Reporting the Powerful: Linguistic Strategies in Print Media Coverage of Murders in Kenya

Abstract

This paper explores the linguistic strategies used by journalists in reporting murders implicating prominent personalities. Notably, it examines how these strategies are employed to construct the identities of the perpetrators, underscoring how journalists navigate power dynamics inherent in such stories while managing potential harm to themselves, the subjects involved, and the broader sociopolitical context. The study further examines the critical role of language in shaping public discourse on justice. Utilizing ten purposively sampled headlines and lead paragraphs from The Daily Nation and The Standard newspapers’ 2018 coverage of murders linked to prominent figures in Kenya, a qualitative investigation reveals how journalists negotiate power asymmetries and the implications of this navigation for both their safety and public perceptions of justice. Guided by Roger Fowler’s Critical Linguistics (1970), the findings indicate that journalists employ distinct linguistic strategies - such as nominal references and transitivity choices - differently based on the subject’s status and the media outlet. There’s a notable tendency for the Daily Nation to use both the nominal references and transitivity to implicate suspects, emphasizing accusation, thereby reinforcing a narrative of guilt implicitly. Conversely, The Standard’s use of similar strategies tends to deflect blame, offering protection to suspects. These divergent patterns raise essential questions about media framing, power asymmetries in crime reporting, and highlight the need for policy and advocacy efforts to foster ethical and balanced journalism. The theoretical implications suggest that linguistic choices intersect with power dynamics in media discourse, warranting broader analyses in future research. Recommendations include investigating digital and audio media, as well as cases involving less powerful individuals, to deepen our understanding of how language mediates issues of justice and inequality across various platforms.