Semiotics of US Presidential Candidates' Images on the Official Instagram Pages of International News Sites

Author

Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze how international news websites (CNN, FOX News) portrayed the 2024 US presidential candidates through news images published on their official Instagram accounts. The goal was to uncover the visual signs and symbols used and to interpret the implicit connotations and underlying meanings conveyed by these images. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and utilized semiotic analysis on a sample of 10 images, covering the period from July 13 to November 5, 2024.
The findings revealed that CNN focused on presenting Kamala Harris in a manner that emphasized her calmness and professionalism, employing colors and designs that conveyed a sense of confidence. On the other hand, Fox News portrayed Donald Trump as a symbol of power and dominance, using vibrant colors and crowd scenes to reinforce messages of credibility and leadership.
Furthermore, The study also revealed a clear discrepancy in the balance and objectivity of photo coverage between the two sites; CNN’s coverage appeared more reserved in its depiction of Trump, while Fox News demonstrated a clear bias in his favor, presenting him in glorifying contexts and downplaying Harris’s visual presence. This disparity reflects the differing strategies of the two networks in using imagery to advance specific editorial and political objectives.

Keywords

References

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