Manipulative Strategies in Contemporary Mass Media Discourse (as in an example of The New York Times and The Washington Post)

ABSTRACT:

This article examines the phenomenon of manipulation in contemporary mass media and analyzes the linguistic and psychological mechanisms used to influence public consciousness. The study explores how modern media institutions employ selective presentation of information, sensationalism, evaluative vocabulary, repetition, and ideological framing in order to shape audience perception and social attitudes. Special attention is devoted to the role of emotionally charged language and contrastive lexical structures in constructing political and social narratives. The article also investigates the manipulative potential of journalistic discourse in influential international newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, demonstrating how headlines, lexical choices, and contextual framing affect readers’ interpretations of political events and social realities. The research emphasizes that manipulation has become an integral characteristic of the modern information environment and a significant instrument of information warfare. The findings highlight the necessity of developing critical thinking and media literacy skills in order to protect audiences from ideological influence and distorted representations of reality.

Keywords: Media Manipulation; Mass Media; Media Discourse; Manipulative Strategies; Ideological Framing; Evaluative Language; Sensationalism; Public Opinion; Lexical Manipulation; Information Warfare; Critical Discourse Analysis; Political Communication; Media Influence; Journalistic Discourse; Media Literacy