A critical discourse analysis of Aljazeera's and the BBC's online coverage of the Arab Spring in Arabic and English March 15 to April 16, 2011

Abstract

This study investigates the online news coverage by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and by Al-Jazeera networks during the second month of the demonstrations of the so-called 'Arab Spring' in the Arab world. It aims to discover how these two broadcasters (the BBC and Aljazeera) presented the news to international English-speaking audiences and Arabic-speaking audiences, and specifically to identify key linguistic structures that journalists employed in constructing and evaluating political Actors and their actions (i.e. , Arab Spring governments and protesters) during that period. This investigation is conducted within the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). It employs two major methods of CDA (see, e.g., Fairclough, 1989, 1992; van Dijk, 1991, 2001) and Amer's analytical framework (2008) to examine key linguistic structures journalists use in constructing political Actors and their actions, and how these contribute towards a particular ideological representation of the demonstrations during the 'Arab Spring'. The data comprises corresponding online news items collected from the BBC and Al-Jazeera websites in English and Arabic languages (from 15 March to 16 April, 2011). The study focuses on 72 English news headlines and their Arabic equivalents as presented by the same broadcaster, and also examines 72 lead paragraphs (opening statements of articles) and their Arabic counterparts. The sites were visited during that period no less than twice a day (in the morning and the evening). News items related to the Middle East demonstrations were collected, printed out and coded. The overview presented in this thesis highlights the findings that specific versions of reality were preferred above others. Linguistic forms and accompanying discursive strategies were implemented to construct qualities of social realities to favour the in-group (in English and Arabic versions); which in this case was the protesters and their backers. At the same time, the out-group, being the government and its support base, were disadvantaged by negative portrayals (in English and Arabic versions). Consequently, the government was classified as the negative 'Other'. While undertaking a discursive analysis of the BBC's and Aljazeera's report headlines and lead paragraphs, it became apparent that systematic linguistic techniques and crafted thematic structures played a powerful and significant role in the negative portrayal of governments (i.e., Actors) and their actions, at the same time transferring real power and initiative to the protesters (i.e., Actors) while positively presenting them and their actions. There was an unmistakable bias by the BBC and Aljazeera against the governments, the reports essentially conveyed the message of governments negatively, and protesters positively. It can thus be asserted that the BBC and Aljazeera reports lacked objectivity but were coloured with subjectivity. They used ideologically laden linguistic devices designed to help selected protesters achieve their aims. This study also aims to provide a useful source for other researchers in this discipline and other areas of study and to contribute to a growing awareness of the role, and indeed necessity, of linguistic analysis of social factors and different media forms. The thesis also provides recommendations for journalists and suggests how further research could build on the present analysis and redress its limitations. The purpose of doing this is to strip away the cover of manipulative, propagandistic or moulding discursive methods, together with identifying the true political objectives and problematic social functions of the discursive practices employed.

Date of Award	2013
Original language	English