ASSIGNMENT 5“The hidden power of media discourse and the ability of the capitalist class and other power holders to exercise that power depend on systematic trends in information journalism and other media activities” (Page 25). Explain and exemplify.Zulfiqar AhmadID no. 4025Sent to:Dr. M. Umer Farooq1. IntroductionHidden power, according to Fairclough (1995a), is the “power behind the discourse” and involves how and to what extent power holders exercise their influence. Discourse being a social practice (Fairclough 2001) and an element of a communicative event (van Dijk 1997) becomes a strong determinant that impacts culture and distributes power in society. This approach to discourse makes the media a very influential mediator, and discourse itself becomes a source not only for defining power but also for naturalizing it for the benefit of those who hold it. This media hegemony manifests itself in the use of language, in ordering news, in giving priority to topics and in predetermining the content.2. Power in media discoursePower and domination are normally organized and institutionalized (van Dijk: 1993). The media, through their discursive practices, exercise power and domination, but go unnoticed unlike what other social institutions such as the judiciary and politics exercise. Media discourse naturalizes notions of power and domination to the extent that they are internalized and therefore legitimized. Media discourse has several characteristics that make it distinctive from other types of communicative events. According to Fairclough (2001), media discourse is an event of “one-sidedness”; it is permanent; reproducible; and multifaceted in use and function. The media discourse also exemplifies a significant… middle of paper… course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Robinson, J. P., & Levy, M. R. (1986). The main source. Learning from television news. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.van Dijk, T. A. (1987b). The news as discourse. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.van Dijk, T. A. (1987c). News Analysis: National and International News Case Studies: Lebanon, Ethnic Minorities, Refugees, Squatters. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.T. van Dijk. (1988a). News analysis: case studies of international and national news in the press. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.van Dijk. TA (1988b). News as discourse. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.van Dijk. TA (1991). Racism and the press. London and New York: Routledge.van Dijk. TA (1993). Elite discourse and racism. London and New York: Sage Publications, van Dijk. TA (1997). Speech as social interaction. London and New York: Sage Publications,