Abstract

Mobilizing James W. Carey's role for journalists as “professional communicators” who “forge a link between distinct persons or differentiated groups” (1997, p.13), this thesis explores discursive shifts within Canadian daily newspaper coverage of rights issues for queer communities through a critical discourse analysis of three news narratives from the 1990s and 2000s. It examines and compares aspects of the language, symbols, phrases, and connotative meanings surrounding themes of justice, difference, and Canadian identity, and contrasts these historic shifts through literature that examines queer news discourses. Through this analysis, this thesis explores how Canadian journalists increasingly embraced justice as a “register” or “argument strategy” in coverage, how this news discourse has been positive for news readers’ understanding of sexual difference, how it has been problematic, and how it has been Canadian. This thesis maintains that a thoughtful, reflective approach to the way that queer difference is addressed through journalistic narratives is necessary to staying at the forefront of progressive discourse surrounding queer sexual identities and, in its conclusion, offers starting points for how journalists can most professionally navigate the representation of sexual identity moving forward.