Examining the media as channels of conflict generation

Abstract

Wilson, (2013, p.16) and Omenugba, (2013, 0.2) advanced so many reasons for conflict in the world. Not found in their lists is where the media, an acknowledged agent for the courier of information, is a source of conflict. How is the media a channel for conflict generation? This is the question we will be eliciting answers to, as we situate this investigation under the social responsibility theory. A survey was adopted, using fifty (50) respondents from three media houses: the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA; the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC; Hit FM, a private radio station located in Calabar and lecturers of Mass Communication Studies, the University of Calabar, Unical; and the Cross River University of Technology, Crutech. The result of the findings show that the media as channels of communication have also constituted themselves sometimes into channels of conflict generation, through scurrilous writing, indecent remarks and intemperate language. We therefore recommend that the media should be circumspect in reporting sensitive issues that could be divisive by eschewing the use of pejorative, denigrating or incendiary remarks about individuals, their ethnicity, religion or other idiosyncrasies.

Keywords: Media, Channels, Conflict generation