Pictorial Portrayal of the Humanitarian Crises in North East Nigeria by Daily Trust and Thisday Newspapers

Abstract

The humanitarian crises in north east Nigeria has gained prominence across the globe and the media are awashed with disturbing reports, particularly on the activities of Boko Haram. Therefore, this research examines pictorial portrayal of humanitarian crisis in north east Nigeria by Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers. The objectives of the study are to identify issues of humanitarian crises, portrayed in the Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers; identify types of pictures newspapers used in portraying humanitarian crises in Northeast Nigeria; examine the ways Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers used photographs to portray humanitarian crises in North East Nigeria; examine the kind of pictorial frames used by Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers in the coverage of the humanitarian issues in north east. Findings of the study revealed that although various pictures were used by diverse media reports, both Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers were able to present different angles to the story namely (mild, resolved, commodification) but predominantly focused on the grievous, dehumanized and physically traumatized angle to the story thereby showcasing more of a situation that is yet to be resolved. The study concludes that Daily Trust and Thisday newspapers pictorially portrayed the crises as grievous, dehumanizing and physically traumatizing thus downplaying the mild perspective of the situation in pictures.