Keywords
news content
manipulative techniques
methods of manipulation
means of manipulation
Abstract
Introduction. Media is one of the key means of influencing the public. However, content producers do not consistently adhere to professional standards. This is manifested in the publication of materials with half-truths or significant distortion of facts.
Relevance and purpose. This trend is relevant for local news sites, whose audience trusts local media and therefore often perceives manipulative materials as true. This problem is addressed in order to highlight the phenomenon of inaccurate information in online media at the local level. The purpose of the article is to investigate the use of manipulative techniques on Ternopil news websites.
Methodology. The same type of features of the studied websites (media status, frequency of news publication, their thematic spectrum, etc.) were identified through monitoring. Based on the principles of content analysis, the empirical material was collected (quantitative analysis) and grouped (systematic analysis). The manifestations of various manipulative techniques were studied from the standpoint of structural-functional and semantic analysis, on the basis of which manipulative meanings in news content were identified.
Results. During the studied period (September-November 2024), 403 publications with signs of manipulation were found on the resource “0352 – Ternopil City Website” and 49 on the “Gazeta Misto” website. It turned out that among the topics were news about politics, mobilization, health and weather. The main methods of manipulation are: trigger topics, distortion of facts, silencing/silencing; repetition of news with changed headlines, clickbait, inflating the situation, praising or discrediting specific individuals in the context of political advertising, the advertising nature of the news. Manipulations in news materials are included by verbal and non-verbal, active and passive means; references to authorities; rhetoric of emotional involvement; linguistic clichés; incorrect use of industry terms and concepts.
Conclusions. The novelty of the research results is manifested in the consideration of manipulation techniques in the news content of local websites. The identified methods and means of manipulation are evidence of violations of news journalism standards or compromises with them, which leads to violence against emotions, trust, and the will of citizens. The results of the study are important in the context of professional responsibility of journalists, encroachments on freedom of speech, and confirm the need to promote media literacy among the population.
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