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A Critical Discourse Analysis of Stance Expressions in Crisis Reportage

Abstract

This chapter explores the dynamics of the relationship between social crises and the discourse of mass media reportage, particularly, newspaper reports. The tenet of objectivity traditionally upheld by the mass media probably lends credence to their perceived credibility among the masses they communicate to. Hence, the masses in any society most likely consider news reports as valid accounts of events. For this reason, the mass media have gained reputation as the mouthpiece of the society. Notwithstanding, news may be influenced by the respective ideological perspectives of individual journalists, or even the different media organisations which they represent (Cluluwa, 2011). It is arguably true that language is one of the major tools employed by the mass media in information dissemination to various audiences. Discursive choices made in communication are likely consequential on the perception of message by the audience. Especially, when the news being reported is about crises or unpleasant events, it may be likely that holistic objectivity may not be realised, and implicit stance,taking may be observed in the news discourse produced for mass consumption by the media. This study therefore examines the discursive forms and patterns that the mass media employ when reporting socio,political crises since prevailing social conditions considerably influence properties of discourse, that is, discourse is able to represent, produce and reproduce social reality (Fairclough, 1989; Richardson, 2007). Discourse is generally used to refer to any coherent form of language use. In the context of this study, discourse refers to news reports

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