ABSTRACT

Journalists are unable to provide reports that are entirely true and objective as they deploy rhetorical strategies aimed “at persuading others to adopt [their] same point of view” (Thomson 1996 cited in Richardson [2007]. Analysing Newspapers: An Approach from Critical Discourse Analysis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 65). Using one of Zimbabwe’s leading daily newspapers, NewsDay (Southern Edition), this article analysed the framing of the contentious issue of devolution of power provided in the country’s constitution drafted in 2012. The underlying assumption being that understanding how the issue of devolution was framed “is of vital importance to how the public and policy makers will respond to this kind of governance” (Agwu and Amu [2013]. “Framing of Climate Change News in Four National Daily Newspapers in Southern Nigeria.” International Conference on Climate Change Effects, 1–8, Impact World 2013, Potsdam, 1). The paper used discourse analysis to analyse the 10 purposively selected stories published between June 2010 and July 2012. Positioned within qualitative approach, the paper concludes that the NewsDay Southern Edition actively participated in the debates on devolution as a political actor through various techniques such as argumentation and rhetoric, thereby putting it on the public agenda. In particular, the publication pursued a pro-devolution agenda to galvanise readers to embrace this administrative framework as the best available model in the place of a unitary system, which was blamed for stifling development and democracy.

摘要

记者无法提供完全真实和客观的报道，因为他们采用了旨在“说服他人采用 [他们的] 相同观点”的修辞策略（Thomson 1996 引自 Richardson [2007]。分析报纸：来自批判性话语的方法）分析. 纽约：Palgrave Macmillan，65）。使用津巴布韦领先的日报之一，NewsDay（南方版），本文分析了 2012 年起草的国家宪法中规定的有争议的权力下放问题的框架。基本假设是理解权力下放问题的框架“对于公众和政策制定者将如何回应至关重要到这种治理”（Agwu 和 Amu [2013]。“尼日利亚南部四家国家日报中气候变化新闻的框架。”气候变化影响国际会议，1-8，2013 年影响世界，波茨坦，1）。该论文使用话语分析来分析 2010 年 6 月至 2012 年 7 月期间发表的 10 个有目的地选择的故事。在定性方法中定位，该论文得出的结论是NewsDay 南方版作为政治行动者，通过论证、修辞等各种技巧，积极参与关于权力下放的辩论，从而将其提上公共议程。特别是，该出版物追求支持权力下放的议程，以激励读者接受这一行政框架，将其作为替代单一制的最佳可用模式，因为单一制被指责扼杀了发展和民主。