METHODS OF MEDIA RESEARCH

MICHAEL MICHAEL (363916)

SEBASTIAN HOFMANN (361958)

A Critical Discourse Analysis of two American newspapers articles about Occupy Wall
Street demonstrations.

1. Introduction

To begin with, the theme of this study revolves around a topical issue, that is the ongoing
demonstrations of the Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA, which consists of an
aggregate of citizens protesting against social and economical inequality as well as the
influential power of corporations over politics and most importantly democracy. The
battle is then taking place between citizens, lobbyists or lay people who criticize the
current status quo and claim their self as the have nots vis--vis the haves (i.e.:
government and corporations who possess the wealth). The common denominator of this
grassroots movement is its left-oriented origins which contrasts the neo-liberal principles
of Republicans.
Two articles were drawn from news outlets that have an oppositional ideological stance.
On the one hand, Government Holiday a Boon for Occupy Wall Street Protesters was
extracted from Fox News (www.foxnews.com) which represents and serves Republican
ideals. On the other hand, the latter article was traced from The Huffington Post
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com) which serves predominantly liberal interests.

Fox News, known to be more supportive of neo-liberal politics, reports about the
expected increase in protesters due to a national holiday, and the way their article
presents this correlation is very interesting for Critical Discourse Analysis: The seemingly
unbiased assumption that due to a national holiday the numbers of protesters may
temporarily increase is formulated in a way that provides the reader not only with the
information, but with implicit (and yet at times very explicit) commentary about the
situation, as well as the Occupy Wall Street movement as a whole. The analysis
therefore might be able to illuminate the way objective facts are spun in favor of a single
point of view, and how this perspective is (blatantly as well as implicitly) transported in
the text.
On the other hand, the latter article, although its title suggests an unbiased and balanced
stance, it does safeguard the interests of demonstrators by representing actively their
voice through a series of testimonials (verbal reaction) and other schemas (lexical
cohesion). However, the findings ultimately reveal that the article implicitly and tactically
strives to undermine Obamas political role.
A meaningful objective of this research is to define how protesters and politicians are
portrayed in each newspaper and determine which group is depicted as the powerful and
powerless in each case.
Since protestors are self-conceived as the 99% which in turn signifies a gap in wealth in
comparison with the top 1% (i.e.: the wealthy elite), the theme of both articles underline
such concepts as power, inequality and struggle which are epitomized by Marxs Conflict
theory. Giddens (2009) argues that conflict perspectives tend to regard society as an
organism composed of different groups pursuing their own interests. The existence of
separate interests entails the potential of conflict and means that some groups will benefit
more than others.
Hence, the employment of critical discourse analysis is paramount in uncovering the
representational properties of discourse as a vehicle for the exercise of power, an
approach exemplifying Foucault (Bryman, 2008: 508). In doing so, the study employs
four types of analysis (i.e.: transitivity, thematic, lexical cohesion and macro-structure) to
2

appropriately meet the methodological standards of Critical discourse analysis as a

scientific research tool.

2. A comparative analysis of the two sample texts

The transitivity analysis in Text 1 (see Table 1) revealed a great inequality regarding the
centre of attention between protesters and political parties/politicians/large organizations
within the article. Protesters are the textual participant in only four out of 17 cases, while
the majority of textual actors consist out of unions and political parties. This gives an idea
about the point of view taken by the author, portraying the protests as negatively affecting
bigger (and thereby implicitly implied; more important) organizations. The thematic
analysis (see Table 2) supports this argument. On the contrary, in the latter text, there is a
profound representation of demonstrators and activists as the main actors or sayers
against those in power (e.g.: American government). For instance, a glance at table 5
reveals that demonstrators are frequently established as the main participants and the
verbs that follow in the process column have a rather negative connotation (e.g.:
disgusted, is a lot worse, are cutting, accuse, blamed, etc) in relation to the participants
that are receiving the attribution or action. Transitivity analysis for Text 2 implies the
agency of demonstrators and their active role (either as actors or sayers) in criticizing
politicians and corporations for their capitalistic greed. Similarly, thematic analysis (see
table 6) foregrounds the collective political mobilization of citizens regardless ideology
(Wall Street protesters, Tea Party activists, Republicans, etc) as unified front against
Obama.
Taking a closer look at the lexical cohesion of Text 1 (see Table 3) article brought an
interesting connection to light: By constantly putting the holiday in strong context with
any increase in numbers of protesters, the article implies that without the aforementioned
holiday, the amount of protesters would at best stagnate. The implicit meaning of this is
that people only turn to protesters when they have nothing more important (like going to
work), or better to do, portraying protesting as a sort of free time activity by people
3

