Examining Social Actors in Investment Fraud News: A Transitivity and Appraisal Analysis

Abstract

This study examined media-framed investment fraud issues through critical discourse analysis (CDA) by Fairclough (1995). It analyzed the impact of context on text, employing van Dijk's (2009) theory of news discourse and van Leeuwen's (2008) framework for social actors (SAs) in investment fraud news, they were the affiliate (AF), the investor (IF), and the police (PL). Transitivity analysis (TA) was used to assess power relationships, while the appraisal system (AS) was used to identify SA’s attitudes. Framing served various purposes, enhancing salience in news contexts. In investment fraud news, the AF was portrayed as a target with immoral attitudes, the IF as un/fortunate behavers, and the PL as trustworthy sayers. The data obtained from Indonesian online media during the investment fraud reports were analyzed. The study utilized systemic functional linguistics (SFL) within CDA, integrating transitivity analysis for power relations and the appraisal system for attitude analysis of each social actor. The results demonstrated how the social actors shape the construction of social and economic values, influencing the public perceptions and beliefs of the business investment.