Task name: The Media

Group number: 6

Group members:

• ARNEDO, Pía María Luján

• CAMPOS, Paula Soledad
• MORÓN, Cintia Graciela
• NIEVA, Paula
• ROMERO, Diana Gabriela
• ZELAYA, María del Milagro
STORM OPHELIA, A TWO-PART MEDIA USE

One of the areas that Critical Discourse Analysis explores is the Media,
and its influence on individuals´ perceptions of the world cannot be understated.
As noted in “Language Society and Power”, the media´s linguistic power lies in
the ability to shape the representation of people and events: “....one of the most
important and interesting aspects of the potential power of the media from a
linguistic point of view is the way that people and events get reported” (Thomas
et al., 2004, p. 58). Accordingly, this analysis focuses on two news reports
detailing the impact of Storm Ophelia, employing a rhetorical perspective to
explore the nuances of tone, vocabulary, and their implications on public
representation. Analysing the linguistic choices made in these reports aims to
elucidate how they contribute to the construction of meaning and influence
audience perceptions. It is essential to recognise that while media language may
convey ideological biases, audiences are not passive recipients of information.
Thus, the analysis seeks to unravel the complex interplay between media
discourse and audience reception.

Initially, the use of different vocabulary to display different tones in their

news reports can be observed. While both newspapers report on the same event,
they use different rhetorical strategies to appeal to their respective audiences.
The Independent focuses on providing comprehensive information and analysis,
for example, “In Glasgow, part of the derelict block of flats already earmarked for
partial demolition collapsed…” (Independent, 2017); while The Sun emphasises
human interest stories and emotional engagement, as it expresses in “At one
point, more than 360,000 homes lost power with the tragic stories of three victims
who lost their lives…” (The Sun, 2017). The Independent develops the aspects
that affected the community and the material consequences of the storm, as in
“Ireland experienced…winds of almost 100 mph damaging electricity…”
(Independent, 2017). In contrast, The Sun shows the use of emotionally charged
words or phrases to evoke a particular response from the audience, namely,
phrases such as “TRAIL OF DEATH…” (The Sun, 2017) in the title, using the
upper case to focus the attention on the human casualties. Besides the difference
in vocabulary, The Sun displays plenty of pictures of the damages made by the
storm, among which there are pictures of the human casualties; additionally, it
uses quotes from people who knew the deceased to shock or provoke a reaction
of the audience.

What is more, each newspaper's background was investigated to

understand better the form in which the information is presented. The Sun
recognised for its conservative editorial posture and inclination to ratify this
political position, aims to engage readers through emotional appeal. At the same
time, the Independent, an online tabloid newspaper, maintains independence
from any specific political party affiliation by being neutral and analytically
focusing on delivering comprehensive and objective information. On the one
hand, The Sun often quotes statements from right-wing political figures, such as
members of the Fine Gael party and former Prime Minister Theresa May, who”
expressed her sympathies for the loss of life and said then UK government stood
ready to provide any support if requested” (The Sun, 2017), showing its political
affiliation to support its narratives. On the contrary, The Independent tends to
maintain a more neutral stance, refraining from direct political endorsements or
affiliations in its reporting and focusing more on the situation itself. The difference
in addressing this issue can be noticed in how it refrains from using quotations
expressing the same information in the following statement: “The Prime Minister
Theresa May spoke to her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Monday afternoon
to offer support” (Independent, 2017).

Through careful examination, it is observed how subtle nuances in word

choices and the presentation of information can produce contrasting linguistic
representations of the same piece of information. Moreover, it is also noticed how
politics is involved in certain media outlets and how it can shape the news
vocabulary, highlight the pervasive influence of ideology in news reporting. As
active participants in media consumption, readers must remain vigilant and
discerning, seeking diverse sources and perspectives to form a more
comprehensive understanding of events. In essence, the analysis of media
discourse serves as a reminder of the dynamic relationship between language,
power, and representation.
BIBLIOGRAFIA

• Higgings, A. and Mooney, A. (2017, October 17). TRAIL OF

DEATH Hurricane Ophelia leaves three dead, tears down buildings
and leaves thousands without power. The Sun.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4699969/hurricane-ophelia-three-
dead-buildings-damaged-power-cuts-latest/
• Independent Digital News and Media. (2017, October 17). Storm
Ophelia leaves 245,000 without power in Ireland. The Independent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/storm-
ophelia-latest-uk-winds-flooding-rain-hurricane-weather-dead-
update-a8004281.html
• THOMAS, L., WAREING, S., SINGH, I., PECCEI, J. S.,
THORNORROW, J., & JONES, J. (2004). Language, Society and
Power: An Introduction (I. SINGH & J. S. Peccei, Eds.; 2nd ed.).
Routledge. (Original work published 1999).