A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Image of Islam and Muslims in the American Press Post-9/11 Attacks.

Abstract

The media of all kinds play a major role in disseminating pictures and news rapidly, whether it is negative or positive. The media is a double-edged sword; it contributes to the promotion and consolidation of good values and habits. This research addresses the image of Islam and Muslims in the American media. It adopts a qualitative method and makes use of Critical Discourse Analysis to investigate the phenomenon of negative portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the American press. The study was carried out on seven newspaper articles. These newspaper articles were published within a decade after the 9/11 attacks. The research relies on Van Dijk's ideological square theory within the Critical Discourse Analysis. The study aims to examine the linguistic tools used in media coverage and investigate the power of media discourse in transmitting implicit messages.