

3.6  Measuring Instrument                                      31

3.7  Validity and Reliability of Instrument                  33

3.8  Method of Data Collection                                 33

3.9  Method of Data Analysis                                   34

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULT PRESENTATION     35

4.1  Presentation of Data                                        35

4.2  Test of Hypothesis                                           35

4.3  Discussion of Findings                                      45

 

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS    47

5.1  Summary of Findings                                       47

5.2  Conclusion                                                      49

5.3  Recommendations                                           51

Bibliography                                                    53

Appendix                                                        55

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The Nigerian press has played in the coverage of Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group that has since been a threat to national security. The period of coverage November 2011 – March 2012, has been remarkably known as a period that recorded the highest causalities in term of life and property. The study became essential because of the atmosphere in which the Nigerian press found itself as a watchdog caught in the midst of political and religious divide.

One promise for the suppression of crimes activities in Nigeria is to recognize that lack of awareness and concern by the public is the crime greatest ally. The efforts of any branches of society directed towards controlled criminal activities will be largely unsuccessful unless the public is made aware of criminal methodology and the magnitude of crimes. Publicity and honest exposure of dry up source of revenue for an organization engaged in criminal activities. The above statement by Denny F. (1975, 89-90) underscored the need for the Nigerian press to intensity efforts in crime reporting.

Crimes, whether against persons, habitations, property, morality and decency, public peace, against justice and authority or against public safety, are serious offences which are not only punishable by law but can also seriously hinder the development of a society. In this case, crime diverts effects of the offender in a negative path towards development.

Crime seems to be accentuated in the society by lack of patience of each new generation to pass the rigorous and arduous process which their parents have passed to attain greatness. Other sociological and psychological or every hereditary problems often erupt contribute to crime. For instance, a child who is brought up in the ghetto with not much facilities of learning, or without a good up bringing and who grows up exposed to aggression as a way of life will most likely grow up into an aggressive adult. Because no individuals lives in isolation of her environment, a child born in a disorderly society where crime is on the increase will as well direct, live to reflect in his/her styles on all these abnormities in which he is born into. The worry is what are the chance of such an individual brought up in such a condition ever becoming a good citizen.

Unfortunately, ignorance of the law is no excuse and the same weight of punishment faces the informed and uninformed citizenry. But in the Nigerian situation, crime stories tend not to be given due prominence in the pages of the newspapers. The assumption may be that other classes of stories have edged out such crime stories. There is however, an unexpressed by manifest psychological feelings of Nigerians, towards crimes. The society itself treats criminals with contempt perhaps the preference given to non-crimes stories by the media arises from the thinking of the practitioners to spot-light issues that will generate larger reader interest.

It is a truism that an intention to comment a crimes to one of the essential ingredients of a crime. The motives for a crime should be ascertained by reporters in order to provide clues that will help in reforming the criminal. It is important also to ally the feat that reporting a crime by our mass media may result in lawlessness and in crease in waves. This study also recognizes that an increase in crime waves may hinder the economic, political and social advancement of the society.

 

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A more pertinent question is:

• Does the coverage of crime by the newspapers guide the possible causes of crimes?
• How do Nigerian newspapers view crimes?
• Do they state possible remedies to these crimes?
• Does the editorial process of editing and rewriting influence or affect the reporting of crime stories?
• Does the personality of the criminals affect the reporting of crimes?

These and others are the numerous kind of question which we went to approach in this study, so that a complete answer and resolution of all these questions or factors could lead to a more complete and realistic approach to the presentation and stoppage of crimes.

The Journalist is an individual who has his or her own biases and in the reporting of a crime, he first of all decides if the crime is newsworthy using his own sense of value judgment and other parameters for judging news value like prominence, proximity, consequence, human interest etc.

Some of the considerations at this stage could be who were involved in the crime story. We cannot escape from the fact that newspaper publishing is a business interest of the paper involved, this story gets omitted.

 

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study therefore is to determine;

1. The nonchalant attitude of some press organization in the country to crime reporting is a neglect of the important note which the press is expected to ply in the society.
2. To highlight the need for proper and frequent reports of criminal events in the country.
3. To set out good guideline for crime reporters in the reporting of crime news.
4. To identify the need for adequate investigation and interpretation of criminal news events as they occurs.

 

1.4  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions guided this study.

1. What are the effects of reporting crimes in Nigerians newspapers?
2. Does the coverage of crimes by the newspaper guide the possible causes of crimes?
3. Does the editorial process of editing and rewriting influence or affect the reporting of crime stories?
4. How do Nigerians newspapers view crimes?
5. Does the personality of the criminals affect the reporting of crimes?

 

1.5  RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  There is effect on reporting crimes in Nigerians    newspapers

Hi:   There is no effect on reporting crimes in Nigerians      newspapers

Ho:  the coverage of crime by the newspapers guide the     possible causes of crimes

H_2:     The coverage of crime by the newspapers do not guide the        possible causes of crimes

Ho:  the editorial process of editing and rewriting influence        or affect the reporting of crime stories

H₃    the editorial process of editing and rewriting do not   influence or affect the reporting of crime stories

 

Ho:  The personality of the criminals affect the reporting of        crimes

H₄:  The personality of the criminals does not affect the reporting of crimes.

 

1.6  ASSUMPTION

In this study, the researcher made the following assumptions;

1. That Nigeria newspaper carries stories relating to crimes in their various editions.
2. Nigeria newspaper is an effective instrument that can help in crimes prevention.
3. Nigerian press use investigation journalist in coverage of crime in Nigeria.
4. It will serve bases for reference future researchers in these areas.

 

 

1.7  SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

As it usual with a study of this nature guardian and daily sun newspapers. Time is always a constraint, in addition to lack of study. These limitations have made this research to be limited to study of two national newspapers among the many newspapers in circulation in the country. This is with the thinking that the findings from this study will give an insight into the coverage of crimes stories by other Nigerians newspapers.

 

1.8  DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION

Conceptual: The Webster Reference dictionary of the English language        defines coverage as a covering, or provision of something  as a covering, or provision for something by agreement of covered Communication, the send and receiving areas of radio or TV station, the number of readers in an area served by a publication, the writing, publishing or broadcasting of news”.

Crime:    Crime is defined as an offence for which there is serve punishment by the foolish or wrong act, not necessarily an offence against the laws”.

Newspaper: A medium of communication usually published daily or weekly, by which information and current affairs, opinions and entertainment features are circulated among the people.

Coverage of Crime: May be defined to mean the publication of news stories concerning one or more crimes as defined above.

Criminal Acts: Criminals acts will be defined to mean a deliberate intention aimed at committing a crime such as Murder, Robbery, Fraud, Embezzlement, Riot, Defamation, Dry trafficking, Arson, Burglary, Kidnapping, Homicide, Manslaughter, Conspiracy, and Drug Acts.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Crime:    Excludes all civil offences but will include all other offences against the state or a person no matter its classifications

Newspaper:  The researchers wish to define newspaper as a means “The Guardian” and the Daily sun”.

Coverage: The amount, types or nature of stories pertaining to crime reported within a particular period of time in the newspaper understudy.

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