Self-serving national ideologies : A critical discourse analysis of Turkish Cypriot radio news

Way, Lyndon C.S. 2009. Self-serving national ideologies : A critical discourse analysis of Turkish Cypriot radio news. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

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Abstract

This thesis examines the historical formation and contemporary circulation of competing variants of Turkish Cypriot nationalisms as they are realised in different Turkish Cypriot radio news outlets. Unlike North Atlantic models of journalism, these media are not governed by the values of neutrality nor of a fourth estate role, being closely aligned to political interests. Presently, there is an ideological struggle between two versions of Turkish Cypriot nationalism in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Turkish nationalism' sees TRNC as part of a pan-Turkish nation. Within this ideology, TRNC's future is linked to Turkey and independent of the Republic of Cyprus. 'Pro-federation' nationalism sees TRNC as part of an inclusive Cypriot identity. TRNC's future is in a federation with the Republic of Cyprus. TRNC radio, each station closely affiliated to one of these nationalisms, is one site where national discourses can be accessed and evaluated. In this thesis, Critical Discourse Analysis is used to reveal how participants and their actions are represented in news stories. These shape the way that events appear, contributing to prevailing nationalisms. This analysis is contextualised historically, conceptually and ethnographically with newsroom studies. These produce an understanding of the processes behind a set of highly ideological news texts. This thesis adds to existing academic work which indicates that Cypriot media frame events in ways which aggravate the Cyprus conflict. Unlike other studies, this thesis challenges the myth that national discourses are uniform expressions and allegiances in news media. Instead, the data analysed reveal national discourses are internally fractured, politically differentiated and temporal. Though discourses mostly support interests associated with each station, some pretextual discourses of compromise, cooperation and unity are revealed. Though minimal, these contribute to a solution-friendly atmosphere which frees residents from a life of embargoes, fear and isolation.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Journalism, Media and Culture
ISBN:	9781303190629
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2014 14:12
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/55867

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