Analysis of Geo TV's article regarding Hamid Mir's attack.

Analysis of Geo TV's article regarding Hamid Mir's attack.

            According to Van Dijk while analyzing any discourse one should look at the meaning conveyed in the topic. The technical term he used for topic is semantic macrostructure. The topic contains the idea and crux of any discourse. It is the meaning that the discourse wants to convey as a whole. After analyzing the topic, the analyst should look at the local meaning which is the meaning conveyed by each sentence as each sentence has different meaning. These are also called microstructures and it is at the level of words. The analyst has to look at words, word choices adjectives, presuppositions and implications in a sentence. All discourses have an explicit message which it wants to convey and there is always an implicit message which is not clearly said in it but it holds the ideology which governs that discourse. The analyst has to look for what is said and what is not said in the discourse. The article attached is analyzed from this perspective, looking at the identities it creates and the ideology it promotes. Also look at the choice of words, adjectives, presuppositions and implications chosen for expression.

            In a triangular model Van Dijk tries to explain the society, discourse and cognition are interrelated and they have influence on one another. The way we perceive things is the way we settle our society and this in term determines our discourse. According to him, all discourses are constituted and constitutive at the same time. They are created and have the ability to create other things in the society. As all discourses are created by people living in that society and they are a part of the norms of the society so what ever they will write it will promote those particular norms incorporated in them by the society. So the society determines the thinking of the individuals and these individuals are the creator of discourses.

            The title of the article creates the identity of Jang Group as a respecting media group which doesn’t go against the rules. In reality it is not so as Jang group is accusing a government organization for the attack and is also claiming to prove it. It is also trying to justify it self and prove itself innocent. It makes a claim that the Jang group is raising its voice for its own right and is not trying to degrade any organization.

The following article from Geo TV creates the identity of Hamid Mir in a very positive way and it shows that Mir has always been fighting for the truth and has always done the right thing. He has been shown as a brave, courageous and daring reporter who is willing to do anything and face all kinds of difficulties by taking side of the truth. He has discussed and brought to light such issues as the missing person's cases, the Baluchistan issue, Karachi security etc. Such issues have annoyed the forces who have been complaining against Mir.

            Though it is stated that the Jang group respects the armed forces but in the article we see that the ISI and forces are blamed for the attack and it is clearly said that Jang group have faced difficulties before because it stood besides its team members and supported them. Also is it said that the Jang group would exercise its legal right to freedom of expression. They term it as their right to express and to name the people responsible for the attack and its purpose is not to offend anyone or any agency or institution.

            The identity of the attackers has been created as cowardly who do not have the courage to sit and talk and come in front of everyone. They acted in a secretive manner and escaped after attacking. They are given a negative identity. The attack on Hamid Mir has been termed as a "cowardly attack" on his life which he survived. The choice of the word "cowardly" is to describe the attack and to give the message that such attacks do not scare them and they will continue on with their work. The word "lodged" has been used for the bullets which injured Mir. Lodge is used for people who occupy a house; it is not used for non-living things.

            The Jang group is clarifying that it is has not blamed any institution. It has not clearly stated which institution has previously been pointed out by them as the prime suspect of the attack. The name of the institution is kept vague. The Jang group who has stood beside its members has faced accusation and difficult times at the hands of various governments in the past as well. The governments are not explicitly stated in the article and it is presupposed that the reader is aware of it.

            At many places in the article quotation marks are used but it is not mentioned by whom these statements are said. The identity is kept secret and vague. It is done so that no other member has to face the problems which Mir is facing and a collective identity of Jang group is given which is general is nature and no single person has to bear the consequences.

            Previously in the article the Jang group has been called 'it' but then there is a shift in the use of pronoun and later it is called 'us' and 'we' claiming that it is not only the Jang group which is accused, it is the reader as well who is sided with the Jang group. The readers sympathize with the Jang group and are forced to believe that wrong has been done to the Jang group and to him as well. Also the Jang group has faced such allegations in the past which could never have been proved true. This is done to them due to their "independent policy" which is not known and the reader is not aware of what is in the policy of Jang group as it is not discussed.

            It is also claimed that Hamid Mir has made written and video statement expressing his fear that he might be attacked and also stating who is responsible in case of an attack on him. No such evidence has been published or brought forward and only accusations have been made by the Jang group. It is stated that they will share the evidence with the consent of Hamid Mir. Again the names of agencies are not mentioned and stated that "some agencies" are after Mir. The names of the agencies are kept secret.

            The whole article do not identifies anybody other than Hamid Mir and his brother, Amir Mir. It is addressed from Jang group to the ISI but ISI has not been clearly mentioned. An indication, that the ISI might be behind the attack, is given when it is said that "the ISI has been continuously and strongly complaining" to the Jang group against some of its "senior journalists, particularly against Hamid Mir." No evidence of these complains have been provided and it is left to the right time when it will be disclosed and proved by the Jang group.

            The Jang group implies the fact that it is talking with evidence and can prove everything but nothing can be proved against it as it has been in the past and the accusations on it are baseless. Calling Hamid Mir as a friend to the people who prayed for him is to add emotions and to make the people feel for him and believe that injustice has been done to him.

