DIGITAL FRAMING OF DISINFORMATION: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF MEDIA DISCOURSES ON USA–VENEZUELA POLITICAL RELATIONS

Abstract

Disinformation has constantly been a vital part of political discourses particularly when considering international conflicts. In this regard, the recent example of political upheaval between USA and Venezuela can be studied to analyze the role, digital media and disinformation play in the formation and shaping of public opinions, standpoints and stories. The present study intends to study the disinformation created by digital media about the political uproar between USA and Venezuela by considering the usage of language, rhetorical strategies, role of social media and other sources in the development of political discourse. The present study has adopted Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by Fairclough (1995) to analyze the media sources including the articles published by Reuters, the Guardian, CNN and DAWN in addition to the feedbacks on the social media. The current research also investigates the grammatical features and speech that creates disinformation. Findings indicate the major themes in the process of disinformation framing such as, power struggles and disinformation, language of legitimacy and political realities, social media and official voices in creating national and global perceptions and ideology of sovereignty and resistance. These motifs indicate the media impact and social sites on the sovereignty, interventionist and geopolitical power narratives. This study puts a lot of emphasis on the manner in which disinformation is presented as a means of geopolitical competition and political opposition, constructing world discourse on USA-Venezuela conflict.