The challenge of reporting on Boko Haram-video

Why has the media struggled to tell the story of Nigeria's mass abductions?

Earlier this month, hundreds of schoolgirls were kidnapped in northeastern Nigeria by Boko Haram, an armed group fighting for a state governed by sharia law. While there's no question that this is a major news story, the media coverage has been patchy. First, there is the challenge for the reporters on the ground. Access to Nigeria's northeast is fraught with logistical and security concerns. Boko Haram's name translates as "Western education is forbidden", and foreign media workers present in the area would run the risk of incurring their anger. The lack of coverage may also be due to the Nigerian government itself. President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to crush Boko Haram - a movement thought to be responsible for more than 1,500 deaths already this year - and too much media attention given to the group's activities could undermine the president's credibility.