A Critical Discourse Analysis of Punch and Daily
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TUG OF WAR: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF PUNCH AND DAILY TRUST NEWSPAPERS’ COVERAGE OF POLIO ERADICATION IN NIGERIA A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies of RHODES UNIVERSITY By AYANFEOLUWA OLUTOSIN OYEWO Supervisor: Danika Marquis September 2014 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the world’s greatest parents: Dr and Pharm, O. O. Oyewo. No amount of words can effectively capture the depth of my gratitude to you both. Thank you for the sacrifices you made, for believing in me, and for the endless prayers. I love you, and God bless you. I also dedicate this thesis in honour of my late grandfather, Mr. Adebayo Adio Oyedemi. Your exemplary life was and is an inspiration to me. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, my gratitude goes to God for granting me the grace and speed needed to complete this study. I am grateful to my supervisor, Danika Marquis, for her patience, kindness and thoroughness during the research process. I am also indebted to Professor Jeanne Prinsloo for introducing me to the world of Critical Discourse Analysis. My gratitude also goes to great friends and colleagues; Pauline Atim, Dayo Fashina, Khanyile Mlosthwa, Lauren Hutcheson, Similoluwa Olusola, Carly Hosford-Israel, Mathew Nyaungwa, and Oluwasegun Owa, for their intellectual, and moral support. I would also like to thank my grandmothers, Deaconess C. M. Oyedemi, and Deaconess J. A. Oyewo, for their words of encouragement and prayers. To my siblings (Obaloluwa, Ooreoluwa and Ireoluwa), cousins, uncles, and aunts, thank you for your overwhelming expressions of love. God bless you all. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. 3 ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 7 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7 1.2. Research Goals ...................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Significance ofthe Study ......................................................................................... 8 1.4. Thesis Structure ...................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. I 0 RESEARCH CONTEXT ..................................................................................................... 10 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................. I 0 2.1. Nigeria's Political and Historical Background ...................................................... I 0 2.2. Polio Eradication in Nigeria ................................................................................. 13 2.3. Media/Press Relations in Nigeria .......................................................................... 15 2.3.1. Punch Newspaper ............................................................................................... 16 2.3.2. Daily Trust Newspaper ....................................................................................... l7 2. 4. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 19 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................ 19 3. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 19 3.1. Representation, Language and Meaning Making ................................................... 19 3.2. Discourse, Knowledge, Power and Truth ............................................................... 20 3.3. IdeologJJ and Hegen1ony ........................................................................................ 23 3. 4. Media Representation and Normative Theories ..................................................... 25 3. 5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................... 29 RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................ 29 4. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 29 4.1. Qualitative Research Approach/Tradition ............................................................. 29 4.2. Thematic Content Analysis .................................................................................... 30 4.3. Critical Discourse Analysis ................................................................................... 31 4 4. 3.1. Textual Dimension .............................................................................................. 32 4.3.1.1. Linguistic Tools ............................................................................................... 33 4.3.1.2. Argumentation/ Rhetoric .................................................................................. 34 4.3.1.3. Narrative ......................................................................................................... 35 4.3.2. Discourse Practice ............................................................................................. 37 4.3.3. Sociocultural Practice ........................................................................................ 37 4.4. Data Selection and Sampling Procedure ................................................................ 38 4.5. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 39 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 40 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION- THEMATIC CONTENT ANALYSIS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF NEWS STORIES ............................................................... .40 5. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 40 5.1. Blame versus Commitment to Progress .................................................................. 40 5.2. Condemnation versus Commendation ................................................................... .49 5.3. Compensation versus Punishment .......................................................................... 58 5. 4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 64 CHAPTER SIX ................................................................................................................... 66 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION- EDITORIALS .................................................... 66 6. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 66 6.1. Editorial Analysis .................................................................................................. 66 CHAPTER SEVEN ............................................................................................................. 78 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 78 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................... 80 APPENDICES ............................................................................................ 89 5 ABSTRACT The resurgence of the polio virus in Nigeria following vaccine rejections poses a severe threat to the total worldwide eradication of polio. Vaccine refusals are a huge problem in Nigeria, especially in the North, which accounts for about 60 percent of polio cases in 2013. These refusals were informed by claims that polio vaccines contained anti-fertility properties that were designed by the ‘West’ to reduce the Muslim population. These claims and subsequent vaccine rejections culminated in the killing of health workers during an immunisation exercise in February 2013. This study is an analysis of the coverage of the polio eradication controversy by two newspapers- Punch and Daily Trust, following the killings of the health workers. Daily Trust is situated in Northern Nigeria, while Punch is situated in the South. The choice of these newspapers is based on the argument by Ayodele (1988) and Omenugha (2004) that the Nigerian press has been accused of escalating tension in the country because they view many aspects of the Nigerian reality from the lenses of religious, political and cultural prejudices. Because it is a text-based study, the chosen research method