Abstract
This thesis investigates how the front pages of newsprint media presented the national discourse at the outset and peak of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. More specifically, it does so by examining in detail what is given the most priority on the front pages of five prominent newspapers: The Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News, The News Letter, The Irish Times, and The Times, covering the deployment of the British Army and Bloody Sunday. This is done through the use of critical discourse analysis to break down the rich combination of words and images utilised on the front pages. The thesis argues that the national discourse and expressions presented on the front pages of the different newspapers fostered and deepened the divide between the members of the society. It does so on account of strong us versus them discourse and cultural identifiers in the newsprint media, influencing people on what to think of and which side they belong to.