Social media discourses are a collection of frames that are all enacted concurrently by official online news sources, organizations, and individuals. They appear as an inseparable set of viewpoints expressed by active people who are not only consuming but also generating and shaping these discourses.
The engagement that occurs through the broadcast platform is called media discourse. Speech is addressed to an absent reader, listener, or listener in spoken or written language. Although the statements are targeted to these recipients, they are frequently unable to elicit an immediate response from the discourse producers, though this is gradually changing. We will investigate this as new media technologies develop. Most importantly, whether written or spoken speech addresses the reader or the listener/viewer. Among other things, media discourse is a sort of conversation that is open, artificial, and documented. It is not transient or spontaneous (as in casual speech or writing); it is not private or inappropriate.
The dynamic nature of media discourse is one of its distinguishing characteristics. Trends, opinions, and narratives change at breakneck speed, necessitating the need for us, as students, to be watchful and discerning. The capacity to critically assess and challenge the information offered is essential when skimming through Twitter feeds, watching news segments, or reading publications. We have the advantage of being familiar with the instruments of the profession as digital natives. In this perspective, social media platforms are both a blessing and a scourge. On the one hand, they allow rapid access to a wide range of viewpoints, breaking news, and worldwide discussions.
On the other hand, algorithms’ echo chambers can imprison us in a cocoon of like-minded beliefs, impeding our capacity to engage with opposing viewpoints. The educational landscape has also changed, with media literacy now playing a significant part in high school courses. Understanding the intricacies of bias, fact-checking, and source evaluation is no longer optional; it is a requirement. This enables us to appropriately navigate the immense ocean of information and make views based on critical thinking.
In conclusion, media discourse is a double-edged sword that demands our attention, scrutiny, and participation.
References:
1. O’Keeffe A. Investigating media discourse[M]. Routledge, 2006.
2. Talbot M. Media Discourse: Representation and interaction[M]. Edinburgh University Press, 2007.
