METHODS OF MEDIA RESEARCH MICHAEL MICHAEL (363916) SEBASTIAN HOFMANN (361958) A Critical Discourse Analysis of two American newspapers

articles about Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

1.

Introduction

To begin with, the theme of this study revolves around a topical issue, that is the ongoing demonstrations of the Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA, which consists of an aggregate of citizens protesting against social and economical inequality as well as the influential power of corporations over politics and most importantly democracy. The battle is then taking place between citizens, lobbyists or lay people who criticize the current status quo and claim their self as the have nots vis--vis the haves (i.e.: government and corporations who possess the wealth). The common denominator of this grassroots movement is its left-oriented origins which contrasts the neo-liberal principles of Republicans. Two articles were drawn from news outlets that have an oppositional ideological stance. On the one hand, Government Holiday a Boon for Occupy Wall Street Protesters was extracted from Fox News (www.foxnews.com) which represents and serves Republican ideals. On the other hand, the latter article was traced from The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com) which serves predominantly liberal interests. Fox News, known to be more supportive of neo-liberal politics, reports about the expected increase in protesters due to a national holiday, and the way their article presents this correlation is very interesting for Critical Discourse Analysis: The seemingly unbiased assumption that due to a national holiday the numbers of protesters may temporarily increase is formulated in a way that provides the reader not only with the information, but with implicit (and yet at times very explicit) commentary about the situation, as well as the Occupy Wall Street movement as a whole. The analysis therefore might be able to illuminate the way objective facts are spun in favor of a single point of view, and how this perspective is (blatantly as well as implicitly) transported in the text. On the other hand, the latter article, although its title suggests an unbiased and balanced stance, it does safeguard the interests of demonstrators by representing actively their voice through a series of
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testimonials (verbal reaction) and other schemas (lexical cohesion). However, the findings ultimately reveal that the article implicitly and tactically strives to undermine Obamas political role. A meaningful objective of this research is to define how protesters and politicians are portrayed in each newspaper and determine which group is depicted as the powerful and powerless in each case. Since protestors are self-conceived as the 99% which in turn signifies a gap in wealth in comparison with the top 1% (i.e.: the wealthy elite), the theme of both articles underline such concepts as power, inequality and struggle which are epitomized by Marxs Conflict theory. Giddens (2009) argues that conflict perspectives tend to regard society as an organism composed of different groups pursuing their own interests. The existence of separate interests entails the potential of conflict and means that some groups will benefit more than others. Hence, the employment of critical discourse analysis is paramount in uncovering the representational properties of discourse as a vehicle for the exercise of power, an approach exemplifying Foucault (Bryman, 2008: 508). In doing so, the study employs four types of analysis (i.e.: transitivity, thematic, lexical cohesion and macro-structure) to appropriately meet the methodological standards of Critical discourse analysis as a scientific research tool. 2. A comparative analysis of the two sample texts

The transitivity analysis in Text 1 (see Table 1) revealed a great inequality regarding the centre of attention between protesters and political parties/politicians/large organizations within the article. Protesters are the textual participant in only four out of 17 cases, while the majority of textual actors consist out of unions and political parties. This gives an idea about the point of view taken by the author, portraying the protests as negatively affecting bigger (and thereby implicitly implied; more important) organizations. The thematic analysis (see Table 2) supports this argument. On the contrary, in the latter text, there is a profound representation of demonstrators and activists as the main actors or sayers against those in power (e.g.: American government). For instance, a glance at table 5 reveals that demonstrators are frequently established as the main participants and the verbs that follow in the process column have a rather negative connotation (e.g.: disgusted, is a lot worse, are cutting, accuse, blamed, etc) in relation to the participants that are receiving the attribution or action. Transitivity analysis for Text 2 implies the agency of demonstrators and their active role (either as actors or sayers) in criticizing politicians and corporations for their capitalistic greed. Similarly, thematic analysis (see

