This study examines the coverage of human trafficking in Nigerian online news. Content analysis was conducted on four online news sources, selected based on national reach, consistency in publishing, and popularity amongst Nigerian online readers. The study analysed 553 publications, accounting for 10% of the population of 5,532 e-copy editions published from January 2019 through December 2022. The study found that the media's portrayal of human trafficking victims can perpetuate harmful stereotypes'> This study examines the coverage of human trafficking in Nigerian online news. Content analysis was conducted on four online news sources, selected based on national reach, consistency in publishing, and popularity amongst Nigerian online readers. The study analysed 553 publications, accounting for 10% of the population of 5,532 e-copy editions published from January 2019 through December 2022. The study found that the media's portrayal of human trafficking victims can perpetuate harmful stereotypes'>
Keyword : Human trafficking, Nigeria, Online news media, Reportage, Exploitation
Author(s) : Wilfred Oritsesan Olley; John Agbavbiose Orhewere & Samson Ighiegba Omosotomhe
Abstract :
This study examines the coverage of human trafficking in Nigerian online news. Content analysis was conducted on four online news sources, selected based on national reach, consistency in publishing, and popularity amongst Nigerian online readers. The study analysed 553 publications, accounting for 10% of the population of 5,532 e-copy editions published from January 2019 through December 2022. The study found that the media's portrayal of human trafficking victims can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to victim blaming. The four Nigerian online news sources studied, published many stories on human trafficking within the study period. Reports on human trafficking were accorded low prominence in the newspapers studied, with a majority of the stories being reduced to mere links on the websites of the news sources and the majority of reports on human trafficking by the four Nigerian online news sources studied occurred as straight news, while feature articles accounted for the second highest format of reportage. The study recommends that news sources can collaborate with anti-trafficking organisations to provide accurate and up-to-date information on human trafficking and to raise awareness about the issue and that news sources should provide more in-depth analysis and personal stories to engage readers and create empathy towards victims of trafficking.
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