This study, titled From Roman Fora to Twitter Storms: Julius Caesar, Media Influence, and the Evolution of Political Narratives in Interpretive Journalism, examined the transformation of political storytelling from classical antiquity to the digital age, with particular focus on the evolving role of interpretive journalism. It was grounded in Framing Theory and employed Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to investigate the interplay between narrative structures and socio-political contexts, uncovering embedded ideologies and media influences. Two major findings emerged from the analysis. First, political narratives had evolved from the structured, elite-driven rhetoric of Caesar’s Rome to the fragmented, participatory, and algorithmically curated discourses characteristic of contemporary social media environments. Second, interpretive journalism continued to play a critical role in shaping political discourse; however, its ability to provide coherent and consistent narratives was increasingly challenged by the speed and volume of digital information dissemination. Based on these findings, the study recommended that social media platforms and news organizations adopt transparent and pluralistic algorithmic frameworks to counteract narrative fragmentation and promote diverse perspectives. It also advocated that journalists develop standardized yet adaptable framing strategies to maintain narrative coherence, reinforce public trust, and support informed civic participation within fast-paced, evolving media ecologies.
Vol. 4, No 3, pp. 33-42.