The critical linguistic analysis of authorial stance in English news reporting has long been concerned with uncovering the ideological bias embedded in the seemingly objective and neutral representation of people and events. Interest has recently shifted towards the nature of the authorial voice itself and the extent to which this semblance of objectivity is also typical in non-English reporting (e.g. Thomson et al., 2008). This article explores to what extent the most impersonal ‘reporter voice’, as identified by Martin and White (2005) in English hard-news reported in the press, is present in Italian reporting. The ‘appraisal’ categories developed by Martin and White are used, discussed and adapted for this purpose. Attention is thereby also given to significant expressive resources that may not be retrievable from English material alone. Similarities and differences in reporting styles are discussed and reference is made to the social and cultural variables that may underlie them.
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‘Nisha Patel-Nasri: Husband Jailed for Life for Special Constable’s Murder’ by James Sturcke (25 June 2008).
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‘Family Held at Gunpoint by Northern Ireland Robbery Gang’ by Henry McDonald (29 December 2008).
24.
‘British Soldier Killed Fighting Taliban’ by Audrey Gillan (25 June 2008).
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‘Estate Agent Gets 10 Years for Kidnap and Torture of Ex-boss’ by Press Association (24 June 2008).
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‘Boy, 14, Dropped Off at Hospital after Shooting’ by Matthew Taylor (1 January 2009).
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‘Police Make Third Arrest after Three Die in Fire’ by Martin Wainwright (5 January 2009).
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‘Murdered Woman, 83, Had Said She Was Being Pursued for Money’ by Owen Bowcott (3 January 2009).
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‘Sacked Estate Agent Jailed for Torture of Former Boss’ by Adam Fresco (24 June 2008).
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‘Neil Entwistle Blames Suicidal Wife in Double Murder Trial’ by James Bone (24 June 2008).
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‘Arrest after Woman Dies in Diesel Raid’ by Jenny Booth (24 June 2008).
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‘Teenager Jailed after "Wild West" Shootout Killed Magda Pniewska’ by Adam Fresco (24 June 2008).
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‘Woman, 83, Found Dead and Bound with Duct Tape in Her London Home’ by Adam Fresco (3 January 2009).
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‘Father Forced to Rob Next Store as Family Held at Gunpoint’ by Adam Fresco (29 December 2008).
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‘Man Charged after Nurse Magdeline Makola Spends 10 Days in Car Boot’ by Charlene Sweeney (29 December 2009).
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‘Bimbo brasiliano autistico: insulti e botte all’oratorio’ by Luigi Corvi (10 March 2007).
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‘Nullatenenti ma con lo yacht’, name of author not supplied (22 June 2008).
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‘La badante uccisa per un debito di mille euro’, name of author not supplied (23 June 2008).
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‘Polsi e gola tagliati: lei morta, lui grave. È accusato di omicidio’, name of author not supplied (23 June 2008).
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‘Travolta e uccisa a 16 anni da un automobilista ubriaco’ by Mario Porqueddu (16 July 2007).
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‘Violentate e filmate a scuola, cinque minori accusati’ by Biagio Marsiglia e Annachiara Sacchi (31 January 2007).
42.
‘Dirigente ucciso, indagati calciatori e tifosi’ by Carlo Macri (29 January 2007).
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‘Bosniaco salva due bimbi e muore travolto dal fiume’ by Nicola Pellicani (23 July 2007).
44.
‘Violenza inventata senegalese scarcerato’, name of author not supplied (5 November 2006).
45.
‘Londra, respinti 6 studenti in gita scolastica’ by Giuliana Ubbiali (27 March 2007).
46.
‘Violenza su minore, arrestato parroco’ by Lorenza Pleuteri and Ferruccio Sansa (8 September 2006).
47.
‘Svolta sulla morte della donna. Fermato il killer. "Un balordo" ’, name of author not supplied (21 June 2008).
48.
‘Pedone protesta per una manovra rapito e picchiato dal conducente’, name of author not supplied (21 June 2008).
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‘Roma, vene dei polsi e gole tagliate giovane morta, il ragazzo è grave’ by Valeria Abate and Giovanni Gagliardi (22 June 2008).
