Beslani tragöödia kajastus vene- ja eestikeelsetes ajalehtedes Molodjož Estonii ja Postimees

This research paper has the following topic: „Representation of Beslan tragedy in Russian- and Estonian-language newspapers Molodjož Estonii and Postimees”. I present an analyze of main approaches toward representation of events of September 2004 in Beslan in case of two newspapers which operate in two different languages. This analyze helps to understand the overall image of Russia carried on by both newspapers. I presented different definitions of terrorism, discussed about importance of terrorism in contemporary media, theoretic approaches of constructivism, I took a look on representation of Russia in Western media, defined discourse and its role in shaping of ideology and, finally, made an overview of previous research papers on representation of Beslan tragedy in media. Derived from this theoretical background, I put forward the main questions for research. I used critical discourse analysis as a research method. With its help I defined main discourses in delivery of information about Beslan events by the Russian-language Molodjož Estonii and Estonian-language Postimees newspapers in September 2004. Based on the results of research, I made the following conclusions: • Molodjož Estonii makes a distinguishing border between terrorist acts and national liberation fight. The newspaper presents terrorism as a brutal act of violence which brings suffering to its victims and the whole Russian nation. Postimees looks upon it as a terrorist act as well. At the same time the newspaper justifies it as one example of a liberation fight of Chechen nation from the Russian government. • Molodjož Estonii chose a “conservative” approach towards the representation of the Beslan terrorist act – it excluded the opinion of Chechen freedom-fighters from its information flow, defining them as “enemies”. Postimees, at the same time, gave space to the opinions of Chechen opposition forces, thus dividing Russia clearly into two opposing lagers – Chechen separatists and Russian government headed by President Vladimir Putin. • Molodjož Estonii present Russia as a great and mighty state which has the right understanding of the fight against terrorism. President Putin is represented as the main fighter against this evil, and his policy aimed on centralization of power is seen as one justified method in this fight. Postimees represents the position of the European Union as opposed to the one of the Russian government – democratic principles of Europe against limiting of human rights and freedom of speech in Russia. Political changes initiated by President Putin are seen as dangerous not only to the small nations inside Russia, but also to the whole world, as it created danger of terrorism for the other countries, too. • Molodjož Estonii associates itself with an ethnic definition “Russian” as representative of the great nation. The newspaper uses actively discourse of conspiracy against the Russian state as a justification for keeping an united Russia – discourse is using tactics of Soviet times (“enemies are everywhere around”, myth of World War II) and the idea of a great Russian empire. Postimees’s audience is mainly represented by Estonians, who identify themselves in terms of a “small nation”.The newspaper compares Estonians with Chechens through a common enemy – Russia (The Soviet Union).http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2114505~S1*es