Discourse analysis of news related to Covid-19 based on the theory of Laclau and Mouffe: a case study of China Daily newspaper

Abstract

In times of global crises, media outlets transcend their informational role to become producers of narratives and discourses that shape public understanding of the crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, different media organizations framed and represented the crisis through varying discursive strategies. The aim of the present study is to analyze the discourse of COVID-19 news in China Daily based on the theory of Laclau and Mouffe, in order to demonstrate how this newspaper articulated the discourse of the pandemic and which central and floating signifiers it emphasized. To achieve this goal, the study employed critical discourse analysis within the theoretical framework of Laclau and Mouffe, examining news articles published in China Daily between 2020 and 2021. The findings revealed that the newspaper, through the use of discursive strategies such as lexical generalization, rhetorical expressions, and excessive lexicalization, constructed a discourse centered around two main nodal points: “China’s effective actions” and “China’s global leadership.” Within this discourse, China is portrayed as a country successful in managing the pandemic, leading in scientific research, and committed to global cooperation, whereas other countries—particularly the United States—are positioned in contrast. This discursive articulation contributed to strengthening China’s national identity and legitimizing the government’s policies in confronting the pandemic.