Exploring the ‘Civil Repair’ Function of Media: A Case Study of The Christchurch Mosques Shootings

Ayaz Khan; Muhammad Junaid Ghauri; Riffat Alam

doi:10.47205/jdss.2021(2-IV)40

Exploring the ‘Civil Repair’ Function of Media: A Case Study of The Christchurch Mosques Shootings

Authors

Ayaz Khan

MS Scholar, Department of Media and Communication Studies, The International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Junaid Ghauri

Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication Studies, The International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Riffat Alam

Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, The Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2021(2-IV)40

Keywords

Christchurch Mosque Shootings Civil Repair Civil Sphere Theory Lexicalization Solidarity Discourse

Abstract

This research endeavor is an attempt to explore and analyze the discourse produced by The New Zealand Herald; a newspaper from New Zealand and by The News International; a Pakistani newspaper. The researchers intend to determine whether and to what extent both the newspapers have the role of ‘civil repair’ played after the Christchurch mosques shootings. The researchers have incorporated the ‘lexicalization’ and the ‘ideological square’ techniques proposed by Tuen A. van Dijk within the scope of Critical Discourse Analysis. The findings of this study show that both the selected newspapers assuming the social status of ‘vital center’ performed the role of ‘civil repair’ in the aftermath of the shootings by producing the ‘solidarity discourse’. The ‘solidarity discourse’ has been produced in terms of the ‘we-ness’, harmony, understanding, and by mitigating the conflicting opinions.