The present study endeavours to investigate the effects of journalistic discourse on the perception of reality. More precisely, it attempts to demonstrate how different ways to ‘report’ the same events may lead to different constructions of social reality. The major aim of this research is to depict the strategies used by AlJazeera and NileTV during their coverage of the events of the Egyptian revolution of the 25th January 2011, the ideological purposes behind the use of these strategies and how they end up constructing different versions of reality. In this regard, Critical Discourse Analysis is used as a method of analysis, to uncover the ways social realities are constructed discursively via the news media. This research paper is organized as follows: the first chapter presents the major concepts related to the functionalist view of discourse, as well as all the key concepts related to journalistic discourse, namely, capitalism, power, ideology, hegemony, journalism, objectivity, discursive practices, propaganda, audience and headlines. The second chapter presents the research methodology, which involves the purpose, the rationale, the research questions and hypotheses, as well as the pilot study and the methods of data collection and analysis. Finally the third chapter presents the analysis of fourteen headlines from both the English and Arabic versions of the websites of AlJazeera and NileTV on their coverage of the Egyptian revolution (25th of January 2011)
Table of Contents
1. General Introduction
2. Chapter One: Review of Literature
2.1 1.0 Introduction
2.2 1.1 Critical Discourse analysis
2.2.1 1.1.1 Discourse
2.2.2 1.1.2 Capitalism
2.2.3 1.1.3 Power
2.2.4 1.1.4 Ideology
2.2.5 1.1.5 Hegemony
2.3 1.2 Journalism
2.3.1 1.2.1 Objectivity in Journalism
2.3.2 1.2.2 Discursive Practices of Journalism
2.3.3 1.2.3 Audience
2.3.4 1.2.4 Propaganda
2.3.5 1.2.5 Headlines
2.4 1.3 Conclusion
3. Chapter Two: Methodology
3.1 2.0 Introduction
3.2 2.1 Purpose
3.3 2.2 Rationale
3.4 2.3 Study Design
3.4.1 2.3.1 Pilot Study
3.4.2 2.3.2 The Study
3.4.2.1 2.3.2.1 The Data
3.4.2.1.1 2.3.2.1.1 Methods of Data Collection
3.4.2.1.2 2.3.2.1.2 Methods of Data Analysis
3.4.2.1.3 2.3.2.1.3 Critical Discourse Analysis as a Method
3.4.2.1.3.1 2.3.2.1.3 A) Lexical Analysis
3.4.2.1.3.2 2.3.2.1.3 B) Rhetorical Analysis
3.4.2.1.3.3 2.3.2.1.3 C) Syntactical Analysis
3.5 2.4 Conclusion
4. Chapter Three: News-Media and Transformation of Reality during the Egyptian Revolution
4.1 3.0 Introduction
4.2 3.1 Lexical Choice as a Discourse Strategy in the Journalistic Discourse of NileTV and AlJazeera
4.2.1 3.1.1 Choice of words and its impact on the representation of events
4.2.2 3.1.2 Naming, as a referential strategy to serve social and political purposes
4.3 3.2 The role of Rhetorical Tropes in the Construction of Social Reality
4.3.1 3.2.1 Metaphor as a rhetorical strategy for persuading the audience
4.3.2 3.2.2 Metonymy as a rhetorical strategy for concealing responsibility
4.4 3.3 Transitivity as a Syntactic Strategy and its Role in the Construction of Different Versions of Reality
4.5 3.4 Discussion
4.6 3.5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This research investigates how journalistic discourse shapes the perception of reality, focusing on the strategies employed by AlJazeera and NileTV during the 2011 Egyptian revolution to construct differing versions of the same events through critical discourse analysis.
- Analysis of lexical choices in journalistic headlines.
- The role of rhetorical tropes in constructing social reality.
- Transitivity as a syntactic strategy for agency representation.
- Ideological implications of news media discourse in capitalist societies.
- Comparison of NileTV and AlJazeera coverage strategies.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1 Choice of words and its impact on the representation of events.
The analysis of words and their particularity is always the first stage to go through in any analysis of journalistic discourse. Words convey connoted as well as denoted meaning, and their choice is very important for the construction of social reality. An illustrative example is extract 1.
