Abstract

There has been a wide range of scholarly publications on the HIV/AIDS pandemic but much has not been done on objectivity, language use and the ideological stances in media reportage of such a scientific controversy. Hence, this study investigates media role, language and ideology in the reportage of HIV/AIDS in the June 8^th 2008 issue of Discover magazine to find out the extent to which the reportage is objective and the ideological stances that influence participants in the report. The study which focuses on a single-case research design, adopts Agenda Setting Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis in a qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Findings reveal that Discover magazine is objective and cover areas not adequately investigated in “mainstream” media. Also, language is used as an ideological weapon to categorise, construct and censor dissenting voices and promote the interests and positions of government and corporate establishments. The study recommends an increase in specialized and objective reportage of health and medical science via careful use of language.      

            Key Words: Media Role, Ideology, HIV/AIDS, Agenda Setting, Critical Discourse Analysis

*Samuel Alaba Akinwotu, Ph.D. is a Lecturer in the Department of English Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.

**Isaac Imo-Ter Nyam is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria.

^JCMR Journal  of  Communication and Media Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, October  2017, 67 – 75