table 6) foregrounds the collective political mobilization of citizens regardless ideology (Wall Street protesters, Tea Party activists, Republicans, etc) as unified front against Obama. Taking a closer look at the lexical cohesion of Text 1 (see Table 3) article brought an interesting connection to light: By constantly putting the holiday in strong context with any increase in numbers of protesters, the article implies that without the aforementioned holiday, the amount of protesters would at best stagnate. The implicit meaning of this is that people only turn to protesters when they have nothing more important (like going to work), or better to do, portraying protesting as a sort of free time activity by people with too much time on their hands (see Table 3i). Nonetheless, in Text 2, lexical cohesion analysis underlines an anti-Obama motif, and it may be interpreted as a continuum of the overall effort as presented in the previous cases to blame the government for the whole situation and ultimately construct this fact as a reality. Obama as seen in Table 7i, is multiply used in many clauses. Conversely, Table 7 ii exhibits an attempt to emphasize on the one hand the adverse situation that middle class confronts, and on the other hand the intense mobilization on behalf of ordinary people against the dominant elites. Therefore, lexical choices generally allude to everydayness and lay people. These recurrent patterns are very meaningful and vital for the purpose of our study given that by directing peoples attention to certain ideas, and repeating the key information, especially if this well crafted, the potential for creating the desired awareness is developed. (Lull, 2000). Moreover, the protestors in Text 1 are further discredited by connecting them to a well-known, comedian turned reality TV show star, Roseanne Bar, who is supporting the movement. The commentary is expressed by the use of an exclamation mark in brackets, ((!)), blatantly suggesting an inherent ridiculousness to this fact. (This ridiculousness is further enhanced be calling the protesters purported Robespierres, ironically connecting them to one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution.) The aim of the protesters is furthermore portrayed as dangerous, connecting the protests to a revolution, implying major societal change, massive civil unrest, chaos, anarchy and violence as part of the movements goals, thereby potentially scaring the reader about the potential consequences of Occupy Wall Street (see Table 3ii). The macro-structure analysis helped in determining the ratio between implicit and explicit commentary (see Table 4). The times (indirect) speech is used consist of one statement in favour of the protesters (an expression of anxiety and frustration among the unemployed., Sentence 5) and two statements supporting an anti-protest position (are dangerous anti-capitalists / Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs, Sentence 6). Three out of the eleven sentences contain explicit commentary, while three
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different sentences implicitly portray the connection between the national holiday and an expected increase in protester numbers as described above, bringing the combined number of non-neutral sentences to six out of eleven. On the other hand, the macro-structure patterns in Text 2 (see Table 8) demonstrate an endevour to blame the political factor, specifically President Obama - apart from the corporate factor - for the adverse status quo. Although, textually the article contains elements of a news report as it exhibits factual events at intervals (Paragraphs 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14) nevertheless, the verbal reactions incorporated come to reinforce what the commentary or event previously stated aimed at communicating. Apparently, this is strategically conducted to attribute more credibility to the action of blaming Obama. Take for instance paragraph one. The columnist suggests that protesters are not merely condemning Wall Street but also the Government, and then what follows in paragraph two is a testimonial from an ordinary person apparently a victim of this situation as he is stated as unemployed- who expresses that his social class is in a less advantageous position than when Obama was elected. Besides, we can identify a pastiche of news reports and stories. In some cases, while some parts of the text could be classified as facts, nonetheless, certain words communicated a sense of dramatic dialogue, hence communicating bias. Examples of these are highlighted in the second line of paragraph one, first line of paragraph 4, second line of paragraph 5.

3.

Conclusion Response to the Research Question

Content Discourse Analysis was in conclusion a very efficient method of illustrating how Fox News warrants and (explicitly as well as implicitly) delivers its anti Occupy Wall Street position to its readers. The analysis revealed how the argument against the Occupy Wall Street movement is constructed from a conservative, right-wing, point of view. The agenda of the protesters, namely to bring attention to the inequalities in distribution of wealth, are discredited by simultaneously ridiculing and exaggerating their actions. The portrayal of protesters as would-be Robbespierres and dangerous anti-capitalists could be considered as contradictory, but in the end follows the same agenda, namely to convince the reader to not sympathize with Occupy Wall Street. Therefore my findings can be considered to represent one side of the current political and social discourse regarding the regulation of financial markets, supporting the position of Republicans, who favour less government interference and free markets. On the contrary, Text 2 vividly mirrors the current inflamed
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social status quo in America but also in other international locales whereby similar versions of Occupy uprisings take place against those who undermine social equality. The fact that grassroots is frequently given voice reveals the empowerment that citizens currently possess but also their indignation towards the Government which is represented as passive and impotent. Transitivity, thematic and lexical cohesion analyses also demonstrate that the exploitation of the powerless by the powerful concerns citizens holistically.

References:

Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Giddens, A. (2009). Sociology (6th ed.). Cambridge: Polity. Lull, J. (2000). Media, Communication, Culture: A Global Approach. Cambridge: Polity. Noveck, J. (2011, October). Protesters Want World to Know Theyre Just Like Us. Long Island Press. Retrieved from http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/10/10/protesters-want-world-to-know-theyrejust-like-us-2/ Appendices:
Table 1: Transitivity analysis of Text 1 S/N PARTICIPANT PROCESS 1 Organizors [Demonstrators] {Actor} 2 private-sector employers {Senser} 3 federal, state and local governments as well as many school districts {Behaver} 4 government-worker unions {Carrier} 5 the holiday{Actor} are looking to capitalize on {Verbal} observe {Mental: Perception} are {Relational: attribution}

PARTICIPANT Mainstream Democratic political leaders Columbus Day closed

6 Large unions {Carrier} 7 Large unions {Actor}

8 organizers and their political supporters {Sayer}

are {Relational: attribution} could provide a major boost {Material: action} are dominated {Relational: attribution} have been increasingly driving (Material: action} believe {Mental: Cognition} 5

the backbone of the protests to the Occupy Wall Street movement. by government employees the protests and their messages counterweight to the [...] energy of the Tea Party movement.

9 Democrats {Sayer} 10 Republicans {Sayer} 11 Majority Leader Eric Cantor {Sayer} 12 would-be movement leaders {Sayer} 13 Power Play {Actor} 14 Power Play {Actor}

have been suggesting {Verbal} Have suggested {Verbal} Called them {Verbal} have been calling {Verbal} has interacted {Material: action} observed {Mental: Cognition} fear (Mental: affection} are being squeezed {Relational: attributive} try to gird themselves {Relational: attribution}

the unemployed dangerous anti-capitalists mobs for revolution with some of these purported Robespierres most were similar to the government-union sympathy protesters Republican government cutters on all levels for next years conflicts

15 they [activists] {Behaver} 16 Government unions {Carrier} 17 President Obama and his allies {Actor}

Table 2: Thematic Analysis of Text 1

S/N Textual Interpersonal Topical 1 2 3 While 4 Organizers of anticorporate protests todays federal holiday far fewer privatesector employers federal, state and local governments government-worker unions the holiday Large unions like the SEIU and AFLCIO Rheme are looking to capitalize on growing support could be just the boost they need. observe Columbus Day as a paid holiday are closed today

5 Since 6 7

are now the backbone of the protests Could provide a major boost to the Occupy Wall Street movement. are dominated by government employees

8 9 so 10 todays holiday Democrats

11 Meanwhile

Republicans 6

have been increasingly driving the protests Could be key in getting the kind of attention have been suggesting that the protests are an expression of anxiety and frustration among the unemployed. have suggested that the protesters are dangerous anti-capitalists

12 13

14 15 16 17 As 18

Majority Leader Eric called them mobs Cantor would-be have been calling for revolution movement leaders like Van Jones and Roseanne Barr (!) Power Play has interacted with some of these purported Robespierres Government unions are being squeezed on all levels Others singled out Obama President Obama try to gird themselves for next years and his allies conflicts it will be important to cultivate this kind of negative enthusiasm in advance of the next election.

Table 3: Lexical Cohesion of Text 1

i)

Holiday motif:

Organizers of anti-corporate protests around the country are looking to capitalize on growing support from mainstream Democratic political leaders and todays federal holiday could be just the boost they need. While far fewer private-sector employers observe Columbus Day as a paid holiday, federal, state and local governments as well as many school districts are closed today Since government-worker unions are now the backbone of the protests, the holiday could provide a major boost to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Large unions like the SEIU and AFL-CIO, which are dominated by government employees, have been increasingly driving the protests and their messages, so todays holiday could be key in getting the kind of attention organizers and their political supporters believe could provide a counterweight to the anti-government energy of the Tea Party movement.

ii)

Occupy Wall Street is not a legitimate movement:

Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested that the protesters are dangerous anti-capitalists (Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs), giving credence to the claims of would-be movement
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leaders like Van Jones and Roseanne Barr (!) who have been calling for revolution.

Power Play has interacted with some of these purported Robespierres over the past week in Washington and observed that while some were freelancers (like the guy with the sign deploring the high price and low quality of current movie-theater offerings), most were similar to the governmentunion sympathy protesters who demonstrated in Washington during the fight over Wisconsins collective bargaining law at the beginning of the year.

Table 4: Macro-structure Analysis of Text 1 (including numbering of sentences) Government Holiday a Boon for Occupy Wall Street Protesters [HEADLINE] By Chris Stirewalt [BYLINE] (1) Organizers of anti-corporate protests around the country are looking to capitalize on growing support from mainstream Democratic political leaders and todays federal holiday could be just the boost they need. [LEAD] (2) While far fewer private-sector employers observe Columbus Day as a paid holiday, federal, state and local governments as well as many school districts are closed today. [BACKGROUND] (3) Since government-worker unions are now the backbone of the protests, the holiday could provide a major boost to the Occupy Wall Street movement. [BACKGROUND] (4) Large unions like the SEIU and AFL-CIO, which are dominated by government employees, have been increasingly driving the protests and their messages, so todays holiday could be key in getting the kind of attention organizers and their political supporters believe could provide a counterweight to the anti-government energy of the Tea Party movement. [MAIN EVENT] (5) Democrats have been suggesting that the protests are an expression of anxiety and frustration among the unemployed. [DD/EXPLANATION] (6) Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested that the protesters are dangerous anti-capitalists (Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs), giving credence to the claims of would-be movement leaders like Van Jones and Roseanne Barr (!) who have been calling for revolution.[DD/EXPLANATION/COMMENTARY] (7) Power Play has interacted with some of these purported Robespierres over the past week in Washington and observed that while some were freelancers (like the guy with the sign deploring the high price and low quality of current movie-theater offerings), most were similar to the governmentunion sympathy protesters who demonstrated in Washington during the fight over Wisconsins collective bargaining law at the beginning of the year.[BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY] (8) Its not that theyre unemployed, its that they fear they will be if Republican government cutters get their way. [EVALUATIVE EVENT] (9) Government unions are being squeezed on all levels after decades of boom times. [BACKGROUND] (10) They are also the most important part of the Democratic base. [EXPLANATION] (11) As President Obama and his allies try to gird themselves for next years conflicts, it will be important to cultivate this kind of negative enthusiasm in advance of the next election. [COMMENTARY/ EVALUATIVE EVENT]

Table 5
Transitivity analysis of Text 2 S/N PARTICIPANT 1 Their chief target [Demonstrators] {Actor} 2 Demonstrators in New York and across the U.S. {Actor} 3 The middle class {Sayer} 4 The Occupy Wall street movement [] {Actor} 5 Demonstrators {Actor} 6 Tea Party activists { } 7 Occupy Wall Street protesters {Actor} 8 Obama on Thursday {Senser} 9 He (Obama) {Sayer} 10 The protesters {Actor} 11 Republicans {Actor} 12 Mitt Romney and Herman Cain {Sayer} 13 All the Republican contenders {Actor} 14 They [Republican contenders ] {Sayer} 15 Some [activists] {Sayer} 16 Others [activists] {Sayer} 17 He [President Obama] {Actor}

PROCESS is {Relational: identification} thoroughly disgusted with {Mental: affection} is a lot worse {attribution} has drawn {verbal} marched {Material: action} became {Existential} are cutting {Material: action} acknowledged {Mental: perception} pinned {Verbal} are giving {Relational: attribution} have resisted {Material: action} have criticized {Verbal} have pushed back {Material: action} accuse {Verbal} blamed {Verbal} singled out {Verbal} has been overlooking {Verbal}

PARTICIPANT Wall Street Washington than when Obama was elected a wide variety of activists Thursday in Philadelphia a crucial part of the Repeblican coalition President Barack Obama little slack the economic insecurities fueling Wall Street protests. on the financial industry and on congressional Republicans voice to a more broad-based frustration such tax increases the anti-Wall Street protests against the demonization of Wall Street the Obama admonistration Republicans for blocking reform Obama jobs

Table 6
Thematic analysis of Text 2 S/N 1 2 Textual Interpersonal Topical Rheme

Chief target is Wall Street Demonstrators also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington, blaming politicians of both major parties 9

The middle class

But while

10

11

12

13

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is a lot worse than when Obama was elected," said John Penley, an unemployed legal worker from Brooklyn. The Occupy drawn a wide Wall Street variety of activists, movement including union members and laidoff workers Demonstrators marched Thursday in Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Anchorage, Alaska, carrying signs with slogans such as "Get money out of politics" and "I can't afford a lobbyist." Tea party eventually became a crucial part of activists the Republican coalition, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little slack Occupy Wall are cutting President Barack Obama Street little slack. They say Obama failed to protesters crack down on the banks after the 2008 mortgage meltdown and financial crisis Obama acknowledged the economic insecurities fueling the nearly 3week-old Wall Street protests He pinned responsibility on the financial industry and on congressional Republicans he says have blocked his efforts to kick-start job growth Protesters are giving voice to a more broad-based frustration about how our financial system works Republicans have resisted such tax increases GOP have criticized presidential the anti-Wall candidates Street protests All the also pushed Republican back against the contenders demonization of Wall Street They accuse the Obama administration of setting regulatory policies that 10

15

While

some

16 17 But

Others He

have stifled job creation blamed Republicans for blocking reform singled out Obama he has been overlooking jobs and not putting much effort into

