Broadcast media: Role and challenge in coverage of general elections violence (A study of NTA and AIT)

The study examined the challenges and roles of broadcast media in reportage of election violence. Primary data were obtained through in-depth interview and content analysis methods were employed to gather secondary data. Three veteran journalists each were purposely selected for in-depth interview from Nigerian Television Authority and African Independent Television. The study was anchored on Framing theory. The results revealed the roles of coverage of election violence is to report accurate information that is devoid of vulgarity, obscenity, bias in reporting election violence. Equally, the regularly format used in reporting election violence is straight news. Findings revealed that the sources of information on election violence are Independent National Electoral Commission officials, civil Society monitoring units, the press and electorates. It was also discovered that election observers, journalists and Nongovernmental organisations were involved in voters’ education. Findings also showed that the nation lost both human and material resources during election violence. Broadcast Journalists faced difficulties during electoral violence in the hand of unscrupulous politicians and security officers, party and ethnic loyalists. Based on the study's findings, journalists report election violence as factual news. As a result, the study suggested that the media always support election education and refrain from portraying election violence with prejudice. The media should likewise avoid being exploited to fan the flames of ethnic and religious conflicts and remember their societal responsibility.