Examining the Agency of Journalists and News Media in Shaping the Narrative on the Coronavirus Crisis in Iran

Abstract
The Coronavirus emerged in China in late 2019, and its spread has significantly disrupted social, economic, and political situations on a global scale. This phenomenon presented institutions, organizations, and governments with a significant political opportunity, and the media served as one of the instruments utilized to advance the ideological agendas of various political actors. Underpinned by Baker's narrative theory, this study attempts to investigate the ideological intervention of translators in text translation, specifically as it relates to news texts related to the Coronavirus crisis. To attain this goal, the researcher collected 180 Persian news texts and their English translations from foreign news agencies' websites. Upon analyzing the data using Baker's framing strategies, it was established that the translator's role is critical during times of crisis. The translator's performance has the potential to steer society toward either stability or instability. Moreover, the study revealed that the translator's function in constructing or redefining societal and political identities has significant implications. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of informing the audience about the translator's role in reconfiguring narratives around the Coronavirus crisis.

Introduction

The Coronavirus crisis that emerged in China in late 2019 considerably impacted various aspects of society, as per studies by Wang et al. (2020). However, the disease's unfamiliarity and the presence of political and social factors impeded experts' understanding and made it difficult for them to arrive at a clear-cut conclusion, as per research conducted by Qi et al. (2020). The global crisis presented a vast realm of opportunity for exploitation by political players seeking to further their personal agendas. The news media, and particularly news translators, played a significant role in assisting these entities to achieve their ideological goals. Considering the aforementioned aspect of media exploitation, it can be argued that translation, being a crucial constituent of media, particularly the news media, faces the same level of control as other elements of media production (e.g., content creation) (Bielsa, 2007). Translation studies have been recently pivoted toward scrutinizing the impact of translation on politico-social relations and the decision-making process of translators. The role of translation in the power dynamics is deemed crucial and influenced by various factors that exert control over the flow of information throughout the entire translation process, from the selection of the text to its completion (e.g., Tymoczko, 2007; Vuorinen, 1995). The present study seeks to examine the ideological intervention of translators in the translation of news texts, as well as the influence of translation on political tensions brought on by the altered narratives around the Coronavirus crisis in Iran.

Review of related literature

According to Baker (2006), narratives are used as an approach to make sense of reality. Due to individuals' diverse comprehension of reality, their resulting narratives will also be unique. This suggests that everyone will have a distinct perception of events, which may be influenced by personal prejudices and perspectives. Moreover, as per Whooley (Whooley 2006), narratives function as a battleground for political contradictions, where opposing factions seek to establish their narrative as the most conspicuous one. As a result, narratives can be influenced by diverse factors, including power and ideology, to manipulate public opinions. However, power struggles are not confined to narratives alone. As emphasized by Baker (2006), within our communication-centric era, translation is also perceived as a contributing factor in power struggles and plays a pivotal role in steering them. In sum, translation serves as a connection point between individuals from distinct cultures, religious communities, and ideological backgrounds. Furthermore, translation and narration are inextricably interwound, holding significant relevance. In fact, translation empowers narratives to gain prominence, expand their scope, and gain a global foothold. Baker's framework of translation review delineates four different framing strategies for manipulating and shaping the narrative of a specific event. These framing strategies, as detailed by Baker, encompass Temporal and Spatial Framing, Selective appropriation, Labeling, and Repositioning of the players involved. According to Baker (2010), analyzing narratives in translation studies aids in transcending conventional and theoretical approaches. Instead, this enables a greater emphasis on textual analyses that provide insightful information about the driving motivations of parties. Such contextualized observations facilitate a deeper comprehension of the political and social milieu of translation-induced interactions.

Methodology

A total of 180 Persian news texts and their English translations, sourced from Iranian and Western-supported foreign news agencies, were collected for the purpose of this study. While the Persian news texts were procured from Iranian agencies, the English translations were attributed to English-language news outlets. The corpus was analyzed via Baker's narrative theory (2006) and framing strategies, namely Selective appropriation, Labeling, Temporality, and Repositioning of participants, aimed at highlighting the relevance of translators' roles during crisis periods.

Data analysis

As outlined by Baker (2006), Spatial and Temporal Framing refers to the act of selecting a text and situating it within a particular temporal and positional context. According to Baker (2006), this approach promotes translation accuracy and allows the content to portray the narrative's sequence of events and establish strong connections between past occurrences and present scenarios. This perspective manifests markedly in news translation, particularly in instances where a coherent sequence of events enables translators to create a strong continuum between previous occurrences and their narration of the event. The consecutive nature of the text adds to the clarity and fluency for the audience, fostering a holistic comprehension of its contents.




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از دیروز تب داشتم و تست اولیه من آخر شب مثبت شد و از دیشب خود را در محلی ایزوله کردم. چند دقیقه پیش به من اطلاع دادند که تست نهایی مثبت شده است. درمان را آغاز می‌کنم و حال عمومی من خوب است.[1] (ایرنا، 6/12/98)


"I had a fever as of last night and my preliminary test was positive around midnight. I've isolated myself in a place since... and now I am starting medication.
 
Mr Harirchi's positive test for Covid-19 was announced a day after he took part in a news conference, where he coughed occasionally and appeared to sweat heavily. (BBC, 25 February 2020)




Foreign media extensively covered the issue of Iran's struggle against the Coronavirus outbreak. They highlighted the government's difficulties in managing the crisis and emphasized the infection of the Deputy Health Minister as a case in point. With the selective appropriation, the translators highlighted the probable source of virus transmission within the government delegation and the Ministry of Health. Additionally, the selected focus on the infection of the Deputy Health Minister could also hint at potential repercussions, including the possibility of more government officials contracting the virus and the situation worsening in crucial and sensitive areas, such as government centers.

Results

With international communication and translation gaining more importance, it has become evident that ideology and politics have a significant role in shaping the translation process. Particularly regarding the Coronavirus and its global reach and impact on various domains, including economics, policy, and social elements, the translation of relevant news texts is undoubtedly influenced by such underlying aspects. This study seeks to appraise the ideological involvement of translators in news texts translation and analyze the resultant influence on the political tensions, via the restructuring of the context of the Coronavirus crisis in Iran.
The findings of this study revealed that news agencies, by employing their translators, modified the news material pertaining to the Coronavirus in Iran to align with their respective ideologies and political positions. These manipulations were carried out to present their claims and political agendas concerning the outbreak in Iran as an accurate representation of reality. However, the news professionals and translators affiliated with supporting entities endeavor to implement the agendas and policies of these bodies, thereby challenging the objective interpretation of the events. The findings demonstrate that news agencies and translators manipulate coronavirus news to align with their respective political agendas during the crisis. While the role of the translator is often deemed neutral, its actions are influenced by personal convictions, making the media narrative biased. Given the observations, it becomes clear that during emergencies, such as the spread of the Coronavirus, the media and translators adopt political goals. During such scenarios, it is therefore essential for the public to distinguish between narratives aligned with political agendas. Additionally, in some situations, decisions are taken on political grounds and the selection of specific words, sentences, or texts can steer the narrative in the favour or detriment of a particular faction, body, or establishment. Thus, educating the public regarding such matters holds immense relevance, as it can contribute to restoring social stability whenever a crisis erupts.
 
 
[1]. TT back translation: I had a fever since yesterday, and my initial test was positive at the end of the night, and I isolated myself in a place since last night. A few minutes ago I was informed that the final test was positive. I start the treatment and my general condition is good. (IRNA News Agency)