Abstract: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health

Abstract:
This paper presents a Critical Discourse Analysis of rejoinders to political press releases in selected Nigerian Newspapers. The study examined the linguistic and discursive features, power relations and ideological positioning, and the contributions of rejoinders in shaping political narratives and public opinion. The analyses were based on Fairclough’s three dimensional approach to CDA. The framework identified three approaches to CDA, namely: texts, discourse practice and sociocultural context. The approach pave way for systematic analysis of the data, and also help in arriving at the findings of the study. Data for the study comprises of ten (10) rejoinders from the selected Nigerian newspapers. The selected Nigerian newspapers are: Punch Newspaper, Vanguard Newspaper, The Guardian Newspaper, The Blueprints Newspaper, TheCable Newspaper, DailyTrust Newspaper. Rejoinders analyzed are those from June 2022 to June 2023. Data were purposefully chosen on a specific genre of rejoinders to political press releases, such as statements from political parties, government officials, or opposition groups, providing a focused perspective. Furthermore, the criteria for selecting the sample of rejoinders, includes; relevance to political issues, diversity of perspectives, and prominence of the author. This approach facilitates an in-depth exploration of linguistic features, power dynamics, and ideological positioning within political rejoinders. The findings of this study reveals the strategic use of language in political rejoinders, covering vocabulary precision, power relations, ideological positioning, and rhetorical strategies. In conclusion, this research contributes valuable insights to the field of CDA, emphasizing intertextuality, transparency, and accountability in political discourse. It serves as a valuable resource for academics and provides practical insights for enhancing political communication strategies.