Journalism Language: Features and Genres

Communicative Characteristics: The S-Mix Code

The S-Mix Code is one of the most striking features of journalistic and advertising language. It involves the strategic combination of various codes depending on the medium used:

• Radio: Oral language is mixed with musical messages.
• Print Media: Written language is combined with iconic (visual) language.
• Television: Oral language, written text, still images, and moving images are all integrated.

The Newspaper as a Semiological System

A newspaper functions as a semiological system, a set of interrelated and interdependent signs that enable communication and information transmission. To facilitate correct decoding by the reader, newspapers are structured into various parts, primarily sections, which organize content by subject matter and provide a clear order. Most newspapers typically include the following sections:

• International News
• National News
• Local News
• Opinion
• Society
• Culture
• Economy
• Sports
• Entertainment (Shows)

Additionally, the first and last pages often feature specific content and a distinct graphic design.

Linguistic Features of Journalistic Texts

Language of Informative Texts

The language used in informative journalistic texts is characterized by objectivity, clarity, and conciseness. Key features include:

• Texts are typically drafted in the third person.
• Passive sentences are frequently used, especially the reflexive passive, along with impersonal constructions.
• Nominalizations (constructions without a main verb) are common, and there is frequent omission of articles and other determiners.
• A formal register is maintained.
• Vocabulary is educated but generally accessible, though it often includes technical terms and neologisms (newly coined words, including loanwords and jargon).

Language of Opinion Pieces

The language of opinion pieces is distinct, characterized by:

• Rich vocabulary, with an abundance of abstract nouns.
• Frequent use of adjectives for specification.
• Verbal modes can include both the indicative and subjunctive, as well as various past tenses. The historical present is also used for narrative effect.
• Multiple linguistic functions predominate: representative, conative, metalinguistic, expressive, and poetic.
• They usually have a deductive structure, though an inductive structure is sometimes employed.

Key Journalistic Genres

The Interview

A variant of the report, the interview is characterized by a dialogue between the journalist and the interviewee. The interviewee is chosen either due to their public interest or because their ideas and opinions can provide a deeper understanding of a particular topic.

The Chronicle

The chronicle is a hybrid genre that blends information and opinion. It presents a chronological narrative of various aspects of events. The most common types include war, political, cultural, and sports chronicles.

The Column

A column is a short article published regularly, often weekly or daily, typically occupying a dedicated space on a page. Its author is usually a prominent writer or journalist, and the language is often characterized by a humorous, ironic, or critical tone.

Journalistic Cartoons

This category includes jokes, political cartoons, and caricatures. They serve to express subjective opinions and satirical criticism, often through visual humor.