Extract 1: 2Al 9owat 2al mosa’lla7ah towa:silo juhu:daha lil9abD 3ala 2al 3anasir 2al 2ijera:miyah wa motirat 2achaGhab (The Armed forces continue their efforts to catch criminal elements and troublemakers) - Nile TV
Extract 1 is a headline produced by state-run TV channel NileTV during the very first days of the Egyptian revolution. It is very clear from the very first reading that there is a clear intention to identify some people as criminal elements (2al 3anasr 2al 2ijera:miyah) and troublemakers (motirat 2achaGhab). From the context, we know that Egypt was going through some very important events of its revolution (several manifestations against President Mubarak and his government were taking place) yet, in extract 1 the people who have started these events are mostly seen as criminals and troublemakers. Suppose someone reads this headline without knowing what was going on in Egypt, what he/she will understand is that the events going on in Egypt are the deeds of criminals and troublemakers and will therefore be perceived negatively, since criminals and troublemakers can only do bad stuff. Also, the use of the word “3anasir” (elements) which is a word normally with non-human association is significant, for it is used to talk about matters and components. This lexical strategy may be used to make these people seem inferior, that is only elements, thus minimizing their possible impact on people, who will think of them as being inferior. In other words, we understand from the context that the protesters are described as being “criminals” and “troublemakers” and that the national-run TV was trying to limit the possible influence of these people on the population, representing them as being bad people, who are not to be trusted.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter One: Review of Literature: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundations of the study by exploring key concepts such as Critical Discourse Analysis, ideology, power, hegemony, and the discursive practices of journalism.
Chapter Two: Methodology: This chapter outlines the research design, detailing the purpose, rationale, pilot study, and the specific methods of data collection and critical discourse analysis applied to the selected headlines.
Chapter Three: News-Media and Transformation of Reality during the Egyptian Revolution: This chapter applies critical discourse analysis to specific headlines from NileTV and AlJazeera, demonstrating how lexical choices, rhetorical tropes, and transitivity are strategically used to construct competing versions of reality during the Egyptian revolution.
Keywords
Critical Discourse Analysis, Journalism, Egyptian Revolution, Social Reality, Ideology, Power, Hegemony, NileTV, AlJazeera, Lexical Choice, Rhetorical Tropes, Transitivity, Propaganda, Media Discourse, Discursive Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research examines the relationship between journalistic discourse and the construction of social reality, specifically investigating how media organizations use linguistic strategies to frame political events.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The work covers critical discourse analysis, the intersection of media and power, ideological influence in journalism, and the strategic use of language to shape public perception.
What is the primary objective of this paper?
The aim is to demonstrate how news outlets like AlJazeera and NileTV strategically utilize language to report the 2011 Egyptian revolution, thereby constructing distinct and often ideologically driven versions of reality.
Which methodology is employed in the analysis?
The study adopts Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), focusing on lexical, rhetorical, and syntactical levels to uncover hidden ideological agendas in news headlines.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body reviews relevant theories on discourse and journalism, describes the methodological approach, and provides a comparative analysis of headlines from two specific news organizations.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Critical Discourse Analysis, media bias, ideological framing, transitivity, and rhetorical strategies in journalism.
How does the author define the role of "Metonymy" in news reporting?
The author argues that metonymy is a rhetorical trope used by journalists to conceal agency and responsibility, allowing media outlets to obscure the true actors behind specific actions, such as violence or political statements.
What is the significance of the "Transitivity" analysis performed in chapter three?
Transitivity analysis is used to identify how actions are represented in text—specifically who performs an action and who is affected by it—thereby showing how journalists can assign or obscure responsibility for events like protests or clashes.
How does NileTV's reporting differ from AlJazeera's according to the analysis?
The analysis indicates that NileTV often framed protesters as "criminals" to support the regime, whereas AlJazeera frequently framed supporters of the regime as "thugs" and "paid actors," each using language to reinforce their respective ideological narratives.
- Quote paper
- Amine Zidouh (Author), 2011, News-Media and Transformation of Reality during the Egyptian Revolution, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/192306
