MEDIACRITICAL ANALYSIS OF DIASPORIC NARRATIVES BASED ON USA TODAY

Abstract

This article is devoted to a mediacritical analysis of diasporic narratives based on material from the American newspaper USA Today, and aims to identify the mechanisms for shaping public opinion about diasporas in the context of globalization and multicultural processes. The application of mediacritical analysis demonstrates how media not only “represent” reality but also actively “create” it, constructing “external” diasporic narratives that influence the public discourse. Primary attention is paid to the socio-political type of diasporic narrative, which reflects the views of diasporas on political and social issues in the host country. The study identifies the diasporic narrative as not merely a reflection of migration and adaptation experience but also as a means of preserving cultural memory, ethnocultural identity, and fostering intercultural interaction. The analysis of linguistic representation of various ethnic groups – Indian, Latin, Jewish, and Native American – reveals a multiplicity of perspectives and unique linguistic markers used for self-identification (“our” vs. “others”, “we” vs. “they”). The finding demonstrate that diasporic narratives challenge stereotypes, articulate social demands, and seek to preserve cultural specificity, often acting as resistance to cultural assimilation. The research contributes to the development of media and diaspora studies by highlighting the role of diasporic discourse in identity transformation and meaning –making within global cultural dynamics. The results can be used in further analysis of media discourse, in teaching courses on media linguistics, cultural studies and intercultural communication.