Opinionated Journalism: A Rhetorical Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Articles

In order to be well informed and thinking readers, everything we read ought to be approached with a critical eye. There are better and worse ways to do this. This paper addresses the contents of three articles with this critical eye. Each of the articles analyzed in this paper covers a unique and specific topic. However, as the paper will show, they all have common themes. These themes arise from analysis of each part of the articles. For convenience and clarity, one of the best ways to analyze any given article is to break it down into different points. In this paper, these points are the purpose, question, information, concepts, assumptions, inferences, point of view, and implications presented in the articles. Instead of writing around each article, the paper addresses all three papers together, breaking down the analysis point-by-point.

Purpose

The stated purpose of each of these sample articles is specific to the topic they are covering, which is part of what makes these articles such good journalistic pieces. They are relatable, but informative; they are challenging, yet couched in a specific framework. Even more specifically, they are situated firmly in the ideological standpoint that unchecked free market reign and state sovereignty are dangerous for society. This will be seen more specifically as the paper addresses the point of view and concepts of each article. However, it is clear that the overarching purpose of each of these articles is to narrate the specific dangers to the reader, by providing an informative yet argumentative piece.

The first article by MacMilan, “Why Facebook Wants Your ID”, focuses on technology, internet use and privacy. It concerns itself especially with the potentials of a method of identifying users on the Internet. This “digital calling card”, MacMilan says, “would create many new commercial opportunities and could enhance users’ online experiences, it would also raise identity theft and privacy issues” (MacMilan, n.p.). From this position, stated early on in the article, it is clear that MacMilan’s purpose is to highlight the potential dangers of this new technology on social media sites.

The second article, by Christ, has an even clearer and more specific purpose than the first article. It is, essentially, to examine the “greenness” of the cruising industry’s business practices on land as well as at sea. The article examines the sustainable practices (or lack thereof) of the cruising industry with a highly critical eye, as this paper will show in the subsequent points of analysis. While the article deals with specifics, its over all purpose fits with the typology discussed above.

Silver-Greenberg’s article, “Land Rush in Africa”, is perhaps the clearest of three in terms of its purpose. In order to examine foreign investment in agriculture in Africa, the article compares and contrasts the stated reasons for foreign investment in Africa with the experience of the local people. As Silver-Greenberg states, “Investors from developed countries are leasing large tracts of land in Africa and increasing the efficiency of agricultural production. But subsistence farmers are being displaced, corrupt local officials may be absconding with funds, and the land is being used for export crops” (n.p.). This juxtaposition is what drives the majority of Silver-Greenberg’s article.

Question

The articles begin to unveil their specific purposes by asking specific questions about their topic. MacMilan begins his article by asking open ended questions about identification technologies: “Questions arise about whether identity standards should be developed by commercial entities. Should regulators, nonprofits, and others play a role to help protect the interests of individual users and the public?” (n.p.). These questions are what guide the remainder of the article.

Christ, in much the same way, guides his article by asking a guiding question at the beginning: “More cruise lines go green at sea, but will they commit to acting responsibly on land?” (n.p.). This initial question acknowledges that cruise lines have made changes in their sustainable practices in terms of the environment, they must make changes in order to be socially sustainable. By asking the question in this way, Christ makes his point of view clear.

Silver-Greenberg’s beginning is even more specific than the other two. Her questions regarding agricultural practices in Africa are as follows: “Is this ethical? What obligations do developed countries and agribusiness entities have to indigenous peoples? How should westerners manage the trade-offs between assisting economic development and agricultural efficiency versus preserving traditional lifestyles and agricultural production?” (n.p.). All of these questions contribute to the overarching (yet leading) question of whether corporate farmers are the new colonialists. While this question may be leading, it is nevertheless effective for guiding the rest of the article.

Information

One of the most important aspects of a successful article is the way it supports its perspective with information regarding the topic. Each of these sample articles gives adequate information to enlighten the reader of the views espoused by the author. For example, MacMilan’s article about Facebook and technology identification refers to specific experts in the field, such as David Recordon, who co-founded the OpenID Foundation, the nonprofit that seeks to maintain an open set of standards for Web identity. "Standards are the plumbing layer of the Internet. For them to be successful they have to be freely shared”, MacMilan quotes Recordon as saying (n.p.). This information highlights MacMilan’s purpose of the article by showing open information as imperative.

In “Shore as a Shame”, Christ chooses to focus on several case studies to supplement the information given in the article. After discussing examples of cruise companies cleaning up their act on water, he turns to contradicting examples that show irresponsibility on land. For example, “cruise executives also insisted that Belize abandon a proposed increase in national park entrance fees – from $5 to $10 per person (among the lowest in the world, even with the increase). That increase, Belize officials maintain, is desperately needed to better care for the same parks that receive high traffic from cruise passengers” (n.p.). By telling the story in terms of specific examples, rather than statistics or numbers, Christ effectively relays information while still driving a narrative.

In much the same way, Silver-Greenberg gives specific examples of agricultural practices in Africa:

…in Kenya, foreign land investors are beginning to stir resentment. Subsistence farmers and cattle herders complain that they are being displaced without compensation. In the Siaya District of southwest Kenya, families say Dominion hasn't offered as many jobs as it claims in the six years since it arrived. Villagers accuse it of polluting water and sickening farm animals--allegations the company denies (n.p.).

Silver-Greenberg tells the parallel narratives of the multinational company Dominion and those of village farmers in Kenya. The storied information leaves the reader with a clear impression that they have at least a nominal understanding of the current issues in Africa.

