A critical discourse analysis of selected media representatives on (in)security discourse in Nigerian newspapers
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Date
2026
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Al-Qalam: A Journal of Languages and Literary Studies, Department of English and Literature, Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria.
Abstract
Language is an important instrument in the hands of newspapers reporters. Thus, this study critically explored how language is used in four selected Nigerian newspaper discourse on insecurity. The study adopted the Norman Fairclough's (2001) Member Resources, van Dijk's (2004) Socio Cognitive approach and principles of Halliday's system of transitivity as theoretical foundations. A total of ten (10) insecurity news were purposively selected from the four Nigerian dailies (Daily Trust, The Guardian. The Punch and The Nations The newspapers were selected from the editions published between July 2022 and August 2022, Findings of the study showed that Nigerian newspapers deploy lexical, syntactic and discursive devices in representing insecurity reports as a strategy of domination and supremacy with the use of exploiting lexical items and strong imperatives which allow them impose their views on others. This study concludes that news reports on insurgents crisis in Nigeria do not only inform the audience about the latest activities relating to insurgencies and government's steps towards stemming the menace but they also help to celebrate and praise security agencies in their fight against insurgencies.
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Babagogata, A. H. (2026). A critical discourse analysis of selected media representatives on (in)security discourse in Nigerian newspapers. Al-Qalam: A Journal of Languages and Literary Studies, 1(2), 108-117.