Language and ideology in newspaper representation of boko haram and niger delta militants in nigerian

In news reports there are common filaments of in cultural and political ideologies, based on the premise that linguistic choices in texts can carry ideological meaning. In such situations, ideologies are closely linked to power and domination, and they are located in language. News is a representation of the world in a language that is considered to be neutral and media/ted. Everything that is said or written is articulated from a particular ideological position. Differences in expression carry ideological distinctions and thus differences in representation. Newspapers have a responsibility to inform and enable people to make judgments about topical issues, this can however be achieved through a press free of vested interests from higher powers. The press is more than a business; it has a duty to the public as a major source of information on the main issues of the day. The wishes of the readers also need to be taken in to account. Exaggerated and highly coloured presentations of facts can have a powerful influence over readers. For most people, reading the daily newspaper whether in print or online constitutes their most substantial and significant consumption of printed discourse. This provides newspaper discourse with major ideological importance. In this paper, we examine the ideologies that underlie the depiction of the Boko Haram sect and Niger Delta Militants in Nigeria as found in newspaper reports. Data were generated from three Nigerian newspapers: Guardian, This Day and Daily Trust.