The study of media language is increasingly important both for media
studies and for discourse analysis and sociolinguistics. Norman
Fairclough applies to media language his 'critical discourse analysis'
framework which he developed in 'Language and Power' and 'Discourse and
Social Life'. Drawing on examples from TV, radio and the press, he
focuses on changing practices of media discourse in relation to wider
processes of social and cultural change. In particular he explores the
tensions between public and private in the media and the tensions
between information and entertainment.