The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst o... more It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst other powers to influence and shape public opinions, the media worsen conflict situations in the society. This study found out that sensational and bias coverage and presentation of news and views on conflictrelated issues are among factors undermining the constructive contributions of mass media in conflict management and resolution in Nigeria. The paper concludes that over the years, the Nigerian media acted as key players in political crises and ethno-religious conflicts than as impartial judges. Hence, they have affected negatively, the management of such crises and conflicts in the country. Therefore, the study recommends that the media must learn to portray the diverse realities of the society within which they operate in such a way that it does not promote division and sectarianism. Also, the media should engage in responsible practices in times of conflict. This implies that the m...
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between techoptimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub-Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent. This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria's 2019 general elections influenced media coverage of election matters during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from our study affirm the existence of relationships between general issues-security, anticorruption, and economy-in Nigeria's political discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 2016
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the 'web media' will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper. Communication Technologies (ICTs) have impacted on the society in positive and negative dimensions. Auwal (2015a:29) rightly explains this scenario when he writes that, "over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing number of new media platforms have revolutionized the ways in which people communicate and share information. These technologies have affected the socio-cultural, political and economic structures of the contemporary society."He explains further that, new media emerged as powerful communication and development tools, adding to the potency of mobile telecommunications as drivers of economic and democratic change. New media technologies have significant impacts on organizational, professional and individual reputations. The impacts, more often are evident in the journalism profession, especially in the print industry. According to Ezea, Ozibo and Hassan (2013), the world is changing fast and much of that change is driven by technology. This is no doubt, the power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) of which the Internet plays a prominent role, not only in terms of the diffusions of innovations, but also in terms of their operations. The Internet is
Over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing numbers o... more Over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing numbers of new media platforms have revolutionized the ways in which people communicate and share information. The new information and communication technologies have impacted on the society positively and negatively. These technologies have affected the socio-cultural, political and economic structures of the contemporary society. Advancement in technologies have eased and expanded the frontiers of communication and information reception and dissemination among people. The Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), particularly the Internet, have impacted greatly on the society; increasing access to information and creating fresh challenges for the society. This study appraises the relationship between new media/ICT and education in Nigeria. It also examines the impacts of new media on the academic performances of students and the society in general.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensive... more The relationship between political competition and social polarization has been studied extensively while overlooking the divisive rhetoric in online political discourses and how media’s coverage creates the social-psychological barriers to peace and a unified sense of national identity/unity. Adapting Galtung’s peace-journalism model through the qualitative content and news frame analyses of contenders’ tweeting activities and news coverage during Nigeria’s 2019 presidential contests, this study reveals the prevalence of othering discourses in contenders’ tweets and the attributes of conflict-escalatory coverage by Nigerian newspapers. Implementing peace-journalism strategy become essential to create shared values for improving political communication amidst the new public sphere in multipolar Nigeria.
In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allo... more In recent times, SNSs have been influential in re-shaping social movements. Not only do they allow access to cheaper and quicker mobilization resources for demonstrators, they also allow them to circumvent conventional communication networks to create their own narratives and thus gain communicative power. Therefore, the study explores the Twitter activities of the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria on the night of the Lekki shooting with the specific objective of evaluating the role of influencers within the movement as well as establishing the various manifestations and expressions of anger or hope as tweeted by participants in the protests. The study discovered that users relied more on foreign media than local media for coverage while Nigerians in diaspora fueled information spreading about the protests on the night of the shooting.
It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst o... more It has been argued over the years that through their information dissemination function, amidst other powers to influence and shape public opinions, the media worsen conflict situations in the society. This study found out that sensational and bias coverage and presentation of news and views on conflictrelated issues are among factors undermining the constructive contributions of mass media in conflict management and resolution in Nigeria. The paper concludes that over the years, the Nigerian media acted as key players in political crises and ethno-religious conflicts than as impartial judges. Hence, they have affected negatively, the management of such crises and conflicts in the country. Therefore, the study recommends that the media must learn to portray the diverse realities of the society within which they operate in such a way that it does not promote division and sectarianism. Also, the media should engage in responsible practices in times of conflict. This implies that the m...
Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity t... more Modern tools of connectivity have afforded disadvantaged youth across the globe the opportunity to collectively share and curate challenges and build up strategies to protest marginalization. This argument is however sharply divided between techoptimists, who argue that social media remove all forms of barrier and empower average members of society and tech-pessimists who argue that social media discourage people from actively seeking change. This article wades into this discourse
Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political ... more Research has presented empirical evidence to suggest a causal relationship between how political actors use Twitter to share information and media coverage. This affirms the use of political tweets as information subsidies. Studies on this area from Sub-Sahara Africa and particularly Nigeria are however visibly absent. This study attempts to bridge this gap by exploring how tweets from two prominent presidential candidates in Nigeria's 2019 general elections influenced media coverage of election matters during a four month period of November 2018 to February 2019. A total of n = 1,048 tweets were sampled for this study. Findings from our study affirm the existence of relationships between general issues-security, anticorruption, and economy-in Nigeria's political discourse, political tweets of presidential candidates on these issues, and how these issues were prioritized in media coverage.
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 2016
Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communicatio... more Over the years, there has been a popular outcry among investors and operators in the communication industry that the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will affect the survival and mode of operation of the traditional media, especially newspapers and magazines. Although it is not in doubt that these technologies pose serious challenges to the survival of mainstream media. This has generated controversies as to whether the 'web media' will completely erase or overshadow the conventional media. This and other issues surrounding the convergence of new and mainstream media, is the thrust of this paper. Communication Technologies (ICTs) have impacted on the society in positive and negative dimensions. Auwal (2015a:29) rightly explains this scenario when he writes that, "over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing number of new media platforms have revolutionized the ways in which people communicate and share information. These technologies have affected the socio-cultural, political and economic structures of the contemporary society."He explains further that, new media emerged as powerful communication and development tools, adding to the potency of mobile telecommunications as drivers of economic and democratic change. New media technologies have significant impacts on organizational, professional and individual reputations. The impacts, more often are evident in the journalism profession, especially in the print industry. According to Ezea, Ozibo and Hassan (2013), the world is changing fast and much of that change is driven by technology. This is no doubt, the power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) of which the Internet plays a prominent role, not only in terms of the diffusions of innovations, but also in terms of their operations. The Internet is
Over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing numbers o... more Over the years, the transitional advancement in digital technologies and the increasing numbers of new media platforms have revolutionized the ways in which people communicate and share information. The new information and communication technologies have impacted on the society positively and negatively. These technologies have affected the socio-cultural, political and economic structures of the contemporary society. Advancement in technologies have eased and expanded the frontiers of communication and information reception and dissemination among people. The Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), particularly the Internet, have impacted greatly on the society; increasing access to information and creating fresh challenges for the society. This study appraises the relationship between new media/ICT and education in Nigeria. It also examines the impacts of new media on the academic performances of students and the society in general.
Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and insti... more Differences and inequalities characterize the social, political and economic structures and institutions of the world. These disparities vary from region-to-region and from one country to another. The same way these differences and inequalities exist in the structures and institutions around the world, so there are differences in the social, political and economic strengths of nations. The unequal strengths of nations result to domination of the less powerful nations by the powerful ones. The less powerful countries or regions of the world depend on the powerful ones for survival politically, socially and economically. In fact, the world (global system) is characterized with imbalances and inequalities. How this imbalances and inequalities affect international news and information flow among other issues, is the thrust of this paper.
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Papers by Ahmad Auwal