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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">BJCR</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title xml:lang="en">British Journal of Contemporary Research</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title xml:lang="en">BJCR</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn>2979-8582</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Bexford Publishing Ltd</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc><uri>https://bexfordpublishing.co.uk</uri></publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">BEX_JUN_26_131</article-id>
      
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group xml:lang="en" subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Original Research Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Patterns of Nigerian Newspapers Reportage and Framing of the June 5, 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo Terrorist Attack</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group content-type="author">
      <contrib corresp="yes">
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Gabriel Sunday Afolayan</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>sungoldafolayan@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Department of Mass Communication, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (formerly Ondo State Polytechnic), Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="epub">
        <day>10</day>
        <month>07</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>1</volume>
      <issue>2</issue>
      
      
      <pub-history>
        <event event-type="received">
          <event-desc>Received: <date date-type="received">
            <day>26</day>
            <month>06</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
        
        <event event-type="accepted">
          <event-desc>Accepted: <date date-type="accepted">
            <day>03</day>
            <month>07</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
      </pub-history>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriel Sunday Afolayan</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
        <license xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract><p>Abstract 
This study investigated the coverage of the massacre of over 50 worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during the Pentecost Sunday service on June 5, 2022 by Nigerian newspapers. It examined the extent and nature of their coverage and explored such themes as terrorism, religious persecution and government security inadequacies. Adopting a content analysis design, the study, hinged on social responsibility and framing theories, analysed 25 editions each of the four selected national newspapers (Daily Trust, Leadership, The Punch and Vanguard) published between Sunday June 5 and June 5, 2022, using the systematic sampling procedure. Findings revealed that the newspapers framed the attack as a terrorist act, highlighting the brutality of the violence, while the tone of coverage was predominantly sympathetic and critical, condemning the attack and calling for justice.  It was also found that though, ownership influence was not pronounced, some of the stories were sensational, especially in framing issues relating to the incident, without jeopardising objectivity in the newspapers&#039; coverage of the incident. The research provided insights into the complexities of media representation and its impact on public discourse and perception of terrorism and violent attacks in Nigeria. Among others, the study recommended that government needs to be more proactive about security while the media should continue to be more responsible in their coverage of sensitive issues like this.  
Key Words: Nigerian Newspapers, News Coverage, Terrorism, Story Framing, Pentecost Sunday</p></abstract>
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  </front>
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