ABSTRACT

Introducing the Language of the News is a comprehensive introduction to the language of news reporting. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, the book provides an accessible analysis of the processes that produce news language, and discusses how different linguistic choices promote different interpretations of news texts.

Key features include:

  • comprehensive coverage of both print and online news, including news design and layout, story structure, the role of headlines and leads, style, grammar and vocabulary
  • a range of contemporary examples in the international press, from the 2012 Olympics, to political events in China and the Iraq War.
  • chapter summaries, activities, sample analyses and commentaries, enabling students to undertake their own analyses of news texts
  • a companion website with extra activities, further readings and web links.

Written by an experienced researcher and teacher, this book is essential reading for students studying English language and linguistics, media and communication studies, and journalism.

chapter |12 pages

Introduction

Language and texts

chapter 1|12 pages

Making news

chapter 2|15 pages

Defining news

chapter 3|10 pages

Sourcing news

chapter 4|12 pages

Conveying meaning through design

chapter 5|18 pages

Structuring the story

chapter 6|16 pages

Headline, lead and story proper

chapter 7|20 pages

The tools of the trade

chapter 9|24 pages

The power of words

chapter |2 pages

Epilogue