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Media , Media , t he bl og t he bl og& pol it ic a l dis c our se& pol it ic a l dis c our se

The first site of analysis is a news article published in the dominion post as an

editorial opinion.It comments on the recent report written by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG),

which highlights the “significant deprivation experienced by one in five

children”.

1. The text• Takes a political stance by opposing the CPAG’s findings & reaffirming solidarity with the national party

• Uses cliches from the past & reworks historical text

• Uses John Key, New Zealand’s most prominent political figure to add power to the statement

• Aligns argument with John Key’s struggle to the top

• akes conclusiakes conclusionsons that appear obvious & ‘acceptable by acceptable by societal norms’ (Fairclough cited in Talbot, in Talbot, AitkiAitkinson, & Aitkinson). A strategy known as the known as the production of common sense.

Establishes common sense by making truthful statements that support National whilst challenging CPAG’s grasp of reality. For example in response to CPAG’S desire to give additional monetary support to those living in poverty, the author writes:

“No amount of money will compensate for a lack of love or encouragement”.

Dominion Post.

2. the production of common sense

The text is coercive because it attempts to sway the opinion of the reader. By using common strategies the author seeks to delegitmise, belittle and undermine the CPAG. Like this for example:

“In fact its members appear to believe that choosing to live on a benefit is just as valid a choice as choosingas choosing to work for a livinga living”.

Dominion Post.

Synonymous words adds strength to the Synonymous words adds strength to the author’s opinion & help prove that the CPAG author’s opinion & help prove that the CPAG are misguided in their opinions.are misguided in their opinions.

3. Coercian

“This cannot be true!”

•“In fact” stresses truth.

•“Appear to believe” false beliefs or fantasy as opposed to legitimate beliefs.

•“Is just as valid” (as the truth)

BBelittling text.

“A balancing exercise is obviously possible, but the group's authors do not suggest that. Instead they simply propose that the Government boost beneficiaries support to the same level as Superannuitants. Oh that it were that easy.”

The Dominion Times

The headline may also be called the macroproposition. As Van Dijk asserts: headlines offer key insights into the meaning of the text & “define the ‘overall’ unity of discourse” (1997).

The macroproposition in this case staunchly colours the text:

(Left behind in the real world)(Left behind in the real world)

3. Macroproposition

• It uses a pun on leftism which may be seen in opposition to Nationals “rightist” stance • It highlights difference, aligning National or Government with capability and common/good-sense and the CPAG as behind, nonsensical and as lacking in reality and therefore capability.• In highlighting difference as Wetherall and Potter term it: “unequal relations of power” are established.

‘Wetherall and Potter’ (1992).

• This ‘oppositional stance’ appears to be the texts main purpose. The strategic use of language adds strength to the Government’s position. By constructing a struggle between Government & the CPAG the text endorses Nationals current work-based policies. Using common sense strategies a picture much like this is produced…

PURPOSE

takes courage and love

and not necessarily

‘benefit handouts’

Hard work will do it!

The long haul from

poverty to “presidency”

5. The use of historic text

““ No amount of money wil l c ompensat e f or a No amount of money wil l c ompensat e f or a l ac k of l ove or enc our agement .l ac k of l ove or enc our agement .

Enc our agement and suppor t c an, however , Enc our agement and suppor t c an, however , do muc hdo muc h

t hat t hat money c annotmoney c annot as Pr ime Minis as Pr ime Minis t er J ohn t er J ohn Key's Key's

widowedwidowed

mot her and mot her and many ot her smany ot her s have have

demons t r a t ed.”demons t r a t ed.”

- The Dominion Pos t ( CPAG ar t ic l e)- The Dominion Pos t ( CPAG ar t ic l e)

• To portray John Key as a heroic figure, To portray John Key as a heroic figure, brought up on love & encouragement, who brought up on love & encouragement, who has risen to the very top despite has risen to the very top despite conditions of poverty— solo parenting. conditions of poverty— solo parenting. Key as the success story.Key as the success story.

• To prove that Key’s cuts to social funding To prove that Key’s cuts to social funding are valid.are valid.

• To portray Key as a humble figure that has To portray Key as a humble figure that has been there, (suffered poverty & been there, (suffered poverty & abandonment or death of his father).abandonment or death of his father).

• To legitimise John Key & prove he’s adept To legitimise John Key & prove he’s adept at dealing with issues of poverty & is in at dealing with issues of poverty & is in touch with the real world. touch with the real world.

• To delegitimise groups that have differing To delegitimise groups that have differing views.views.

• To raise National’s status via comparison.To raise National’s status via comparison.• To promote work.To promote work.

The value of ‘widowed mother’ as historical text

In another news article, historical references to Key’s widowed mother are made. It accompanies a news documentary about his rise to the top. The text from this uses Key’s widowed mother as a reference to his resourcefulness.

“What lies beneath John Key's exterior? At 49 years old, John Key's come a long way. Born in Auckland and raised by a widowed mother in a state house, he went on to claim this country's top job as Prime Minister. But what lies beneath the smile and wave philosophy that's helped take him from MP to PM in just six short years?”

(3 News, June 2011)

http://www.3news.co.nz/What-lies-beneath-John-Keys-exterior/tabid/419/articleID/214701/Default.aspx

Hyperlink to video that spans his poor upbringing to his achievement.

6. Repetition• The repetition of this text through out media enables the author to raise the issue of Key’s ‘widowed mother’ without having to fill the gaps.

