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The Newspaper as an Epideictic Meeting Point

On the Epidictic Nature of the Newspaper Argumentation

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Abstract

This article shows how epideictic rhetoric and argumentation may be interrelated in a general-interest newspaper framed as a single discourse produced by a collective author. In more specific terms, the view advanced here is that newspaper as whole has an epideictic dimension which, in terms of argumentation, is the fundamental or predominant one. The usefulness of this approach is twofold. In terms of rhetoric, to explore the applicability of epideictic rhetoric to journalistic discourse; and in the field of journalism studies, the goal is to draw on the theory of epideictic rhetoric so as to refine the conceptualization of the nature of argumentation in the newspaper as such. Given this twofold perspective, the account of newspaper discursive practices will be general, and the classical and contemporary epideictic theory will be briefly summarized. However, the outcome of this analysis is an example of a fruitful encounter between the two fields.

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Notes

  1. For the definition of argumentation used in this paper, see the Sect. 3, where it is explained in the context of Perelman´s thought.

  2. Epideictic characteristics may be combined with the features of other genres in other speeches, giving rise to rhetoric hybrids, for instance, the presidential inaugurals (Jamieson and Campbell 1982, pp. 154–155). Another hybrid is the official apology, a combination of the apologetic and epideictic (Villadsen 2008, p. 25).

  3. Like Perlman and Olbrechts-Tyteca (1969), whose view is discussed in further detail below.

  4. Perelman alone is cited as author of the book hereafter.

  5. Later, in Sect. 3, we will define in more detail how argumentation is understood in the context of this article. There, we will explain briefly how Perelman´s speech techniques include reasoning and other verbal and expressive resources.

  6. Danisch has proposed an unexpected and startling expansion of the meaning of epideictic, which involves its application to a writer’s work as a whole: specifically, to the work of Michel Foucault (Danisch 2006, pp. 291–307) and Alan Locke (Danisch 2008, p. 297–314).

  7. Apart from Doury and Micheli, see for instance, Blair (2012), O'Keefe (2012), Plantin (2012).

  8. Hallin and Mancini (2004) traced three models, linked to particular geographical areas, in the context of Western journalism. The first is the Polarized Pluralist Model found in the Mediterranean region. The second is the Democratic Corporatist Model in North/Central Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland). Finally, the third is the Liberal Model, which they locate in the English-speaking West: the UK, Ireland and North America (the US and Canada).

  9. In addition to these politically-conditioned newspaper models, there are two other models whose epideictic import is more closely bound up with entertainment: the popular press and “the special-interest journal”, mainly sports magazines, with special features on athletic heroes (Beale 1978, p. 241): texts that contain a colorful style, praise and blame, non-controversial and universal values. A more nuanced account of this point is clearly required; this discussion does not address the plurality of cultures.

  10. The prestige press tends to be comprised of national newspapers, in which ideological concerns carry more weight for the audience than is the case for regional or local newspapers.

  11. See Bourdieu in Sullivan (1991. pp. 234–235).

  12. Since the focus of inquiry here is written text, the term “author” is used instead of “orator” or “speaker”.

  13. Cognitive dissonance may arise on occasions, of course, and the audience’s expectations may not be met or satisfied (Agnew 2008).

  14. The notion of argumentation followed in this paper includes logical argument in the sense in which Aristotle mentions it in his Rhetoric. That logical dimension is evident in how premises and conclusions are articulated in the narrative part of the newspaper, where news acts as a premise, and the reader contributes the other premise and draws the conclusion.

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  1. ICS, Public Discourse: Persuasive and Interpretative Strategies, Universidad de Navarra, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain

    Fernando López Pan

  2. Departamento de Proyectos Periodísticos, Facultad de Comunicación, Universidad de Navarra, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain

    Fernando López Pan

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López Pan, F. The Newspaper as an Epideictic Meeting Point . Argumentation 29, 285–303 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-014-9337-z

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