Media Representation of Topics Related to Scandals in the Catholic Church Cover Image

Media Representation of Topics Related to Scandals in the Catholic Church
Media Representation of Topics Related to Scandals in the Catholic Church

Author(s): Anna Hurajová
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Media studies, Present Times (2010 - today), Social Norms / Social Control, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave, Fakulta masmediálnej komunikácie
Keywords: Catholic Church; Discourse Analysis; Media Representation; Printed Newspapers; Scandals;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study is to present a qualitative discourse analysis of newspaper articles in online versions of printed newspapers the SME daily and the weekly Katolícke noviny. The scandals and controversial topics such as paedophilia scandals, child sexual abuse and homosexuality within the Catholic Church around the world and in Slovakia were chosen as the topic for the discourse analysis. The main aim of the research was to verify the presumption that there is a difference in the quality of media representation of these scandals and other controversial topics in the Church in public non-religious and religious print media. The media texts were investigated from 2010 to March 2020. Apart from the theoretical framework for the topic, the qualitative level of the analysis is presented in the paper alongside with the results of the analysis and consequent conclusions. The main differences in the media representation of the topics in the two selected newspapers lie in reporting on the topics using different genres and in depth and scope of informing depending on the newspaper.

  • Issue Year: 8/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 75-80
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: English