Abstract

This is a case study on the power relations in TVnews interviews, aiming at studying the interaction in TV newsinterviews between interviewers and interviewees in terms ofpower relations. Given the significant relationship betweenlanguage and power, this study adopts Fairclough’s analyticalframework to conduct a critical discourse analysis to fourChinese TV news interviews. Data analysis is carried out fromthree aspects, the description of textual features, theinterpretation of the situational context and discourse type andthe explanation of social determinants that contribute to thepower relations in discourse.<br />Findings based on the above analysis show that 1) the powerrelations between interviewers and interviewees in these fourTV news interviews are generally equal, but interviewers stillpossess more power than interviewees at average; 2) power areexercised through discourse by the using of interrogativeclauses, interruptions, formulations, as well as initiating turnsand controlling topics; 3) the discourse type as news interviewentitles journalists, the interviewers, with some natural right toexercise power, with the purpose of fulfilling their duty to covernews issue; 4) social factors like higher social status whichderives from profession and age give interviewees more powerthan interviewers and shape the power relations in theseinterviews.<br />These findings have some theoretical and practicalimplications for interpersonal communications and journalism,as well as limitations for future improvements.