Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.5613/rzs.55.2.5
Phrases as Weapons of Discourse: The Role of “Non-Topics” and Other Strategies in Political-Media Construction of Reality (2010–2023)
Vjekoslav Đaić
; University North – University Center Varaždin
Branimir Felger
orcid.org/0009-0007-0758-8758
; University North – University Center Varaždin
Gordana Lesinger
orcid.org/0000-0002-7892-0187
; The Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Abstract
This paper analyses the evolution of the political phrases spin, fake news, taken out of context, and non-issue in Croatian political-media discourse between 2010 and 2023, with the aim of identifying strategies of linguistic manipulation through which political
actors shape public perception and manage the political agenda. A qualitative analysis of media content, based on 58 examples from Croatian news portals, reveals recurring patterns in the use of these phrases: spin is used to deny accusations and discredit
opponents, fake news to refute allegations and protect the political image, taken out of context to relativize controversial statements, and non-issue to marginalize politically sensitive topics. The results indicate that these phrases function as communication tools for shaping interpretive frames, contributing to the polarization of the public sphere and highlighting the need to strengthen media literacy. At the same time, the research represents a preliminary analysis that opens the way for future, more extensive and quantitatively grounded studies.
Keywords
political discourse; spin; fake news; framing; media literacy
Hrčak ID:
347051
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2025.
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