with too much time on their hands (see Table 3i). Nonetheless, in Text 2, lexical cohesion
analysis underlines an anti-Obama motif, and it may be interpreted as a continuum of the
overall effort as presented in the previous cases to blame the government for the
whole situation and ultimately construct this fact as a reality. Obama as seen in Table 7i,
is multiply used in many clauses. Conversely, Table 7 ii exhibits an attempt to emphasize
on the one hand the adverse situation that middle class confronts, and on the other hand
the intense mobilization on behalf of ordinary people against the dominant elites.
Therefore, lexical choices generally allude to everydayness and lay people. These
recurrent patterns are very meaningful and vital for the purpose of our study given that by
directing peoples attention to certain ideas, and repeating the key information, especially
if this well crafted, the potential for creating the desired awareness is developed. (Lull,
2000).
Moreover, the protestors in Text 1 are further discredited by connecting them to a wellknown, comedian turned reality TV show star, Roseanne Bar, who is supporting the
movement. The commentary is expressed by the use of an exclamation mark in brackets,
((!)), blatantly suggesting an inherent ridiculousness to this fact. (This ridiculousness is
further enhanced be calling the protesters purported Robespierres, ironically connecting
them to one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution.)
The aim of the protesters is furthermore portrayed as dangerous, connecting the
protests to a revolution, implying major societal change, massive civil unrest, chaos,
anarchy and violence as part of the movements goals, thereby potentially scaring the
reader about the potential consequences of Occupy Wall Street (see Table 3ii).
The macro-structure analysis helped in determining the ratio between implicit and
explicit commentary (see Table 4). The times (indirect) speech is used consist of one
statement in favour of the protesters (an expression of anxiety and frustration among the
unemployed., Sentence 5) and two statements supporting an anti-protest position (are
dangerous anti-capitalists / Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs, Sentence
6). Three out of the eleven sentences contain explicit commentary, while three different
sentences implicitly portray the connection between the national holiday and an expected

increase in protester numbers as described above, bringing the combined number of

non-neutral sentences to six out of eleven.
On the other hand, the macro-structure patterns in Text 2 (see Table 8) demonstrate an
endevour to blame the political factor, specifically President Obama - apart from the
corporate factor - for the adverse status quo. Although, textually the article contains
elements of a news report as it exhibits factual events at intervals (Paragraphs 3, 7, 9, 10,
11, 14) nevertheless, the verbal reactions incorporated come to reinforce what the
commentary or event previously stated aimed at communicating. Apparently, this is
strategically conducted to attribute more credibility to the action of blaming Obama. Take
for instance paragraph one. The columnist suggests that protesters are not merely
condemning Wall Street but also the Government, and then what follows in paragraph
two is a testimonial from an ordinary person apparently a victim of this situation as he
is stated as unemployed- who expresses that his social class is in a less advantageous
position than when Obama was elected. Besides, we can identify a pastiche of news
reports and stories. In some cases, while some parts of the text could be classified as
facts, nonetheless, certain words communicated a sense of dramatic dialogue, hence
communicating bias. Examples of these are highlighted in the second line of paragraph
one, first line of paragraph 4, second line of paragraph 5.

