Framing of Cybercrime (Yahoo-Yahoo Business) by The Guardian and Vanguard Newspapers

Abstract

The advent of the digital media is supposed to aid communication, among other functions, but the crimes associated with these novel  inventions are impinging on Nigeria's image and national development. This paper concentrates on the aspect of cybercrime known as  “Yahoo Yahoo Business” (YYB). The paper uses content analysis to determine how The Guardian and Vanguard newspapers framed  stories related to cybercrime in parts of 2018 and 2019. Relying on the Framing Theory, the study identifies the dominant frames and  themes used by the newspapers. The study found that the newspapers had only 68 stories on YYB for the period under study, and framed  the perpetrators of this crime as 'Fraudsters'. Other frames used by the newspapers were 'Ritual', and 'Fight against YYB'. The  dominant themes used by the newspapers were 'Arrest and Parade'. 'Arraignment', and 'Conviction'. Based on the findings of the study,  we recommend that newspapers should frame their stories to continue to condemn the Yahoo Yahoo Business in all its ramifications, and  that their reports should lead to the eradication of the problem and the ultimate development of the Nigerian nation.