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Article published In: Journal of Language and Politics
Vol. 18:1 (2019) ► pp.1–20

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Fixing points on a shifting landscape

Truth, lies and politics in two reader comments pages

ORCiD logo with link | University of Navarra
Published online: 14 August 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.17035.bre
Abstract
This paper focuses on reader comments published in two online UK newspapers (Mail Online and Independent) in response to articles about one discreditable incident involving a far-right political leader. The concepts of articulation and fixation are used to examine how these readers engage with the politician’s actions using ethical categories. While Independent readers build theoretical articulations between the politician’s actions and a generalised crisis of confidence in politics, readers of the Mail Online, regardless of their political sympathies, accept ethical categories as fixed points to anchor the discourse.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Online reader forums
    • 1.2Discourse approach
    • 1.3Texts and method
  • 2.Lies and politics in the Independent
    • 2.1Lying politicians
    • 2.2Distance and disaffection
    • 2.3Closing down the discussion
  • 3.Truth and lies in the Mail Online
    • 3.1Humanising the political
    • 3.2Simplifying the terms of debate
    • 3.3Firm points of reference
  • 4.Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Note
  • Bibliography
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