3. Conclusion Response to the Research Question

Content Discourse Analysis was in conclusion a very efficient method of illustrating how
Fox News warrants and (explicitly as well as implicitly) delivers its anti Occupy Wall
Street position to its readers. The analysis revealed how the argument against the
Occupy Wall Street movement is constructed from a conservative, right-wing, point of
view. The agenda of the protesters, namely to bring attention to the inequalities in
distribution of wealth, are discredited by simultaneously ridiculing and exaggerating their
actions. The portrayal of protesters as would-be Robbespierres and dangerous anticapitalists could be considered as contradictory, but in the end follows the same agenda,
5

namely to convince the reader to not sympathize with Occupy Wall Street. Therefore
my findings can be considered to represent one side of the current political and social
discourse regarding the regulation of financial markets, supporting the position of
Republicans, who favour less government interference and free markets. On the contrary,
Text 2 vividly mirrors the current inflamed social status quo in America but also in other
international locales whereby similar versions of Occupy uprisings take place against
those who undermine social equality. The fact that grassroots is frequently given voice
reveals the empowerment that citizens currently possess but also their indignation
towards the Government which is represented as passive and impotent. Transitivity,
thematic and lexical cohesion analyses also demonstrate that the exploitation of the
powerless by the powerful concerns citizens holistically.

References:

Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Giddens, A. (2009). Sociology (6th ed.). Cambridge: Polity.
Lull, J. (2000). Media, Communication, Culture: A Global Approach. Cambridge: Polity.

Noveck, J. (2011, October). Protesters Want World to Know Theyre Just

Like
Us.
Long
Island
Press.
Retrieved
from
http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/10/10/protesters-want-world-toknow-theyre-just-like-us-2/

Appendices:

Table 1: Transitivity analysis of Text 1

S/
PARTICIPANT
PROCESS
N
1 Organizors
[Demonstrators]
{Actor}
2 private-sector
employers {Senser}
3 federal, state and local
governments as well as
many school districts
{Behaver}
4 government-worker
unions {Carrier}
5 the holiday{Actor}

6 Large unions {Carrier}

7 Large unions {Actor}

PARTICIPANT

are looking to
capitalize on
{Verbal}
observe {Mental:
Perception}
are {Relational:
attribution}

Mainstream Democratic
political leaders

are {Relational:
attribution}
could provide a
major boost
{Material: action}
are dominated
{Relational:
attribution}
have been
increasingly
driving (Material:

the backbone of the

protests
to the Occupy Wall
Street movement.

Columbus Day
closed

by government
employees
the protests and their
messages

8 organizers and their

political supporters
{Sayer}
9 Democrats {Sayer}

10 Republicans {Sayer}

11 Majority Leader Eric

Cantor {Sayer}
12 would-be movement
leaders {Sayer}
13 Power Play {Actor}
14 Power Play {Actor}

15 they [activists]
{Behaver}
16 Government unions
{Carrier}

17 President Obama and

his allies {Actor}

action}
believe {Mental:
Cognition}
have been
suggesting
{Verbal}
Have
suggested {Verbal
}
Called them
{Verbal}
have been calling
{Verbal}
has interacted
{Material: action}
observed {Mental:
Cognition}
fear (Mental:
affection}
are
being squeezed
{Relational:
attributive}
try to gird
themselves
{Relational:
attribution}

Table 2: Thematic Analysis of Text 1

counterweight to the
[...] energy of the Tea
Party movement.
the unemployed

dangerous anticapitalists
mobs
for revolution
with some of these
purported Robespierres
most were similar to
the government-union
sympathy protesters
Republican government
cutters
on all levels

for next years conflicts

S/
N

Text
ual

Interpers
onal

2
3 While

5 Since
6

Topical

Rheme

Organizers of
anti-corporate
protests
todays federal
holiday
far fewer
private-sector
employers
federal,
state and
local
government
s
governmentworker unions
the holiday

are looking to capitalize on

growing support

Large unions
like the SEIU
and AFL-CIO

8
9 so
10

todays
holiday
Democrats

11 Meanwhile

Republicans

12

Majority
Leader Eric
Cantor
would-be
movement
leaders
like Van
Jones and Rose
anne Barr (!)
Power Play

