AN ANALYSIS OF MARKED AND UNMARKED THEMES IN ONLINE NEWSPAPER A STUDY CASE: RAY DALIO’S PERSPECTIVE ON AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Abstrak

This study analyzes the use of marked and unmarked themes in two online news articles from BBC and CNBC, focusing on Ray Dalio's perspectives regarding the U.S. presidential election. Drawing on Halliday's theory of textual functions, the research investigates how theme selection influences the presentation of information and engages readers. The findings reveal a distinct difference in the thematic composition of the two articles. The first article predominantly employs unmarked themes, ensuring clarity and directness in reporting, while the second article demonstrates a more dynamic balance between marked and unmarked themes to highlight critical contexts and enhance narrative engagement. These results underscore the importance of theme construction in digital journalism, where linguistic choices shape both the narrative structure and audience interpretation. This study contributes to the understanding of media language strategies and their role in shaping public perception of political discourse