Media Construction of the Image of the Immigrant: Specifics of Discourse Strategies (Based on the Content of a Facebook Group and Articles in the Daily Mail)
https://doi.org/10.24833/RJCSC-2022-3-4-18
Abstract
This paper discusses the issue of discursive construction of an immigrant image in media discourse on the basis of the content on the Immigrants in EU Facebook group and Daily Mail publications. Through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the authors claim that the image of the immigrant can be viewed as a discursive construct, and the main discursive strategies involved in its construction include the reference strategy and the prediction strategy. As a result of the analysis, the so called CDA categories (topic blocks) underlying the formation of the immigrant figure, are identified and illustrated through examples, the need for further study of the social media discourse as part of critical discourse analysis is justified. The relevance of such study is due to the growing research interest in discursive construction of the figure of the immigrant in media discourse, since it underpins the definition of discourse as a form of social practice, not only reflecting processes in the society, but also exerting a reciprocal effect on them. The use of both verbal and non-verbal means in the media texts under study reflects the intention of the authors of the messages to use all possible communication channels when constructing the image of the immigrant. The results show that the dichotomy of “friends and foes” is being formed and maintained by the British Daily Mail newspaper, while the members of the Immigrants in EU group try to mitigate the conflict between immigrants and indigenous people.
About the Authors
M. S. Matytsina
Lipetsk State Technical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Marina S. Matytsina
Lipetsk
O. N. Prokhorova
Belgorod State National Research University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga N. Prokhorova
Belgorod
I. V. Chekulai
Belgorod State National Research University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Igor V. Chekulai
Belgorod
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Review
For citations:
Matytsina M.S., Prokhorova O.N., Chekulai I.V. Media Construction of the Image of the Immigrant: Specifics of Discourse Strategies (Based on the Content of a Facebook Group and Articles in the Daily Mail). The Russian Journal of Cultural Studies and Communication. 2022;1(3):4-18. https://doi.org/10.24833/RJCSC-2022-3-4-18
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