Ideological Framing in Front Page Headlines: A Stylistic Analysis of Dawn Newspaper’s Pre-Election Coverage in Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates the ideological framing in front-page headlines of the Dawn Newspaper during the pre-election period from February 1 to February 7, 2024. Utilizing the Pragmatic Stylistics framework by Elizabeth Black (2006) and McQuire and Mick's (1996) Taxonomy of Rhetorical Devices, the research aims to explore the stylistic features that guide readers' interpretations and contribute to ideological framing. The study employs a qualitative descriptive and interpretative analysis, examining purposively selected headlines through pragma-stylistic and rhetorical lenses. Key findings reveal that speech acts, implicatures, presuppositions, contextual framing, politeness strategies, figures of speech, figures of thought, and structural devices are strategically used to shape readers' perceptions. These features not only inform but also influence readers' engagement with political narratives, guiding interpretations and reinforcing specific ideological viewpoints. For instance, assertive speech acts provide reassurance about electoral stability, while implicatures suggest underlying political strategies. Presuppositions highlight political instability, and contextual framing emphasizes urgency and controversy. Politeness strategies manage reader relationships, and rhetorical devices like metaphors and irony enhance narrative impact. This research enhances theoretical understanding in media discourse, pragmatic stylistics, and linguistics, demonstrating how linguistic tools can be decoded to reveal underlying ideologies. The study's significance lies in its comprehensive approach, combining stylistic and pragmatic analyses to provide deeper insights into media's role in shaping socio-political discourse in Pakistan.