AN ANALYSIS OF FEATURE ARTICLES IN THE DAILY TRUST AND THE PUNCH NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the ideological implication of the use
of selective quotes, imaginative statements and emotional words or
expressions in the feature articles of the Daily Trust and the Punch
newspapers. The analysis of the selected variables is done within the
theoretical framework of Fairclough and Van Djick approaches to
critical discourse analysis. Eighteen feature articles were selected out
of the twenty randomly selected articles for the thesis (Kryjcie and
Morgan), within the months of January and April, 2018. The findings
of the research reveal that the use of imagery, selective quotes and
emotive words/ expressions is commonly identified in feature articles
of the sampled newspapers. It is also established the use of multiple
quotations in feature articles dealing with political and health issues.
Few quotations are present in articles dealing with security issues. It
is also established that very few emotional statements are found in
articles dealing with health issues in both newspapers. The ideological
representation of imaginative expressions, quotations and emotive
words is generally meant for creating change and suspicion in the
mind of the reader to believe in the writer’s ideological view points.
The findings of this research also reveal that, there are hidden agenda
behind the use of the selected variables depending on the topic of
discussion.