Visual Framing of the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis in Newspapers

Abstract The use of still and motion pictures in reporting on a crisis actually frames the news in particular ways for better understanding. The current study of visual framing of the Cameroon Anglophone crisis in 2016 revealed that the press paid considerable attention to the crisis by making use of images. Of the 216 articles identified in the study, 174 images were used to bring out the conflict and thereby create different perspectives of understanding through frames. The study identified two general frame systems in the coverage of the crisis, namely, the pro- and anti-government perspectives. A further 11 salient frames were identified under these two general frame systems. A comparative analysis of private and public press use of visual frames revealed that the private press made more use of photographs to bring out salient issues in the crisis, such as conflict, lives lost, as well as political actors. The public press on its part paid minimal attention to the crisis and made use of photographs depicting peace/unity, government appeasement, and return to normalcy.