Interpretative and Discursive Communication Strategies for Addressing Misinformation in State Communication

An Example of COVID-19

Abstract

This study examined the interpretative and discursive strategies employed to deconstruct misinformation circulating in both physical and digital spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania. Drawing on van Leeuwen’s (2008) framework of legitimation strategies, the study analysed five purposively selected speeches delivered by the late President John Pombe Magufuli, the current President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and the former Minister for Health, Dorothy Gwajima. The choice of speeches delivered by both presidents, each during their term, is influenced by their differing approaches to pandemic management. The speeches were obtained from the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC). The findings reveal that the deconstruction of misinformation was achieved through the invocation of institutional authority to direct government institutions to address misinformation, appeals for the public to rely on scientifically credible sources of information, the engagement of specialised experts in disseminating pandemic-related information, the presentation of authoritative statistical data, and the emphasis on collective social experience as well as lessons drawn from other countries. Additional strategies included reinforcing spiritual values, promoting responsible citizenship, and framing mitigation measures in a positive light. These findings underscore the importance of fostering public trust in recommended health measures and minimising public panic during health crises. The study recommends that efforts to counter misinformation should be sensitive to prevailing social norms and values, grounded in established systems of knowledge, leverage institutional authority for decisive action, and foreground shared social experiences.

https://dx.doi.org/10.56279/ummaj.v12i2.4