Directions of Solidarization in the Crisis Discourse of Belarusian Regional Press During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract

The paper discusses the directions of solidarity formation, as well as the linguistic means of its explication in the press during the coronavirus pandemic crisis. This work is based on the articles of Belarusian regional newspapers published in March–June 2020. The current situation is a global crisis that has a significant impact on the lives of people around the world; therefore its coverage in the media is extremely important. It was determined here that the main strategies for presenting the situation in the media include orientation (formulation and clarification of the crisis), neutralization (easing the tension in the society) and integration (promoting solidarity among the population during the crisis). The analysis of Belarusian regional press revealed four vectors of solidarization: social support of vulnerable categories of people (senior citizens, the disabled) by public service institutions, various organizations and volunteers; people’s personal and collective responsibility for their own health and safety of others, demonstration of responsible behaviour; institutional, mainly financial, assistance in combating the epidemic, including support to other countries; common values and the consolidation of efforts to achieve socially significant goals. Key lexemes were identified that accentuate these ideas in the publications of the regional press. The author comes to the conclusion that in a crisis situation mass media strengthens its role as a means of maintaining balance in the society and mobilizing the population in order to accomplish important tasks.
For citation: Biyumena A.A. Directions of Solidarization in the Crisis Discourse of Belarusian Regional Press During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Vestnik Severnogo (Arkticheskogo) federal’nogo universiteta. Ser.: Gumanitarnye i sotsial’nye nauki, 2021, no. 1, pp. 33–40. DOI: 10.37482/2687-1505-V072