Introduction
Emotional coloring and features of the text construction in mass media affect its perception. RT and In These Times published two articles regarding the use of personal data obtained from car license plate scanners. Both publications claim to be authentic, but use facts to convey a specific position. RT tries to convince the legitimacy of using personal data, while In These Times argues that this violates civil rights.
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Both articles in question are credible, from the ethos point of view. RT (2014) provides an argument regarding the positions of the parties. Sirota (2014) considers a real case in which the Digital Recognition Network gives “pro-free speech arguments for themselves”. However, the pathos of the articles differs: the article in In These Times is emotionally catchy, using rhetorical questions (Sirota, 2014). RT (2014) loads the text with a technological description, which evokes misunderstanding. Both articles use the logos correctly, and the information is presented consistently.
Style, Word Choice, and Tone
The articles differ in style: RT uses a clerical style, while In These Times directly addresses the reader. The choice of words also differs, with RT (2014) using complicated phrases: “efficiency in tracking down loan defaulters.” Sirota (2014) uses simpler language: “Do corporations have a legal right to track your car?” RT relies on the massiveness of the transmitted information in the tone. In These Times provokes the reader to a pessimistic conclusion about the theft of personal data.
Author Purpose
The main difference between the articles lies in the author’s intentions. RT (2014) tries to be neutral but presents an opinion about the need to use license plate scanner data for law enforcement purposes. Sirota (2014), on the contrary, tries to lead to the conclusion that data collection is illegal: “huge questions about what is – and is not – public”. Thus, the purpose of the RT is to prove the justification of using personal information, while In These Times is convinced of the opposite.
Conclusion
RT and In These Times represent the topic without distorting the facts. The use of pathos varies to convince the reader of the point of view. The clerical tone of RT and the familiarity of In These Times are necessary to turn to an advantageous position. RT is trying to impose an opinion on the correct use of data, while In These Times calls for a conclusion about the violation of rights.
References
RT International (2014). Private license plate scanners amassing vast databases open to highest bidders. USA News. Web.
Sirota, D. (2014). Who has the right to track you? In These Times. Web.