Obafemi Awolowo University Press Obafemi Awolwo University, lle-Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
This chapter explores the dynamics of the relationship between social crises and
the discourse of mass media reportage, particularly, newspaper reports. The
tenet of objectivity traditionally upheld by the mass media probably lends
credence to their perceived credibility among the masses they communicate to.
Hence, the masses in any society most likely consider news reports as valid
accounts of events. For this reason, the mass media have gained reputation as the
mouthpiece of the society. Notwithstanding, news may be influenced by the
respective ideological perspectives of individual journalists, or even the different
media organisations which they represent (Cluluwa, 2011). It is arguably true
that language is one of the major tools employed by the mass media in
information dissemination to various audiences. Discursive choices made in
communication are likely consequential on the perception of message by the
audience. Especially, when the news being reported is about crises or unpleasant
events, it may be likely that holistic objectivity may not be realised, and implicit
stance,taking may be observed in the news discourse produced for mass
consumption by the media. This study therefore examines the discursive forms
and patterns that the mass media employ when reporting socio,political crises
since prevailing social conditions considerably influence properties of discourse,
that is, discourse is able to represent, produce and reproduce social reality
(Fairclough, 1989; Richardson, 2007). Discourse is generally used to refer to any
coherent form of language use. In the context of this study, discourse refers to
news reports