The Role of Media in the Reportage of the Fulani and Farmers Clashes. A study of Auchi Town

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Communications - Mass Media, grade: 3.50, University of Benin, course: Mass Communication, language: English, abstract: This research, titled "An Assessment of the Role of the Media in the Reportage of the Herders and Farmers Clashes in Nigeria," examines the complex landscape of contemporary Nigeria, marked by social, political, and religious crises, with a focus on the Fulani herders/farmers conflict driven by resource scarcity. This conflict has inflicted a significant humanitarian toll, leading to numerous casualties and displacements. The study's objectives are to analyze historical media reporting of the Fulani herders/farmers crisis in Nigeria and to assess the media's role in its resolution. It is anchored in the Framing theory, which emphasizes how media representation of issues can influence public perception. This research exclusively investigates the role of broadcast media in addressing this crisis. Data was collected from 368 respondents in Auchi town using purposive sampling. The study's findings reveal that the media often portrays the Fulani herders/farmers crisis negatively to capture audience attention, but it also plays a pivotal role in conflict resolution through objective and balanced reporting. However, challenges persist, including the media's lack of objectivity in conflict reporting, which can exacerbate situations. Contributing factors to the farmers-herdsmen crisis include climate change, land encroachment, small arms proliferation, and rural crime. Despite government efforts, the conflict endures due to gaps in strategies, such as the absence of preventive measures, weak policy implementation, insufficient religious tolerance promotion, and limited grassroots involvement in finding solutions. This study's significance lies in its potential to inform media practices and assist the government in formulating more effective approaches to address these clashes.