Reviews

John E. Richardson (2006) Analysing Newspapers
An Approach From Critical Discourse Analysis

Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 268 pages. ISBN 1-4039-3565-3. £18.99 paperback.

There have been many texts written on this subject, but few are as comprehensive as John E. Richardson's Analysing Newspapers. Not an easy subject to tackle effectively, but Richardson guides the reader through the essentials, breaking down the theory behind the book.

More importantly, for anyone studying the media, Richardson covers the basics well, delving into context, ideology and hegemony before moving on to deconstructing text, discursive practices then finally ending on critical discourse analysis. Engaging a reader is no easy task, let alone an academic student, but with questions such as 'Who benefits?' and 'What are the possible social consequences of reporting?' he opens up new possibilities and avenues for exploration.

While some texts may lack a realistic approach to analysing newspapers, this author knows that before in-depth analysis can take place, linguistic codes must be understood. A core part of this process is that media language must first be deconstructed, before being dissected. Often authors fail to focus on how language relates to the society it represents. Not Richardson. He takes it a step further citing that: 'Language use doesn't just reflect "the way things are done"; it goes on to recreate these social and sometimes institutional expectations.'

Linguistic codes relate to the key aspect that is becoming more prevalent in today's society - a publication's house style. As many publishers know this is a crucial aspect in the media, it can mean the difference between success or failure. House styles are built based on reader profiles - social data gathered from numerous, sometimes intrusive, sources. Based on this research newspapers then use specific linguistic styles to appeal to their audience, but do we realise just what lengths the media will go into in order build a reader profile? Questioning language before moving on to more poignant theories is what makes this text so successful. It is not so much as what the author says, but the questions he asks and the rationale behind his carefully chosen examples.

One such example, which appears early in the book, stands out. It is a quote taken from a reader's letter printed in Time magazine: 'It was clear from last time that Saddam Hussein wouldn't back down. Now is the time to put an end to all this.' Richardson's argument that language enacts identity sets the tone. Fast-forward to the end and you will find the manufacturing consent theory carefully applied to dissect the pre-war period in Iraq before Saddam fled to the safety of his bunker. Although style is the key focus here, the message the media sends often contains bias, based on institutional expectations no matter what the language.

Analysing Newspapers has a sharp, analytical focus by an author who clearly understands what students need - a fast-paced text with a strong reference section and comprehensive glossary. Unlike many academic books this is an easy, enjoyable read, but poignant nevertheless. It is an excellent resource, particularly for those researching undertaking extensive research projects. However, I would have liked to have seen the author use more examples of reporting on Palestine for his analysis as these perhaps lends themselves more to dissection of media manipulation. Frequently we here about Israeli casualties, but how often is Israel bought to account for the losses the Palestinians suffer?

Mary Hogarth, Southampton Solent University.