Journalistic Rhetoric “Als Ob” (As if) Cover Image

Novinarska retorika “Als ob”
Journalistic Rhetoric “Als Ob” (As if)

Author(s): Marko Sapunar
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu

Summary/Abstract: The essay analyses and categorises rhetorical methods in destructive communication. Journalistic destructive rhetoric is mostly evident in the yellow press and political communication. Such rhetoric avoids argumentation and focuses on the satanization of individuals, ideas or things it wishes to discredit. According to the author, this type of rhetoric primarily ensues from the inability of a journalist to gain prominence in a more positive way, which represents a contemporary form of herostratism. Since contemporary media give journalists too much influence in society, some have tried to impose themselves in politics and society as the ultimate arbiters in deciding on what is right and what is not. The conclusion of this analysis is that this phenomenon ought to be studied by means of multilateral strategies; otherwise, the public cannot successfully cope with the negative consequences of this journalistic anomaly.

  • Issue Year: XXXVII/2000
  • Issue No: 04
  • Page Range: 105-112
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Croatian