When I watched CNN's report about the EndSARS protests in Nigeria, it really made me think about how complicated it can be to understand what's really going on when you're getting your information from the media. It seemed like there were so many different angles to consider, and it wasn't as simple as just saying "CNN told the truth" or "CNN is lying." Looking at the video using Stuart Hall's encoding/decoding model, it really helps to break down what was happening. Basically, Hall said that media messages aren't just consumed passively but are actively interpreted by audiences who bring their own experiences and beliefs to the table. So, digging deeper, we can see how that played out with the CNN report in a negotiated reading.
Before CNN even started working on this report, what was
already happening on the ground? Well, the EndSARS protests were huge in
Nigeria, with young people taking to the streets to demand an end to police
brutality and corruption. They were using social media to organize and share
information, and a lot of the world was watching in real-time. So, by the time
CNN got involved, there was already a lot of information and a lot of emotions
swirling around. It's not like they were starting from scratch. I think there
was a certain power in seeing all these kids come together to protest with the
common goal in mind. This gave them a higher power than other protests or
situations, and the fact it didn't work is sadder than ever.
Seeing how CNN was actually "encoding" its message
you may ask what were the key places they were using to try and shape the
viewer's understanding of what happened? Well, the report definitely emphasized
the violence that took place at Lekki Toll Gate, showing footage of the
shooting and interviewing survivors who described what they saw. The language
they used was also pretty strong, talking about a "massacre" and
accusing the Nigerian military of firing on unarmed protesters. All these
elements were designed to create a sense of outrage and to make viewers believe
that the Nigerian government was guilty of serious human rights abuses. You can
even call them inhuman rights abuses!
But then, I had to remember that not everyone is going to see that report the same way. Stuart Hall said that audiences are active, not passive. They bring their own experiences, beliefs, and ideologies to the table, and that affects how they interpret the message. So, I started thinking about the different groups of people in Nigeria who might have different perspectives on the CNN report. It's definitely not "one" fits all. Here's who I came up with: The Younger People from the Lower Class, the people who are politically involved, and the people who just want to watch from the sides. The Younger People from the Lower Class might have viewed the CNN report as not surprising, since they are dealing with it every day, and might even appreciate that the CNN shed a light on this story. However, there might even feel nothing as some of the members feel too numb to even deal with this situation, There is only one side that they want to be on, and they are sick of seeing the in-fighting from the news, so they don't even know what to believe. There is no time for nuance, and all that they wish is the time to live normally.
The Politically Involved people may find CNN's report as an attack on their pride, and national identity, since they want to uphold the status quo. This may impact their ability to think "neutrally' and they are only for supporting the country. In their mind, this makes sense as they are more traditional than the younger group. Their mindset may not be able to change. It makes you wonder about what their purpose is, what motivates these people. What is in it for them, at the end? It almost feels greedy. The Watchers, and honestly every other group, are not always just so one thing, I think the people are more complicated. Many people are usually so many things that can make it hard to define them as "just this". It is hard. But, their negotiated view on all these things can be that it makes everything better. At the end of the day, they still want to enjoy and get through the day. Their own beliefs. They like to think that everything will just work out.
Even though CNN is trying to shed light on what's going on,
whose voice are we really hearing the loudest? It is still CNN. What Does CNN
do, but just let people see the story through a western point of view, they are
kind of the main "character" in the end. Even though they are the
"reporter" on site and everything. Because of all this, it is hard
for people to care and think about this, as there is so many different things
and messages that the world shows, every day. We can try and see how a group of
people would think about something. But we will really never know how they feel
as there are more people than it may seem. The power that the West has should
always be a question, not the rule.
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