What are the communication discourses that apply to television journalism? What are some of the power
relationships surrounding the field? What are some of the discourses that surround a television news
room?
Discourses in Television Journalism
Introduction
Media acts as a powerful medium, which connects the global world in the slightest of
time, thus turning the worlds into one small global village. This clearly explains the reason why
people hear more of the languages from the media than they do in a normal direct
conversation(Hoskins, & O’Loughlin, 2007) This clearly explains the reason why people hear
more of the languages from the media than they do in a normal direct conversation since people
mainly talk about the things they see, read and hear through other platforms such as the internet
and the mass media. It has been determined that these elements affect the manner in which
DISCOURSES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM
people interact and learn different things about the world that surrounds them (Maier, & Potter,
2001).
It is however, essential to note that the manner in which the media presents the world and
the events that surround it remains controversial. The manner in which the media covers certain
issues in the society is considered subtle and can only be explained in various ways(Hoskins, &
O’Loughlin, 2007). These media discourses can therefore be elaborated based on different
perceptions since journalism has always been viewed as a critique that selectively represents
groups, thus creating stereotypes that depict identifiable and unchanging negative characteristics
(Segado, GrandÃo, & Fernandez Gomez, 2015). In addition to this, the media is also criticized for
its approaches in portraying women, old and the young people including other minority groups in
a derogatory way.
CommunicationDiscourses That Apply To Television Journalism
Giving discourses an illusion that they are social practices implies that there are
relationships between a particular situation and event, structures and institutions which frame
and shape a discursive event. A discourse socially constitutes the relationships between people
and groups (Lorenzo-Dus, 2009). As persons are predisposedto the proponents of media, their
opinions are also transformed, strengthened and exposed as well. It is therefore evident to
ascertain that media affects the manner in which people interact and learn about the world and
remains an important domain to which the communication discourses are applied.
The Media discourse remains a critical discourse among other discourses such as political
discourse, inequality, gender, racism, and nationalism (Kovacic, &Erjavec, 2008). A media
discourse therefore gives the totality of how reality may be presented and characterized within
DISCOURSES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM
the print and the broadcast media, radio and newspapers (Lorenzo-Dus, 2009). Discourse
therefore remains a medium that power and norms operate.
In the modern world, a scientific discourse that majorly covers the human sciences that
reveal information through the television establishes norms within a people and approaches of
conduct. This discourse also determines ways through which deviant subjects can be identified,
understood and managed (Meinhof, & Smith, J. 2000). An instance of such a discourse is that of
the advertisement discourse within a capitalist society. Through an advertisement, luxury
products are portrayed that are naturalized to meet the needs of the people, a factor that depicts
the manner in which a discourse reinforces a culture that is driven for consumption.
Power Relationships Surrounding the Field
Power remains an important element in a communication discourse. In this analogy,
power defines the use of language by those in power through the media. Journalists have the
capacity to control mass media discourses and access to various forms of shows and
talks(Attallah, 2010). In many instances, communication discourses captures through its
proponents in the analysis of language and the use of those who are in power who remain
answerable for the inequalities that may exist since discourse can reproduce social domination,
the abuse of power and manner through which the dominated groups may resist abuse caused
through these platforms.
It is also vital to disclose that social power also have the capacity to influence the patterns
of discourse. Ordinary people in a way have active access and control over social discourse
genres since their everyday conversations revolve around the family, colleagues, friends, and in
some cases the access of institutions through either a bureaucratic or media discourse (Haavisto,
DISCOURSES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM
& Maasilta, 2015).The elites on the other hand may also have control and access to both the
public and informal institutions through the media.
As indicated by the theoretic godfather of communication the media Phillips and
Jorgensen, power has the capacity to hold good and what may make this accepted is the fact that
it should not weigh on people but navigate and produce things(Thomson, & White, 2008). Power
according to these thoughts can indulge pleasure, and inform individuals thus producing a
discourse. Power in this case should therefore be treated as a productive network which runs
through the media and the social body rather than act as a negative function represses the
community (Masip, Guallar, Suau, Ruiz-Caballero, & Peralta, 2015)
Discourses That Surround a Television News Room
In determining the discourses that surround the television newsrooms, it is essencential to
disclose that the use of visual imagery remains the central element of how organizations are
represented through the media. Through the newsrooms, organizations are given the opportunity
to represent themselves, communicate with the rest of the world and create their
identities(Wodak, 2006). However, through a communication discourse through mainstream
news websites remain an important element that is available in a newsroom. Nowadays there are
mainstream news websites have provided online approaches of communicating with the aim of
modifying the professionalized consumers aesthetic that has the capacity to attract a large
audience. Visual communication in the newsrooms therefore remains vital in the discourses.
Conclusion
Media acts as a powerful medium, which connects the global world in the slightest of
time, thus turning the worlds into one small community. However, the manner in which the
DISCOURSES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM
media covers certain issues in the society is considered subtle and can only be explained in
various ways (Cottle, & Matthews, 2013). In addition to this, the media is also criticized for its
approaches in portraying women, the old and the young including other minority groups in a
derogatory way.
In determining the impact of media in the society, it is essential to understand the
communication discourses that embody a televised broadcast. A discourse socially constitutes
the relationships between people and groups (Arno, 2009). As personalities are subjected to the
media, their opinions are also changed, reinforced and exposed as well. Discourse therefore
remains a medium that power and norms operate (Roy, 2013). On the other hand, power remains
an important element in a communication discourse in that it defines the use of language by
those in power through the media. Power should therefore be treated as a productive network
which runs through the media and the social body rather than act as a negative function represses
the community.
References
Arno, A. (2009). Alarming Reports. Communicating Conflict In The Daily News. New York:
Berghahn Books. [[[B][Lg: Eng][Isbn: 9781845455798 (Alk. Paper)][Social Conflict In
Mass Media][Discourse Analysis][Mass Media][Mass Media And Anthropology]]]
Attallah, P. (2010). Television Discourse And Situation Comedy. Canadian Review Of American
Studies, 40(1), 1-24.
DISCOURSES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM
Cottle, S., & Matthews, J. (2013). U.S. TV News And Communicative Architecture: Between
Manufacturing Consent And Mediating Democracy. Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic
Media,57(4), 562-578.