Concepts

Each of the articles uses existing concepts for their perspective and narrative. MacMilan uses the ideas of security, identity, anonymity, and freedom. The reader is expected to know both the meaning and the connotation of these concepts, making connections to the specifics that his article deals with. In the same way, Christ’s article uses the concept of “green practices” very liberally, without much in the way of explanation for the reader. Instead, he builds on the past decade of discourse surrounding green practices, instead choosing to inform the reader of cruising practices specifically. However, both of these papers do not require too much specialized knowledge.

In contrast, Silver-Greenberg’s article about agriculture in Africa uses academic concepts to justify some of the article. One example of this is the mercantilist perspective that Silver-Greenberg brings up. This is, essentially, a focus on the state’s relationship with multinational enterprises. Additionally, Silver-Greenberg also builds on readers’ understanding of global issues such as high oil prices and the role and function of foreign investment.

Assumption

Each of the articles are written with their own set of assumptions. For starters, MacMilan assumes utilitarian business practices. He uses this assumption to explain that Facebook, rather than being concerned with consumers’ privacy, is exploiting the ideologies of the OpenID nonprofit for market gain. While this may or may not be true, the assumption is the starting point rather than the conclusion. Similarly, Christ’s article begins with the assumption that business practices and profits are the most important guiding force of the cruising industry. Again, this is not necessarily unfounded, but it serves as the foundation of Christ’s article – therefore, it is an assumption.

Silver-Greenberg’s assumptions are much more specific in nature. In a phrase, the author demonizes development (or, at least, unsustainable development) and espouses the maintenance of culture. The implicit assumption here is that these two things are mutually exclusive – that you cannot have one when the other is reality. Silver-Greenberg does this by citing the often-unfounded sentiments of Dominion’s Burgess. For example, “he plays down the idea that land formerly used for subsistence agriculture has now been monopolized by Dominion. Farms that surround his company's property are little more than "unproductive gardens," he says” (n.p.). Quoting this perspective is an obvious attempt to justify the assumption that development is inherently harmful.

Inferences

Each of the articles draws their own set of inferences from their assumptions and narratives. MacMilan does this by citing another board member of the OpenID nonprofit. MacMilan says “Web sites should continue to support OpenID since Facebook may prioritize profits over piracy” (n.p.). He goes on to quote the board member as saying that “It’s just too soon to let Facebook determine the future of identity on the Web” (MacMilan n.p.). The inferences of this are clear – the future of internet security and privacy will be much more unstable if placed in the hands of private companies, which are market (rather than ideologically) driven.

Christ’s article makes its own set of inferences, largely in regard to big business and the environmental footprint in places that are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. As Christ states, “Charleston has struggled against and survived three centuries of wars, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Its current challenge is the cruise ships – and the negatives they bring” (n.p.). By comparing the current plight of localities like Charleston to natural disasters, Christ infers that the potential damage is serious. It is, however, preventable, which is the entire point of Christ’s article.

Silver-Greenberg draws similar comparisons between the natural and the man-induced in her article. She says that many of the problems in Africa are due to free-market reign, saying that:

Governments in those countries, which annually accept billions of dollars in food aid, leased land to outsiders in exchange for promises of cash, roads, and schools. Local residents, however, often weren't consulted when land they considered theirs was turned over to newcomers. Centuries-old themes of exploitation inevitably surfaced (n.p.).

Silver-Greenberg makes the connection between the current so-called exploitation that is going on today to that of colonization and exploitation in the past. With this, the inference is clear and serious: if it goes unchecked, the operation of the free market (especially when marked by the collusion of African state governments) will ultimately lead to the continued impoverished state of African countries and communities.

Point of View

The points of view that each of the articles come from are pretty clear. MacMilan’s article highlights the business practices of Facebook as not aligned with the interests of its consumers. He states, “Fundamentally, Facebook is a business. Their business is about monetizing the people in their network” (n.p.). This gives the point of view that continues throughout the article. Christ’s point of view is made even clearer. He states, “When it comes to the flip side of the sustainability equation – providing social and economic benefits to local communities and protecting the destinations they visit – the cruise lines come up far short” (n.p.). Finally, Silver-Greenberg also presents the reader with a clear point of view. The author’s beginning question itself exposes her point of view (Are corporate farmers the new colonialists). Silver-Greenberg also chooses to focus on personal stories, rather than the large-scale effects of agriculture business practices in Africa. Doing so presents a certain image for the reader to digest.

Implications

All three of the articles leave the reader with clear implications of the narratives and information that they have presented. MacMilan ends with a call to action: “Consumers should keep informed on developments of privacy policies, settings, and practices” (n.p.). This leaves readers with a clear implication of what they have just read. Christ brings his own perspective to bear on future implications, saying that cruise companies are in a unique position to lift their shades, look around, and start pestering the big ships to go green on land. Doing so will send a powerful message: what happens on land and water matters equally” (n.p.). The implication has less to do with the reader and more a calling-out of the cruise companies more generally. Finally, Silver-Greenberg paints a bleak picture of the future, saying that the current situation “eventually will force many of [Kenyans] to seek work in Nairobi--a fate they all dread” (n.p.). Each of the authors provide readers with a satisfying – and yet challenging – end to their articles, all in different ways. It is this last point that ultimately makes the articles pointedly successful.

Works Cited

Christ, Costas. “Shore is a Shame.” National Geographic Traveler October 2011. Print.

MacMillan, Douglas. “BusinessWeek.” BusinessWeek. 28 Dec 2009. Print.

Silver Green-Berg, Jessica. “Land Rush in Africa.” BusinessWeek 7 Dec 2009. Print.