The method
The study used content analysis. The news story, editorial contents,
cartoons, letters to editors, pictures, features, columns and opinions were
content-analysed, including the placement of the story, forms of presentation
and the perspective of reportage in order to find out the prominence given to
the influence of Boko Haram activities on the environment.
The research covers a period of three months (December 2011, January
2012 and February 2012). Within these three months, the researchers studied
all the issues pertaining to the influence of the activities of the Boko Haram
sect on the environment in order to ascertain the priority given to such issues
by the Nigerian dailies.
There are 23 registered national newspapers in Nigeria (Nigerian newspaper
2012). It is practically impossible to study all of them. Three of the dailies with
nationwide circulation were selected – The Punch, the Vanguard and the Daily
Sun. This selection was based on the discretion of the researchers, in addition
to the wide readership base of the newspapers. The selected newspapers are all
registered with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).