Pictorial Framing of Migrant Slavery in Libya by Daily Trust Newspaper Nigeria

Abstract

Migration from African countries to especially European nations has in recent times gained more global attention and the media are awashed with disturbing reports, particularly on the migrant slavery in Libya. Therefore this paper examines pictorial framing of the migrant slavery issue in Libya by Daily Trust Newspaper. The objectives of the paper are to examine: whether the slavery issues are pictorially framed by Daily Trust newspaper as dehumanising ; whether the slavery issues are pictorially framed by Daily Trust newspaper showing physical Trauma among the migrants ; whether the slavery issues are framed showing chronic conditions of the victims as depicted by overwork, insufficient clothing or ill clothed; whether the slavery issues are framed depicting of deaths; and whether the ‘migrants slaves’ are framed as physically trapped; whether the migrants are framed as people for sale (commodities). The study developed a content analysis of pictorial representation of the slavery in one of the national newspaper in Nigeria: Daily Trust. The study found that the pictorial framing of the migrant slavery in Libya by Daily Trust Newspaper tilted predominantly as mild as resolved/rescued situation. The study concludes that in spite the horrifying reports and footages about the issue, Daily Trust newspaper framed it as mild and as a resolved/rescued situation, thus downplaying the horrifying the situation in picture.