13

14

could be just the boost they

need.
observe Columbus Day as a
paid holiday
are closed
today

are now the backbone of the

protests
Could provide a major boost to
the Occupy Wall Street
movement.
are dominated by government
employees
have been increasingly driving
the protests
Could be key in getting the
kind of attention
have been suggesting that the
protests are an expression of
anxiety and frustration among
the unemployed.
have suggested that the
protesters are dangerous anticapitalists
called them mobs

have been calling for

revolution

has interacted with some of

15
16
17 As

18

Government
unions
Others
President
Obama and his
allies
it

these purported Robespierres

are being squeezed on all
levels
singled out Obama
try to gird themselves for next
years conflicts
will be important to cultivate
this kind of negative
enthusiasm in advance of the
next election.

Table 3: Lexical Cohesion of Text 1

i)

Holiday motif:

Organizers of anti-corporate protests around the country are looking to capitalize on

growing support from mainstream Democratic political leaders and todays federal
holiday could be just the boost they need.
While far fewer private-sector employers observe Columbus Day as a paid holiday,
federal, state and local governments as well as many school districts are closed today
Since government-worker unions are now the backbone of the protests, the holiday could
provide a major boost to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Large unions like the SEIU and AFL-CIO, which are dominated by government
employees, have been increasingly driving the protests and their messages, so todays
holiday could be key in getting the kind of attention organizers and their political
supporters believe could provide a counterweight to the anti-government energy of
the Tea Party movement.
ii)

Occupy Wall Street is not a legitimate movement:

Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested that the protesters are dangerous anticapitalists (Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs), giving credence to the
10

claims of would-be movement leaders like Van Jones and Roseanne Barr (!) who have
been calling for revolution.
Power Play has interacted with some of these purported Robespierres over the past
week in Washington and observed that while some were freelancers (like the guy with the
sign deploring the high price and low quality of current movie-theater offerings), most
were similar to the government-union sympathy protesters who demonstrated in
Washington during the fight over Wisconsins collective bargaining law at the beginning
of the year.

Table 4: Macro-structure Analysis of Text 1 (including numbering of sentences)

Government Holiday a Boon for Occupy Wall Street Protesters [HEADLINE]
By Chris Stirewalt [BYLINE]
(1) Organizers of anti-corporate protests around the country are looking to capitalize
on growing support from mainstream Democratic political leaders and todays
federal holiday could be just the boost they need. [LEAD]
(2) While far fewer private-sector employers observe Columbus Day as a paid
holiday, federal, state and local governments as well as many school districts are
closed today. [BACKGROUND]
(3) Since government-worker unions are now the backbone of the protests, the
holiday could provide a major boost to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
[BACKGROUND]
(4) Large unions like the SEIU and AFL-CIO, which are dominated by government
employees, have been increasingly driving the protests and their messages, so
todays holiday could be key in getting the kind of attention organizers and their
political supporters believe could provide a counterweight to the anti-government
energy of the Tea Party movement. [MAIN EVENT]
(5) Democrats have been suggesting that the protests are an expression of anxiety and
frustration among the unemployed. [DD/EXPLANATION]
(6) Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested that the protesters are dangerous anticapitalists (Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them mobs), giving credence to
the claims of would-be movement leaders like Van Jones and Roseanne Barr (!)
who have been calling for revolution.[DD/EXPLANATION/COMMENTARY]
(7) Power Play has interacted with some of these purported Robespierres over the
past week in Washington and observed that while some were freelancers (like the
guy with the sign deploring the high price and low quality of current movietheater offerings), most were similar to the government-union sympathy protesters
who demonstrated in Washington during the fight over Wisconsins collective
11

bargaining law at the beginning of the year.

[BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY]
(8) Its not that theyre unemployed, its that they fear they will be if Republican
government cutters get their way. [EVALUATIVE EVENT]
(9) Government unions are being squeezed on all levels after decades of boom times.
[BACKGROUND]
(10)
They are also the most important part of the Democratic base.
[EXPLANATION]
(11)
As President Obama and his allies try to gird themselves for next years
conflicts, it will be important to cultivate this kind of negative enthusiasm in
advance of the next election. [COMMENTARY/ EVALUATIVE EVENT]

Table 5
Transitivity analysis of Text 2
S/N
PARTICIPANT

PROCESS

1 Their chief target [Demonstrators] {Actor}

2 Demonstrators in New York and across the
U.S. {Actor}
3 The middle class {Sayer}
4 The Occupy Wall street movement []
{Actor}
5 Demonstrators {Actor}
6 Tea Party activists {
}
7 Occupy Wall Street protesters {Actor}
8 Obama on Thursday {Senser}

is {Relational: identification}
thoroughly disgusted with {Mental:
affection}
is a lot worse {attribution}
has drawn {verbal}

9 He (Obama) {Sayer}

pinned {Verbal}

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

The protesters {Actor}

Republicans {Actor}
Mitt Romney and Herman Cain {Sayer}
All the Republican contenders {Actor}
They [Republican contenders ] {Sayer}
Some [activists] {Sayer}
Others [activists] {Sayer}
He [President Obama] {Actor}

Table 6
12

marched {Material: action}

became {Existential}
are cutting {Material: action}
acknowledged {Mental: perception}

are giving {Relational: attribution}

have resisted {Material: action}
have criticized {Verbal}
have pushed back {Material: action
accuse {Verbal}
blamed {Verbal}
singled out {Verbal}
has been overlooking {Verbal}

Thematic analysis of Text 2

S/
Textu Interper Topical
N
al
sonal
1

Rheme

Chief
target
Demonstr
ators

The
middle
class

The
Occupy
Wall Street
movement

Demonstr
ators

But
while

Tea party
activists

Occupy
Wall
13

is Wall
Street
also are
thoroughly
disgusted with
Washington,
blaming
politicians of
both major
parties
is a lot worse than
when Obama was
elected," said John
Penley, an
unemployed legal
worker from
Brooklyn.
drawn a wide
variety of
activists,
including
union
members and
laid-off
workers
marched Thursday in Philadelphia,
Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and
Anchorage, Alaska, carrying signs
with slogans such as "Get money
out of politics" and "I can't afford a
lobbyist."
eventually became a
crucial part of the
Republican coalition, the
Occupy Wall Street
protesters are cutting
President Barack Obama
little slack
are cutting President Barack
Obama little slack. They say

Street
protester
s
8

Obama

He

1
0

Protesters

1
1

Republican
s

1
2

GOP
presidenti
al
candidates

1
3

All the
Republic
an
contende
rs

1
4

They

14

Obama failed to crack down

on the banks after the 2008
mortgage meltdown and
financial crisis
acknowledged
the economic
insecurities
fueling the
nearly 3-weekold Wall Street
protests
pinned responsibility on
the financial industry and
on congressional
Republicans he says have
blocked his efforts to kickstart job growth
are giving voice
to a more
broad-based
frustration
about how our
financial
system works
have
resisted
such tax
increases
have
criticized
the antiWall Street
protests
also
pushed
back
against the
demonizati
on of Wall
Street
accuse the
Obama
administration of
setting regulatory
policies that have

1
5

1
6
1
7

While

stifled job
creation
blamed
Republican
s for
blocking
reform
singled out
Obama
he has been
overlooking
jobs and not
putting much
effort into

some

Others
But

He

Table 7: Lexical Cohesion of Text 2

i)

Anti-Obama motif:

Also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington.

At this point I dont see any difference between George Bush and Obama, The middle
class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected.
The Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little slack.
They say Obama failed to crack down on the banks.
They accuse the Obama administration of setting regulatory policies that have stifled
job creation.
Activists expressed deep frustration with the political gridlock in Washington.
While some others blamed Republicans for blocking reform, others singled out Obama.
Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer, didnt watch Obamas news conference

ii)

Pro-activists and working class people motif:

15

For policies they say protect corporate America at the expense of the middle class.
The middle class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected," said John Penley, an
unemployed legal worker from Brooklyn.
Drawn a wide variety of activists, including union members and laid-off workers.
In a populist reaction against the bank and auto bailouts.
But while tea party activists eventually became a crucial part of the Republican
coalition.
Thorin Caristo, an antiques store owner from Plainfield, Conn.
Robert Arnow, a retired real estate worker.
Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer.

