The analysis of print media discourse in the election context

This paper presents a computational method, AnaDiP-2011, based on natural language processing (NLP) techniques for the interpretation of the political discourse in the print media. The application considers the 2009 presidential campaign in Romania. The concept behind this method is that the manner in which individuals speak and write, with the aim to deliver a certain image to the public, is an opened window towards their emotional and cognitive worlds. By emphasizing the emotional component at the level of discourse, voters identify with the speaker, who becomes the personification of their common ideals. Our investigation is intended to give support to researchers, specialists in political sciences, political analysts and election’s staff, being helpful mainly in their social exploration of the electoral campaigns in their intend to measure reactions with respect to the developments in the political scene.