Analyzing Terrorism and Media: Boko Haram in Nigeria Case Study

This case study examines the complex relationship between terrorism and media, using Boko Haram in Nigeria as a focal point. The analysis draws upon various scholarly articles to explore how media coverage shapes perceptions of terrorism, influences public opinion, and potentially impacts the spread of extremist ideologies. The study delves into how media outlets portray Boko Haram's activities, the potential biases in reporting, and the consequences of such representations on both local and global scales. It also investigates the role of media in political contexts, the manipulation of information, and the challenges of accurately conveying the realities of terrorism. The research highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between terrorism and media in the context of societal issues and the challenges of industrial development in regions affected by terrorism. The assignment utilizes multiple sources to analyze the influence of media on terrorist activities across the globe.

Running head: TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN
NIGERIA
Terrorism and Media: A case study of Boko Haram in Nigeria
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
In the contemporary period, the aspect of terrorism has arisen to a significant extent. This
is due to the increased importance that is being paid to the ideology of the different religions.
The religious people of the Earth are engaged in proving the righteous nature of their respective
religion as compared to the other religions of the Earth. This conflict sometimes take an
aggressive form which is known as terrorism.
Full Citation Fahmy, S. S. (2017). Media, Terrorism, and Society: Perspectives and
Trends in the Digital Age.
Database Google Scholar
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15205436.2017.138228
5
Summary and
evaluation
In the contemporary world, the terrorist attacks on the people have
increased to a significant level. This situation inspired many scholars
across the world to undertake certain empirical studies with regard to
terrorism. In this article, it was found out that the way the media
portrayed terrorism was significantly different than what existed in the
real world.
Research Focus The author collected information from various secondary sources
where the call for papers with regards to this context was met by
around fifty scholars. They provided the much needed information for
understanding the issue of terrorism.
Full Citation Dingley, J. (2016). Terrorism and the politics of social change: a

2TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
Durkheimian analysis. Routledge.
Database Google Scholar
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315612119
Summary and evaluation This article looks in to the existing societal characteristics and how
they influence the concept of terrorism. The author is of the
opinion that due to the process of modernization, there is an
attempt on the part of the people of the society to assert the
cultural dominance of their own. In this respect, they end up
challenging the external forces with that of violence.
Research Focus The data for this research study was collected from secondary
sources where the information gathered was analyzed in a
qualitative manner.
Full Citation Imhonopi, D., & Urim, U. M. (2016). The spectre of terrorism
and Nigeria’s Industrial development: A multi-stakeholder
imperative. African Journal of Criminology and Justice
Studies: AJCJS, 9(1), 20-40.
Database Google Scholar
http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/7154/#.XMZzyjAzbI
U
Summary and evaluation Since the early years of the twenty first century, Nigeria was
gradually fallen in to the shambles of terrorist attacks. The

3TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
inability of the government to undertake effective measures to
counteract terrorism also had an adverse impact on the
industrial development of the region.
Research Focus This research study undertook the view points of the
government, the people of the civil society and those engaged
in the religious sphere to understand the aspect of terrorism.
Full Citation Cohen-Louck, K. (2019). Perception of the Threat of Terrorism.
Journal of interpersonal violence, 34(5), 887-911.
Database Google Scholar
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/088626051664609
1
Summary and evaluation This research article looks in to the issue of terrorism and how it
is perceived by the people around the world. Terrorism has a
severe adverse impact on human kind whereby there is huge loss
of human lives and property.
Research Focus Around forty Israeli people were interviewed and their
perceptions were analyzed in order to reach a conclusive study.
Full Citation Kellner, D. (2015). Media spectacle and the crisis of democracy:
Terrorism, war, and election battles. Routledge.
Database Google Scholar

4TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315633480
Summary and evaluation This research study looks at how media tries to manipulate a given
situation in order to favor one political party or another. This is
due to the fact that most of the media houses are owned by certain
corporate ownerships.
Research Focus The data has been gathered from analyzing the situation after 9/11.
It looks in to how the media portrayed several terrorist incidents
which favored the image of George Bush and his campaign.
Full Citation Giroux, H. A. (2016). Beyond the spectacle of terrorism: Global
uncertainty and the challenge of the new media. Routledge.
Database Google Scholar
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=UyNZCwAAQBAJ&oi=
fnd&pg=PP1&dq=terrorism+and+media&ots=TuyiLZ2hsr&sig=
qO6dehY7dcLk3poCDcej_RZwdVA#v=onepage&q=terrorism%20and%2
0media&f=false
Summary and
evaluation
The ability of the people to distinguish between the real life incidents and
that which is portrayed to them are diminishing as a result of the
preponderant activities of the media.
Research Focus The data has been gathered from secondary sources which looks in to the

5TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
aspect of media and how it covers certain incidents in the world.
Full Citation Jetter, M. (2017). The effect of media attention on terrorism.
Journal of Public Economics, 153, 32-48.
Database Google Scholar
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs
/pii/S0047272717301214
Summary and evaluation Religion has been widely politicized by the political leaders of
the concerned state. Furthermore, many people of that state who
are not satisfied with the prevailing political system, has used
this instrument of religion to fight for their own cause. This
research article looks in to how the media plays an important role
to encourage the terrorist activities.
Research Focus This research study gathers data from across 201 countries of the
world, analyzing more than sixty thousand terrorist activities.
Full Citation Alvares, C., & Dahlgren, P. (2016). Populism, extremism and
media: Mapping an uncertain terrain. European Journal of
Communication, 31(1), 46-57.
Database Google Scholar
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/026732311561448

6TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
5
Summary and evaluation Although media was first established to generate awareness
among the people, it gradually degenerated in to promoting
populist measures. This led to the popularity of right wing
extremism which believes in religious fanaticism. Religion has
been considered to be the main factor behind the growth of
terrorism.
Research Focus The research focuses on the issue of how democratic ideals are
becoming less important in the society.
Full Citation Oyewole, S. (2015). Boko Haram: Insurgency and the war
against terrorism in the Lake Chad region. Strategic Analysis,
39(4), 428-432.
Database Google Scholar
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.
1080/09700161.2015.1047227?journalCode=rsan20
Summary and evaluation Often times it is noticed that the aspect of terrorism which is
portrayed in the media is in high contrast to the real situation
prevailing at the ground level, especially in the case of Bok
Haram.
Research Focus This research study focuses on the military insurgency of Boko
Haram and its impact on the region of Chad.

7TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
Full Citation Weeraratne, S. (2017). Theorizing the expansion of the Boko Haram
insurgency in Nigeria. Terrorism and Political Violence, 29(4), 610-
634.
Database Google Scholar
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546553.2015.100574
2
Summary and
evaluation
This study looks in to how Boko Haram extended over the entire
region of Nigeria during the last several years. This has been explained
with the aid of certain theoretical strands.
Research Focus The data has been gathered with the aid of secondary resources which
looks in to the relation between Boko Haram and other terrorist outfits.

8TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA
References:
Alvares, C., & Dahlgren, P. (2016). Populism, extremism and media: Mapping an uncertain
terrain. European Journal of Communication, 31(1), 46-57.
Cohen-Louck, K. (2019). Perception of the Threat of Terrorism. Journal of interpersonal
violence, 34(5), 887-911.
Dingley, J. (2016). Terrorism and the politics of social change: a Durkheimian analysis.
Routledge.
Fahmy, S. S. (2017). Media, Terrorism, and Society: Perspectives and Trends in the Digital Age.
Giroux, H. A. (2016). Beyond the spectacle of terrorism: Global uncertainty and the challenge of
the new media. Routledge.
Imhonopi, D., & Urim, U. M. (2016). The spectre of terrorism and Nigeria’s Industrial
development: A multi-stakeholder imperative. African Journal of Criminology and
Justice Studies: AJCJS, 9(1), 20-40.
Jetter, M. (2017). The effect of media attention on terrorism. Journal of Public Economics, 153,
32-48.
Kellner, D. (2015). Media spectacle and the crisis of democracy: Terrorism, war, and election
battles. Routledge.
Oyewole, S. (2015). Boko Haram: Insurgency and the war against terrorism in the Lake Chad
region. Strategic Analysis, 39(4), 428-432.\
Weeraratne, S. (2017). Theorizing the expansion of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Terrorism and Political Violence, 29(4), 610-634.

9TERRORISM AND MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA