Keywords:
Critical discourse analysis, media, Arab Spring
Abstract
The present study examines the representation of the Arab Spring in the American imprint media. The study analyzes principally from a critical discourse analysis approach how journalists employ discursive strategies and linguistic devices which may serve their own ideology and agenda in their news coverage of the Arab Spring. The analysis of newspapers suggests that the media’s representation of Arabs and Muslims is saturated with discourses related to the ideology of Orientalism. In fact, a number of Orientalist themes appear in the majority of texts. The preliminary and common themes found in the coverage of the Arab Spring are that of violence in the Arab world (negative other – representation), Islamophobia (Islam as a threat), and Western superiority in comparison with Arabs (positive selfrepresentation). The results show that the American media coverage of the Arab Spring was biased and unjust. Besides, there is a reinforcement of the stereotypes by which the Orient is viewed.
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References
Main sources: Newspaper Articles
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• Beth Sheridan, Mary. “U.S. launches campaign to track down Libyan missiles.” The Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2011,
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• Boorstein, Michelle. “Egypt's uprising stirs fears of persecution of minority Coptic Christians.” The Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2011,
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• Famin, Kareem. “Surge in Syrian Killings Is Reported Before Visit.” The NewYork Times, 21 Dec. 2011,
• Goodman, David. “Bahrain Protesters Clash With Police Near Capital After Teenager’s Funeral.” The NewYork Times, 7 Oct. 2011,
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• Ignatius, David. “What Obama must do following his Middle East speech.” The Washington Post, 19 May. 2011,
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022203763.html
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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/world/africa/27qaddafi.htm
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• Saltmarsh, Matehew. “Western Finance Bodies Face Challenges in Funding Arab Spring Countries.” The NewYork Times, 21 Sept. 2011,
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• ---. “White House presses Egypt’s leaders to speed up reforms.” The Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2011,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/white-house presses-egypts-leaders-to-speed-upreforms/2011/11/23/gIQAjZjupNstory html?utm_term=.e7e67044031b
• Young, Karen De. “Bahrain admits to ‘excessive force’ against protesters.” The Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2011,
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