• Key’s ‘widowed mother’ is repeatedly found in historical texts as a link between poverty and Key’s ‘work’ to better yourself, political stance and to justify agendas.

• The same text has been linked to state housing issues, the widow’s benefit, the omestic purposes benefit and work ethic.

• http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/5260027/Housing-on-the-state

• http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=john+key%27s+widowed+mother&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

• http://www.nzherald.co.nz/social-welfare/news/article.cfm?c_id=322&objectid=10635473

Media

• “Don Watson, in his book Death Sentence, claims that the way in which the media disseminate information and the way politicians manipulate this process have resulted in a kind of corruption” (Lee: 2007). Like other political/media collaborations this text may be seen as a “mediated political linguistic act” (Ibid.)

7.

The CPAG text shows the power of the media to represent political viewpoints using coercive strategies such as:

resistanceoppositionprotestdissimulationand legitisimation.

The text is in the Dominion Post’s editor’s weekly opinion slot.

It is wr it t en, however , in a s t yl e t ha twr it t en, however , in a s t yl e t ha t is indicative of everyday reporting, which makes it seem objective.

8.

•Third person referencing to Third person referencing to distance the text from the personal distance the text from the personal view. This alters the sense of view. This alters the sense of belonging. belonging.

• Instead of: “I would disagree”; the Instead of: “I would disagree”; the author states: “few would author states: “few would disagree”. disagree”.

• Instead of “I commend the passion” Instead of “I commend the passion” the author writes: “has a the author writes: “has a commendable passion…” commendable passion…”

The text uses

These devices form an unaccounted for opinion

The voice of the unsaid other; the ‘they’ or ‘we’ is a coercive device. It’s use indicates a joint opinion that is manufactured and is used to give weight to an opinion. Other examples include:

• New Zealanders rightly take pride in a welfare system that acts as a safety net for those who fall on hard times…

• Widowed mother and many others…

9.

Not being accountable also enables the author to present ideas without explanation.

Because the author isn’t accountable, it is easier to put forward risky ideas.

For example this enables the author to make a bold distinction between ‘types’ of poor and make sense of Government’s distaste for supporting the wrong type of poor.

The Gener ic ‘t hey’ who have f a l l en on har d t imes , appear s t o exc l ude t hose t hat have f a l l en on har d t imes due t o what t he aut hor desc r ibes as f amil ia l f a il ur e as t he f ol l owing t ext expl a ins :

“But what Gover nment under s t ands and CPAG does not is t hat t hey s t r enuous l y obj ec t t o going wit hout t hemsel ves t o pr op up t hose who have given up on t r ying t o suppor t t hemsel ves and t heir f amil ies .”

The Dominion Post

September 14 at 6:27pm

Radio NZ had a great little piece of coverage on morning report on some just published UMR research showing that public confidence in the media is falling. "Left far behind on child poverty" accusing the CPAG of political bias is just plain wrong. To imply as the piece does that all "Academics, Teachers, and Social Workers" are left wing is nonsense...# The editor of the Dom Post needs to go join Act and stop pretending he's a journalist…

CoercianLike the original text, this post is coercive. The author wants us on side. He uses several strategies:

Links text with unrelated comment about media claiming public confidence in the media is falling. This exclaims the author’s confidence in the article is not huge and gains support by referring to the greater mass who no longer has confidence and should not have confidence in this article either.

However this comment is not directed at the media report that claims the publics confidence is falling. It doesn’t question whether we should have confidence in this report, therefore, it takes sides.

“Great little piece of coverage.” Shows complicity, as if an insider to the world of more appropriate and correct media.

•Charges author with political bias, yet makes no excuses for own: ‘go join Act and stop pretending he's a journalist…’

•Misrepresents text: “accusing the CPAG of political bias is just plain wrong.” The article posted in the Dominion does appear to use political bias to form opinions but doesn’t accuse the CPAG of political bias. Accusing is too strong aword here, implying may be better. Consider theFollowing excerpt which comes as close to accusing the CPAG as the article ever gets.

“CPAG, a lobby group made up of academics, teachers and community workers, argues that beneficiaries have an absolute right to income support whether or not they choose to seek paid employment. In fact its members appear to believe that choosing to live on a benefit is just as valid a choice as choosing to work for a living. Hence the distaste exhibited in CPAG's llatest report – Left Further Behind – for the Government's "unrelenting focus on work".

Contestive text highlights the CPAG’s tactics, then discredits these.

Deligitimisation:

“To imply as the piece does that all "Academics, Teachers, and Social Workers" are left wing is nonsense...”

The CPAG piece does not state that all "Academics, Teachers, and Social Workers" are left wing. It points out the group is made up of Academics, Teachers and Social Workers”. The message increases contestive dialogue when it reshapes the meanings apparent in the text.

•Charges of foolishness: “nonsense” and wrongdoing, add weight to the discourse and by contrast, showing the incapability of the editor, makes the author appear ‘legitimate’ or correct.

The informal language of the piece, suggests a wide readership. However, despite the misrepresentation of the title, which is supposed to read “Left further behind The Real World”, the writer is unconcerned with the issues raised around child poverty. Readership is generally limited to people who dislike pro-national media reports and enjoy contestive behaviour and readers who choose to partake in political debate or read and understand political points of view.

anguage

Discourse is language in use.

fini.