Metafory korupce v českých online médiích

Abstract

Článek ve vazbě na zahraniční výzkumy zkoumá to, jaké metafory korupce a v jaké míře využívají česká online média. Text se věnuje tomu, jak mohou tyto metafory zdůraznit nebo naopak zakrýt specifické formy a aspekty korupce. Tím přispívá do debaty o vlivu médií na vnímání korupce.

This article builds on existing research on corruption metaphors in different national/linguistic contexts and aims to find out which corruption metaphors are used by Czech online media and to what extent, and how these metaphors can emphasize or, on the contrary, obscure the essence of particular forms of corrupt behaviour. In doing so, the text also contributes to the debate on how the media can influence the social perception of corruption. The metaphors used have implications for our understanding not only of corruption itself, but also of anti-corruption measures. When the media describe corruption as a cancer, they are telling us through this metaphor that corruption is invasive, destructive and needs to be eliminated, which resonates with the concept of disease and cure. Through an analysis of metaphors in more than 2000 media texts published in 2023, the paper shows some similarities of the Czech context with existing research (in particular, the relatively low number of metaphors, which were present in only 13% of the texts analysed) as well as some differences (for example, the high prevalence of metaphors associated with war and fewer metaphors associated with the theme of disease).