Table 7: Lexical Cohesion of Text 2

i)

Anti-Obama motif:

Also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington. At this point I dont see any difference between George Bush and Obama, The middle class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected. The Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little slack. They say Obama failed to crack down on the banks. They accuse the Obama administration of setting regulatory policies that have stifled job creation. Activists expressed deep frustration with the political gridlock in Washington. While some others blamed Republicans for blocking reform, others singled out Obama. Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer, didnt watch Obamas news conference

ii)

Pro-activists and working class people motif:

For policies they say protect corporate America at the expense of the middle class. The middle class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected," said John Penley, an unemployed legal worker from Brooklyn. Drawn a wide variety of activists, including union members and laid-off workers. In a populist reaction against the bank and auto bailouts. But while tea party activists eventually became a crucial part of the Republican coalition.
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Thorin Caristo, an antiques store owner from Plainfield, Conn. Robert Arnow, a retired real estate worker. Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer.

Table 8: Macro-structure Analysis of Text 2 Occupy Wall Street Protesters Fed Up With Both Parties [HEADLINE] [1] NEW YORK -- Their chief target is Wall Street, but many of the demonstrators in New York and across the U.S. also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington, blaming politicians of both major parties for policies they say protect corporate America at the expense of the middle class. [EVALUATIVE EVENT/DD] [2] "At this point I don't see any difference between George Bush and Obama. The middle class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected," said John Penley, an unemployed legal worker from Brooklyn. [VERBAL REACTION] [3] The Occupy Wall Street movement, which began last month with a small number of young people pitching a tent in front of the New York Stock Exchange, has expanded nationally and drawn a wide variety of activists, including union members and laid-off workers. [BACKGROUND/EVENT] [4] Demonstrators marched Thursday in Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Anchorage, Alaska, carrying signs with slogans such as "Get money out of politics" and "I can't afford a lobbyist." [EVENT/ORIENTATION/DD] [5] The protests are in some ways the liberal flip side of the tea party movement, which was launched in 2009 in a populist reaction against the bank and auto bailouts and the $787 billion economic stimulus plan. [COMMENTARY] [6] But while tea party activists eventually became a crucial part of the Republican coalition, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little slack. They say Obama failed to crack down on the banks after the 2008 mortgage meltdown and financial crisis. [COMMENTARY] [7] "He could have taken a much more populist, aggressive stance at the beginning against Wall Street bonuses, and exacting certain change from bailing out the banks," said Michael Kazin, a Georgetown University history professor and author of "American Dreamers," a history of the left. "But ultimately, the economy has not gotten much better, and that's underscored the frustration on both the right and the left." [VERBAL REACTION] [8] Obama on Thursday acknowledged the economic insecurities fueling the nearly 3-week-old Wall Street protests. But he pinned responsibility on the financial industry and on congressional Republicans he says have blocked his efforts to kick-start job growth. [EVENT/DD] [9] "I think people are frustrated and the protesters are giving voice to a more broad-based frustration about how our financial system works," he said at a nationally televised news conference. "The American people understand that not everybody has been following the rules, that Wall Street is an example of that ... and that's going to express itself politically in 2012 and beyond." [VERBAL REACTION] [10] The president has been pushing for a $443 billion jobs plan to be paid for in part through a tax on the wealthy. Republicans have resisted such tax increases. [EVENT]
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[11] GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Herman Cain have criticized the anti-Wall Street protests. [EVENT] [12]All the Republican contenders have also pushed back against the demonization of Wall Street. They accuse the Obama administration of setting regulatory policies that have stifled job creation and say his health care overhaul will prevent many businesses from hiring new workers. [EVENT] [13] In Zuccotti Park, the center of the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York [ORIENTATION] [14] Activists expressed deep frustration with the political gridlock in Washington. [EVENT/DD] [15] While some blamed Republicans for blocking reform, others singled out Obama. [EVENT] [16] "His message is that he's sticking to the party line, which is `we are taking care of the situation.' But he's not proposing any solutions," said Thorin Caristo, an antiques store owner from Plainfield, Conn. [VERBAL REACTION] [17] But Robert Arnow, a retired real estate worker, said the Republicans need to tell their congressional leaders, "You're standing in the way of change." [VERBAL REACTION] [18] Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer, didn't watch Obama's news conference even though it was broadcast on TV monitors at the protest site in New York. [EVALUATIVE EVENT] [19] "He's a cool president, but he was given a hard task," Cayasso said. "He should get some gratitude for what he's done so far, but he's been overlooking jobs and not putting much effort into that until now." [VERBAL REACTION]

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