Presidential rhetoric and countering fake news: An analytical study of linguistic structure and content

Mahmoud Abdulla, Hadeer

doi:10.21608/jsb.2025.381898.1917

Presidential rhetoric and countering fake news: An analytical study of linguistic structure and content

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Hadeer Mahmoud Abdulla

Radio &amp;amp;TV department, Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University

10.21608/jsb.2025.381898.1917

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the Egyptian presidential discourse in the face of fake news, by monitoring its content and analyzing its linguistic and rhetorical strategies, through a structured content and discourse analysis form applied to a sample of official presidential speeches that addressed the topic of fake news. The results showed that the presidential discourse focuses heavily on denying and reframing fake news as a threat to stability and national security, while blaming it on internal and external hostile actors. The speech also uses multiple methods of persuasion, most notably promoting trust in the state, employing statistics, and invoking patriotism, in addition to adopting clear official language, supported by a repetitive linguistic rhythm and metaphors of a mobilizing nature. The study recommends the need to develop the presidential discourse towards more personalization for social groups, employ digital platforms in ways that are in line with modern content presentation methods, and enhance the discourse by involving specialists and experts in countering fake news.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Radio and TV

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