            The Jang group through this article is trying to create an ideology that the people who follow the right path and speak the truth always come across similar circumstances and have to face many difficulties. Nobody is allowed to raise voice against the government and armed forces. If any organization or individual tries to do so it has to face difficulties and bear financial loss. Jang group is also trying to imply that the journalists in our country are not given the necessary freedom to say the truth and live freely and safely. The government fails to provide security to them.

            As Hamid Mir is a senior journalist of the Jang group so he has full support of his organization and it also claims to stand beside him in all difficulties. The Jang group is also trying the public to take side of Hamid Mir and support him. Also they want to the people to believe that if any case is filed against Jang group it would be wrong and would lack evidence like all the previous cases and due to this Jang group suffers financial loss. Also if anything happens to Hamid Mir it will be due to the fact that he always speaks the truth and is vocal on issues which others hesitate to talk about. Due to this he has been receiving threats from different sources.

Conclusion:

            Other news channels are not so much emotional in this matter and they are of the view that Hamid Mir, his brother and Jang group should not frame any organization without any proof and evidence. They have even mentioned that this accusation has led our enemy to turn its gun towards ISI which is a prime intelligence agency of Pakistan. They have also expressed their sympathy with Hamid Mir but they are of the view that until an investigation is conducted, no one should be blamed. Jang group states that "All including the accused must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.” implying the fact that they have the right to accuse anyone and the accused should feel innocent until his guilt is proven. Jang group do not want to offend anyone and exercise its right in a friendly way if provided the chance and also do not want face financial loss.

Work cited

Geo.tv, 'Jang Group Respects Armed Forces Immensely | PAKISTAN - Geo.Tv'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

Bibliography

ARYNEWS.tv, Pakistan News-Latest,Breaking News,Live Videos,. 'Hamid Mir Issues His First Statement After Attack, Points Out ISI Indirectly - ARYNEWS.Tv, Pakistan News-Latest,Breaking News,Live Videos'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

BBC News,. 'Hamid Mir Issues Defiant Statement'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

Geo.tv,. 'Jang Group Respects Armed Forces Immensely | PAKISTAN - Geo.Tv'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

NDTV.com,. 'Pakistan's Geo TV In Trouble For Accusing ISI Over Attack On Journalist Hamid Mir'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

The News International, Pakistan,. 'Mir Informed On April 7 About Possible Attack On Him: RWB'. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014

Appendix

Jang Group respects armed forces immensely

KARACHI: The Jang Group issued the following statement on Sunday: "We are thankful to Allah Almighty that Hamid Mir, the pride of journalists across the region, survived a cowardly attack on his life. Three of the six bullets that entered his body are still lodged there and have ruptured his bladder and intestines but his condition is no longer critical.

"The Jang Group clarifies that it has not put the blame on any institution or section of any institution. The Jang Group values and respects all institutions. All including the accused must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Jang Group demands an independent and fair investigation without fear or favor.

"The Jang Group has a history of standing besides its team members in difficult times regardless of any cost - financial or otherwise. The people have witnessed that in the past too during the tenure of various governments we stood for the cause of freedom of the press and suffered losses of billions of rupees and our cases are still pending in the courts in this regard. It is not new to us that due to our independent policy, serious allegations have been leveled against our group; it has been done many times in the past to but we have always given a befitting reply and no one has ever proved any allegation against us. We always endeavor to report the truth to our viewers and readers and it is our resolve to stick to this policy in the future also. We believe that it is in the interest of the people and state of Pakistan.”

"Hamid Mir had sent written and video statements to his colleagues and friends and members of the family where security risks and threats to his life had been clearly identified. Some of this material we will share in good time after taking the consent of Hamid Mir now that he is out of danger. Hamid Mir has been categorical in stating that some individuals in the security agencies have been after him for a while.”

“His brother and investigative journalist, Amir Mir, as per Hamid's written and verbal instructions to friends, family and colleagues, has disclosed some individuals who should be considered as suspects. We have published/aired his statement and also given the point of view of the ISI through ISPR as per the principles of journalism. In various talk shows and programs of our media group since the evening of Friday, all points of view have been covered properly.”

"Accusing individuals is not the same thing as accusing an institution. In the recent past as well as in history we have come across many examples where rogue agents have been punished for going against the institutions' values. Many individuals have, in fact, physically revolted and attacked their own institutions. Allegations against the ISI have also been leveled in the past.”

"We also want to bring it on the record that the ISI has been continuously and strongly complaining to our senior editors against some of our senior journalists, particularly against Hamid Mir. We will prove this and many other things at the proper time.”

"Hamid Mir is known for his courage and for taking up causes that might have annoyed the forces inimical to the freedom of expression, including shedding light on the missing persons' cases, the Baluchistan issue, Karachi security, the rule of law and democracy. He was also vocal on the rule of law being applied to past dictators who have broken their oath and the Constitution.”

"We categorically state here that our media group not only respects the armed forces of Pakistan from the core of its heart, it would also continue to exercise its constitutional and legal right to freedom of expression for a strong Pakistan.”

"We are grateful for the prayers of the common people of the country who count Hamid Mir as their friend."