Tikrit University

Hidden Ideologies and Media Bias: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation in The Guardian Newspaper

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Tikrit University, College of Education for Humanities Department of English

Abstract
This study examines the portrayal of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation ( 7 October 2023) in The Guardian newspaper through the lens of critical discourse analysis. Media bias significantly influences public perceptions and propagates ideological stances. The study employs Fairclough's three-dimensional approach (2001) to analyse textual, discursive, and social dimensions within the selected paragraphs. The problem lies in identifying and uncovering the hidden ideologies embedded in the media discourse surrounding the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. This research explores whether or not the linguistic patterns and strategies used to frame the event and their ideological underpinnings are free from bias. The study hypothesises that 1) grammatical structures are the most frequently used textual strategy, while 2) presupposition dominates discursive strategies. Moreover, 3) the selected paragraphs are expected to exhibit bias, with 4) informational power being the predominant social power utilised. The findings reveal that the newspaper employs textual strategies such as grammar to influence readers' perceptions, while presupposition is the most utilised discursive strategy. Moreover, the findings expose that The Guardian newspaper demonstrates ideological bias in their coverage, often employing hostile and tendentious language to portray the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. In addition, informational power is the most common type.

Keywords

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Volume 9, Issue 3, Part 2
Summer 2025
Pages 136-153

  • Receive Date 17 January 2025
  • Accept Date 24 February 2025
  • Publish Date 01 September 2025