Review of Journalism & Mass Communication

The Media and the Ideology of Insecurity: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Two Editorials on Federal Government-Boko Haram Face-off
Mrs. F. B. Olagunju, Rasaq A. Ajadi

Abstract
Recently, Nigeria has been enmeshed in the throes and quakes of insecurity. The media as the fourth estate of the realm is in the centre of the problem. Through its news reporting and editorials, the media mediate in events between the government and the masses. The media regulate the thought direction of the readers; hence, helping them to formulate ideologies on national issues through language. The study aims to examine two editorials on the Federal government-Boko Haram face-off to reveal the media’s roles in the event. Through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the paper evaluates how the editorials represent the ideology of insecurity and how they contribute to or solve the problem. To achieve this, van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach to CDA is employed. Eventually, the study discovers that words, phrases and clauses (i.e. language) are essential in discourses. Through these elements, the editorials present the raging insecurity problem as insuperable because the Boko Haram insurgency is ideologically positioned as the powerful side. The ‘Us’ vs. ‘Them’ represented the federal government as a weakling who is beaten in its own game. However, the editorials, particularly, datum A, by qualifying the insurgent group with ‘Islamic’, presents a face threatening act against the Islamic faithful. It is therefore concluded that the media needs to be more sensitive to its language use in order to save the delicate bond of the nation from disintegration.

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