A Critical Discourse Analysis of News Headlines: The Case of Lawsuits Between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

Abstract

This study analyzes the language used in 39 news headlines from The New York Times online platform, covering the period from May 2016 to December 2023, with a focus on the legal case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), the research aims to uncover the power dynamics, social structures, and ideologies embedded in media discourse. To maintain objectivity, keyword searches including terms like “Johnny Depp,” “Amber Heard,” “lawsuits,” and “violence” were performed, analyzing informative, descriptive, and sensational headlines. The analysis encompasses key SFL elements, including Lexical Choice, Framing, Transitivity, Agency, and Modality, to understand how specific language choices influence public opinion. The research aims to examine the discursive strategies employed in The New York Times headlines regarding the legal case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and to investigate the underlying social ideologies reflected in the news headlines under examination. The findings demonstrate that news headlines do not merely report events but also reinforce societal power structures and ideologies. The combined application of SFL and CDA highlights the subtle ways in which media discourse influences public attitudes and behaviors.