A critical discourse analysis on media coverage about MXit Wallace Chigona University of Cape Town Department of Information Systems.

A critical discourse A critical discourse analysis on media analysis on media

coverage about MXit coverage about MXit

Wallace ChigonaUniversity of Cape Town

Department of Information Systems

OutlineOutline

• Background–What’s MXit? –Why media discourse

• Analysis technique• Methodology• Findings• Conclusion

What’s MXitWhat’s MXit• A Mobile Instant Messaging

(MIM) system• Network independent –

Works on all networks

• MXit facts and figures– South African– Launched 2006– Growth : 9,000 – 12,000 per day– Currently over 7Million

subscribers– Mainly youth –Services– Chatting– Games

Modes of ChattingModes of ChattingOne to one chat

Between known contacts Contacts must be added to list

Chat rooms Often based on a theme /region Multiple people chatting Identity hidden Sometimes moderated

MultiMix Group of known contact chatting Not formal chat room

Why study media discourseWhy study media discourse

Media discourse

Reality(socially

constructed)

Public opinion

Cohen, 1963; Cuckier eta al 2008; Lippman, 1992; Gerbner, 1977

Analysis techniqueAnalysis technique

Claim Explanation

Comprehensibility (clarity)

Utterance should be clear in terms of syntax and semantics

Truth Utterance should match reality

Sincerity (truthfulness)

Checks the intentions of the speaker. Cannot be observed, can only be inferred

Legitimation Utterance should be in accordance to socially accepted norms

Based on four validity claims - Habermas

Communicating parties should agree on the four validity claims to achieve ideal speech. Otherwise should seek clarification

Methodology Methodology

Sample24 newspaper articles: 2006 – 2008Obtained from newspaper portals –

Sunday Times, Mail and Guardian, www.iol.co.za

Searched using keyword “MXit”

Data analysisAnalysed individual articles as

well as corpus

Comprehensibility claimsComprehensibility claimsQuestions asked:

◦Is there use of jargon?◦Are there terms that are not explained?◦Is there evidence of obfuscation?

Comprehensibility claims Comprehensibility claims ……• Unexplained words/concepts• Mentions chat rooms (e.g. Port

Elizabeth chat room, Lesbian chat room) but does not discuss different ways of using MXit – i.e chat room vs one-to-one

• Use of technical jargons– Jargons are meant to impress and not to

inform“MXit is a mobile instant messaging application

developed in South Africa that run on GPRS/3G mobile phones with Java support” Pretoria News

Truth claimsTruth claims• Questions asked–What is said about MXit?–Are the issues and options clearly defined?–What costs and benefits have been defined

and assessed?–What evidence has been provided?–Has the relevant information been

communicated without distortions or omissions?–Are there ideological claims which have

been unexamined?

Truth claims …Truth claims …• Unsupported claims– Is addictive - 27 times in the corpus; no

evidence provided–“Is hunting ground perverse predators

intent on luring children into their clutches”–Exposes children to pornography (13

times)–Destroys relationships• “Sordid Sex scare on cellphone chat system”

(Weekend Post)• 20 year old woman leaves partner and child for a new

lover she met on MXit- New love doesn’t work, comes back. She finds new lover again, leaves again

Truth claims …Truth claims …

Truth claims …Truth claims …Omissions/ under -representation

◦Benefits of MXit , e.g. Math on Mxit Drag counselling via MXit

◦Nature of the application Types of cellphone required Asyncronous vs. synchronous

Sincerity claimsSincerity claimsQuestions asked

◦Do metaphors and connotative words promote and suppress understanding?

◦Do metaphors or connotative words create false assurance?

Note: Metaphors can evoke belief system

Sincerity claims … Sincerity claims … Metaphors used

◦MXit is a drug ◦MXit can lead to addiction (27 times)◦MXit is evil◦“its’ a starting point for a lot of

problems” (The Star)◦“MXit is one of the major evils of the

21st Century” (Cape Argus)

Sincerity claims … Sincerity claims … Linking with negative reports which

have nothing/little to do with MXit◦Teen cocaine parties are organized

through Mxit (Mail and Guardian)◦Teens having sex in the mall - they

meet via MXit◦“Cops find teen who fled with MXit

man” (The Star) The girl actually was staying with another

girl It is said “she was trying to sort out her life”

Legitimation claimsLegitimation claimsQuestions asked

◦Who is speaking, who is silent, what are their interests?

◦What is privileged? What is not said about MXit?

◦What is assumed or implied?◦What is missing or suppressed in the

discourse◦How are the decisions legitimised?◦Who is involved? Who is not involved?◦What are the stakes and the interest

involved or excluded?

Legitimation claims …Legitimation claims …Who is speaking about MXit?

Mainly parents (13 articles, 16 times) Educators (7 articles) Experts (12 articles) Vendors (9 articles) Youth (7 articles) – Mainly as victims

MediaParents

Legitimation claimsLegitimation claimsUse of experts

◦Experts used: Educators, psychologists, detectives, etc

◦Some experts are inappropriate -e.g. “I blame MXit, because these teenagers are

meeting their contacts here and that’s when things go out of hand.” Security guard of a mall

Legitimation claims …Legitimation claims …Appeal to emotion

“destroying relationships and allowing grown up men to lure young boys and girls into traps”. Leader of ID, Pretoria News

If MXit is not banned “we’ll lose our future generation …. We will surely damage the social fabric of society”. High School Principal, Cape Argus

“ .. a large base of [MXit] users are from previously disadvantaged and Mxit offers them an affordable alternative to communication” MXit vendor, Mail and Guardian

Legitimation claims …Legitimation claims …Media does not question voice of

vendor◦Vendor has financial interest in MXit

Vendor legitimise by verbally bullying critics

“These claims had been grossly exaggerated and misrepresented the truth. MXit’s critics clearly did not understand the technology” MXit owners

“MXit is planning to take legal steps against certain newspapers and broadcast media who have described its product as a tool for child pornography”). (The Star)

ConclusionsConclusionsThere are distortionsThere are differences of opinions

…..

Parents Vendor

ConclusionsConclusions ……MXit vs. ‘MXit’

◦Vendors are talking about a specific MXit

◦Parents et al are talking about a generic conceptualisation of MXit which includes: MIMs (e.g. Mig33, Noknok) Broad range of mobile applications The entire cellphone

ConclusionsConclusions ……Moral panic

◦Symptoms of moral panic Media sensationalisation of stories Politicians join band wagon (e.g. Leader of ID) Call for legislation to control

Why moral panic?◦Mobile applications have created a

space over which parents and educators have little or no control

◦Scapegoating – blaming social ills on something

A critical discourse A critical discourse analysis on media about analysis on media about MXit MXit

Agnes ChigonaWallace Chigona