A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MEDIA LANGUAGE IN POLITICS

Abstract

This study examines how language functions as a tool for constructing power and ideology in online news discourse through the framework of Discourse Analysis. By comparing three major theoretical perspectives Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics, van Dijk’s Socio Cognitive Approach, and Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis—this research aims to explore how online news media shape public perception and social reality. Using a qualitative library research method, this study analyzes relevant theoretical works and previous empirical studies related to discourse analysis and media discourse. The findings reveal that Halliday’s framework emphasizes linguistic structures in constructing meaning, van Dijk’s approach highlights cognitive processes in interpreting news texts, while Fairclough’s model focuses on the relationship between discourse and institutional power. These frameworks collectively demonstrate that online news discourse is not neutral but is ideologically constructed to legitimize dominant groups and marginalize alternative voices. This study contributes to the development of critical awareness among readers and researchers regarding the political and social implications of media language.