Ideology and Power in the Headlines: A Critical Discourse Analysis of
Bangladesh-China Relations
Abstract
This article, within the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis, aims
to explore how Bangladesh’s news agency BSS (1975-2016) represents the
power and ideological relations between Bangladesh and China. Adopting
this framework, three methods are employed to collect data: (i) the 40
year media coverage, (ii) questionnaire and (iii) observations at the
newsrooms. By examining 140 news reports and investigating content
analysis, this paper shows how the BSS under government control
represents China and Bangladesh-China relations. Utilizing Systemic
Functional Linguistics as a tool for CDA, this study aims to explore the
power and ideological meanings in the news headline termed as a ‘micro
story’. A pair of questions will answer how the subjects are
historically represented through the BSS media discourse on the topic.
The Subject as a driving force is located at the clause as an exchange
with its framework. CDA promoted the power and ideological relations
between Bangladesh and China, which were established in 1975. This paper
clearly explains how the application of CDA in the news headlines of
Bangladesh-China relations generally reflects social practice, ideology
and power relations in social structures at the time of reporting.