Prerequisites

• Interest in media, communication, political science, or social studies.
• Basic familiarity with media practice or journalism is preferred.

Course Description

In the contemporary media environment, media messages do not merely transmit news; they contribute to meaning-making, shape narratives, and influence public opinion. Media discourse analysis serves as a tool to understand how media messages are constructed and how language, imagery, and framing systems are used to shape audience perceptions of events and issues.

Course Objective

By the end of this course, participants will:
• Explain the concept of media discourse and distinguish its key characteristics.
• Apply discourse analysis tools to media content.
• Analyze narrative-building, persuasion, and influence strategies in media.
• Evaluate the role of media discourse in shaping public opinion.

Course Outline

• Introduction to media discourse and its analysis:
- The concept of discourse and media discourse analysis.
- Characteristics and functions of media discourse.
- Levels of discourse analysis.
- The relationship between language and media context.
- Types of discourse and the position of media discourse among them.

• Analyzing the structure of media discourse:
- Elements of media discourse and the communication process.
- Linguistic and textual analysis of media content.
- Frame analysis.
- Narrative analysis and meaning construction mechanisms.
- Detect media bias and strategies of influence and persuasion.

• Media discourse and public opinion formation:
- The relationship between media discourse and public opinion.
- The role of news, articles, editorials, and interviews in shaping public opinion.
- Media discourse in digital platforms and social media.
- Analysis of media discourse in major events and issues.

• Practical applications:
- Apply discourse analysis tools to news, reports, and interviews.
- Compare media coverage of the same issue across different outlets.
- Analyze real-world media coverage and trending events.
- Analyze digital content and track narrative-building and influence strategies.
- Present individual and group analytical projects and discuss them.

Course Benefits

• A graduation certificate by Al Jazeera Media Institute.