Table 8: Macro-structure Analysis of Text 2

Occupy Wall Street Protesters Fed Up With Both Parties [HEADLINE]
[1] NEW YORK -- Their chief target is Wall Street, but many of the demonstrators in
New York and across the U.S. also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington, blaming
politicians of both major parties for policies they say protect corporate America at the
expense of the middle class. [EVALUATIVE EVENT/DD]
[2] "At this point I don't see any difference between George Bush and Obama. The
middle class is a lot worse than when Obama was elected," said John Penley, an
unemployed legal worker from Brooklyn. [VERBAL REACTION]
[3] The Occupy Wall Street movement, which began last month with a small number of
young people pitching a tent in front of the New York Stock Exchange, has expanded
nationally and drawn a wide variety of activists, including union members and laid-off
workers. [BACKGROUND/EVENT]
[4] Demonstrators marched Thursday in Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and
Anchorage, Alaska, carrying signs with slogans such as "Get money out of politics" and
"I can't afford a lobbyist." [EVENT/ORIENTATION/DD]
[5] The protests are in some ways the liberal flip side of the tea party movement, which
was launched in 2009 in a populist reaction against the bank and auto bailouts and the
$787 billion economic stimulus plan. [COMMENTARY]
[6] But while tea party activists eventually became a crucial part of the Republican
coalition, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little
16

slack. They say Obama failed to crack down on the banks after the 2008 mortgage
meltdown and financial crisis. [COMMENTARY]
[7] "He could have taken a much more populist, aggressive stance at the beginning
against Wall Street bonuses, and exacting certain change from bailing out the banks," said
Michael Kazin, a Georgetown University history professor and author of "American
Dreamers," a history of the left. "But ultimately, the economy has not gotten much better,
and that's underscored the frustration on both the right and the left." [VERBAL
REACTION]
[8] Obama on Thursday acknowledged the economic insecurities fueling the nearly 3week-old Wall Street protests. But he pinned responsibility on the financial industry and
on congressional Republicans he says have blocked his efforts to kick-start job growth.
[EVENT/DD]
[9] "I think people are frustrated and the protesters are giving voice to a more broadbased frustration about how our financial system works," he said at a nationally televised
news conference. "The American people understand that not everybody has been
following the rules, that Wall Street is an example of that ... and that's going to express
itself politically in 2012 and beyond." [VERBAL REACTION]
[10] The president has been pushing for a $443 billion jobs plan to be paid for in part
through a tax on the wealthy. Republicans have resisted such tax increases. [EVENT]
[11] GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Herman Cain have criticized the antiWall Street protests. [EVENT]
[12]All the Republican contenders have also pushed back against the demonization of
Wall Street. They accuse the Obama administration of setting regulatory policies that
have stifled job creation and say his health care overhaul will prevent many businesses
from hiring new workers. [EVENT]
[13] In Zuccotti Park, the center of the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York
[ORIENTATION]
[14] Activists expressed deep frustration with the political gridlock in Washington.
[EVENT/DD]
[15] While some blamed Republicans for blocking reform, others singled out Obama.
[EVENT]
[16] "His message is that he's sticking to the party line, which is `we are taking care of
the situation.' But he's not proposing any solutions," said Thorin Caristo, an antiques store
owner from Plainfield, Conn. [VERBAL REACTION]

17

[17] But Robert Arnow, a retired real estate worker, said the Republicans need to tell their
congressional leaders, "You're standing in the way of change." [VERBAL REACTION]
[18] Quacy Cayasso, a Web designer, didn't watch Obama's news conference even though
it was broadcast on TV monitors at the protest site in New York. [EVALUATIVE
EVENT]
[19] "He's a cool president, but he was given a hard task," Cayasso said. "He should get
some gratitude for what he's done so far, but he's been overlooking jobs and not putting
much effort into that until now." [VERBAL REACTION]

18