Studies in Media Discourse

2018/19

Tutor Information
Tutor/Element coordinator Email Drop-in hours
Lisa Nahajec nahajel@hope.ac.uk AJB176 Tuesday 11-12, Thursday 2-3
Telephone 0151 291 3502

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General Information
Description

Studies in Media Discourse builds on the analytical skills and research tools students acquired in Term 1. This element investigates the
forms of language found in media discourse, for example, newspaper, speeches, blogs, advertisements and interview transcripts. It
identifies recognisable patterns that differentiate particular media genres and styles. Broader social themes and consequences arising from
media language are also considered. By the end of this year you should be able to:

1. articulate a sound knowledge of the internal structure of English;

2. analyse data, and to express the results of that analysis cogently and concisely;

3. critically engage in response to the central role of language in the creation of meaning and demonstrate sensitivity to the affective
power of language;

4. demonstrate an understanding of the implications of language choices in constructing particular registers and styles;

5. demonstrate a heightened awareness of the main theories of meaning and how meanings are influenced by context and negotiated
by speakers and hearers, text producers and text receivers.

You are expected to prepare for and attend all lectures and seminars. If you are unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances, you
must inform the departmental administrator (Sue Creaney) and your tutor as soon as possible.
Terms 2 and 3 Seminar –
Lecture – Monday: 2 – 3 in AJB058 Group 1 - Monday 3-4 in FML301
Group 2 – Monday 4-5 in FML300

Course Materials
The readings for this course element are taken from a variety of sources. The full list of readings can be found in the weekly schedule below.
Bignell, J. (2009) Media Semiotics: An Introduction. Manchester: Manchester University Press

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Fairclough, N. (1995) Media Discourse. London: Bloomsbury Academic Press
Jeffries, L (2010) Critical Stylistics. Basingstoke: Palgrave
Semino, E (2008) Metaphor in Discourse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Talbot, M (2007) Media Discourse: Representation and Interaction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/189294677/Media-Discourse-Representation-and-Interaction-Media-Topics)
Watson, J. (2008) Media Communication (3rd Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave

Course Schedule
Week Lecture Seminar Reading
commencing
12 14/01/19 Course outline/assignments Discussion - What is media? Talbot, M. (2007) Media Discourse:
Media, power, ideology and the Representation and Interaction. Edinburgh:
making of myths Edinburgh University Press
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/189294677/Media-
Discourse-Representation-and-Interaction-Media-
Topics) - Chapter 1

Bignell, J. (2009) Media semiotics Chapter 1

13 21/01/19 poster preparation poster preparation

14 28/01/19 Media – social context, Discussion – the role of media in Fairclough, N. (1995) Media Discourse -Chapter 3
production, consumption reproducing ideologies
15 04/02/19 Textual constructions in the Text analysis – presuppositions Jeffries, L. (2010) Critical Stylistics – chapter 7
media – positioning the reader I in news texts Bring a newspaper article of your choice
16 11/02/19 Textual constructions in the Text analyses - linguistic Talbot (2007)– Chapter 3
media – positioning the reader II strategies in advertising Bring several adverts (print or transcript of
TV/Internet)

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17 18/02/19 Textual constructions in the Text analyses – who does what Jeffries, L. (2010) Critical Stylistics - chapter 3
media – transitivity to whom and under what
circumstances
18 25/02/19 Textual constructions in the Text analyses – naming and Jeffries (2010) – chapter 2
media -Naming and describing describing
19 04/03/19 Metaphor in media discourse Text analyses - Conceptual Semino, E. (2008) Metaphor in Discourse –
metaphor in media texts Chapter 1
also additional reading resources on Moodle.
Bring at least one text of your choice which
makes use of metaphor
(news/advert/leaflet/poster etc)
20 11/03/19 Careers/employability events
21 18/03/19 Textual constructions in the Text analyses – opposition and Jeffries (2010) chapters 4 and 8
media - Opposition and negation negation in media discourses
22 25/03/19 Individual oral defense Individual oral defense
presentations presentations
23 01/04/19 Interaction in media – power and Text analyses - Mats Ekström and Åsa Kroon Lundell ‘The News
the interview Interview’ – see Moodle for access to this article.
Talbot (2007) Chapter 6
Easter Vacation
24 29/04/19 Consolidation/exam preparation Discussion – the role of Bignell (2002)– chapter 9
interactive media in challenging Watson, J. (2008) Media Communication –
or sustaining existing power Chapter 9
relations
25 06/05/19 Bank Holiday

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ASSESSMENT DETAILS –

Poster Presentation of a Media case study (10% weighting) and Oral Defence (10% weighting) (Equivalent
to 2,500 to 3,000 words)
Working in groups of 3 or 4, design a poster showing how the media uses language to shape the context in which people engage
with a particular social practice/issue. Your poster will be displayed for your fellow students and tutors on 25th March during the
9-10 lecture slot. You will be assessed on your overall argument, choice of methodology, data used in relation to the topic you
are addressing and the accuracy of your analysis. You will also be assessed on the use of appropriate communication strategies
for a poster format. Guidance on how to produce the poster will be given in lectures and seminars and opportunities to test out
your ideas/practice will be given in class. Submit one copy of your group’s poster via the Moodle by 12 noon 18th March 2019.

You will give an independent 10-minute presentation using PowerPoint slides during the lecture/seminar sessions on Monday
25th March. Your presentation should demonstrate your understanding of the poster content, argument, methodology and
analysis. You should use the individual presentation as an opportunity to expand on the poster content and demonstrate your
contribution to the poster project. You will be assessed on the accuracy of your knowledge of the research involved in producing
the poster, both theoretical and analytical. You will also be assessed on your ability to communicate your ideas effectively. We
recommend you keep a record of all your meetings as a group as well as the work you have carried out – this will not be
assessed, but will be useful for engaging fully with the oral defence assignment. Remember that the poster task is to work
together as a group to produce a single piece work – you should be able to discuss the whole piece, not just component parts
that you have contributed. Submit a copy of your PowerPoint presentation slides via the moodle by 12 noon 22nd March. Your
PowerPoint presentation should contain no more than 10 slides.

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Further reading
Bell, A. & Garrett, P. (1998) Approaches to Media Discourse. Oxford: Blackwell.
Caldas-Coulthard, C. R. and Coulthard, M. (eds) (1996) Texts and Practices: Readings in Critical Discourse Analysis. London:
Routledge.
Coulthard, M. (ed.) (1994) Advances in Written Text Analysis. London: Routledge.
Crystal, D. (2001) Language and the Internet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Durant, A. and Lambrou, M. (2009) Language and Media: A Resource Book for Students. Abingdon: Routledge
Fairclough, N. (1995) Critical Discourse Analysis. London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. (1995) Discourse and Social Change. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Fairclough, N. (2001) Language and Power. 2nd edition. London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. (2003) Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research. London: Routledge.
Fowler, R. (1991) Language in the News: Discourse and Ideology in the Press. Abingdon: Routledge.
Fowler, R., Hodge, R., Kress., G. and Trew, T. (1979) Language and Control. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Goodman, S. and Graddol, D. (1996) Redesigning English: New Texts, New Identities. London: Routledge.
Jaworski, A and Coupland, N (2006) The Discourse Reader London: Routledge
Kress, G. (2010) Mulitmodality: a social semiotic approach to contemporary communication. London: Routledge (available as an
e-book through the library)
Kress, G. and van Leeuwen, T. (1995) Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. London: Routledge.
Matheson, D. (2005) Media Discourses: Analysing Media Texts. Maidenhead: OUP. (available as an e-book through the library)

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