Mapping the Security Playbook: Narratives in the Nigerian Media
media monitoring and review of NITDA's regulatory framework, alongside educational and policy resources
- Status
- Completed
- AIR approach
- Insight
- FRAME
- Foreign Partnerships and National Security
- Implemented in
What we’re doing
Mapping the Security Playbook Narratives in the Nigerian Media is a media monitoring and evidence-generation project designed to examine how insecurity, security responses, and shrinking civic spaces are represented in the Nigerian media. The project systematically analysed media content from five major national newspapers—Tribune, Guardian, Leadership, Daily Trust, and ThisDay—covering the period from October 2016 to October 2024, to identify dominant narratives, prominent voices, and gaps in media coverage.
The project also sought to strengthen evidence-based media engagement by providing insights that can inform advocacy, training, curriculum development, and strategic engagement with journalists and media organisations. In addition, it enhanced public understanding of Nigeria’s digital policy environment by reviewing relevant regulatory frameworks and translating complex policy information into accessible infographics, motion graphics, and short-form videos.
Overall, the project strengthens the evidence and knowledge base for understanding the relationship between insecurity, security narratives, media discourse, and shrinking civic spaces in Nigeria, while supporting more informed communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.
Evidence that leads to action
Designed to create practical, accountable, and lasting public value.
Generated Evidence on Insecurity and Shrinking Civic Spaces
The project produced an evidence base from media coverage across five major Nigerian newspapers, providing insights into narratives, prominent voices, and gaps in reporting on insecurity, security responses, and shrinking civic spaces.
Strengthened Media Engagement and Advocacy
The findings from the media monitoring exercise provide practical evidence to inform coalition members’ media engagement, advocacy strategies, curriculum development, and training activities.
Improved Understanding of Media Narratives
The systematic monitoring and analysis of media content has helped identify dominant narratives and patterns in reporting, creating opportunities for more informed and strategic engagement with journalists and media organisations.
Improved Public Access to Digital Policy Information
The review of 30 NITDA regulatory instruments, including 12 guidelines and 10 policies, was transformed into simplified and accessible multimedia content, making complex digital policies easier for citizens and stakeholders to understand.
Expanded Digital Rights and Policy Awareness
The production and dissemination of infographics, motion graphics, and short videos have created additional channels for raising awareness about data, digital policies, regulations, and related rights among wider audiences.
Strengthened Organisational Capacity for Data-Driven Research
The project enhanced the organisation’s capacity to undertake programmatic media monitoring, data mining, data analysis, and evidence generation, particularly through the testing and refinement of alternative data-collection techniques.
Improved Capacity to Translate Technical Information into Accessible Content
The project strengthened the organisation’s ability to convert complex regulatory and policy information into accessible public-interest communication suitable for social media, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
Supported by
Spaces for ChangeProject moments
Biodiversity Media Initiative
media monitoring and review of NITDA's regulatory framework, alongside educational and policy resources
Building Resilience through Intelligence, Data, and Grassroots Engagement (BRIDGE)
media monitoring and review of NITDA's regulatory framework, alongside educational and policy resources
Building Social Contract Infrastructure for Accountable and Inclusive Governance in Nigeria
media monitoring and review of NITDA's regulatory framework, alongside educational and policy resources
Let's build the next
project together
We're always looking to collaborate with governments, donors, civil society organisations, researchers, and innovators to create evidence-driven solutions for public good.
