Rhetorical Analysis: Alex Jones Trial By Cameron Burke “Alex Jones defiant over $965m damages to Sandy Hook families: ‘Ain’t no money’,” (Gloria Oladipo 2022) and “The Alex Jones verdict won’t help America’s fake news problem” (Emily Tamkin 2022) are two opinion articles about the trial of Alex Jones. Jones is called a ‘conspiracy theorist’ and he spoke out about the Sandy Hook school shooting that took place on December 14, 2012, calling it “all made up”(Oladipo 2022). Oladipo wrote her article for The Guardian and believes that Jones’ case will hopefully end the conspiracy and lies that are spread by him and his listeners. The nearly one billion dollars should warn anyone else who wants to spread lies that can hurt people will be held accountable for their actions. Tamkin’s article for The New Statesman argues that while she agrees with the court’s decision of making Jones pay for the emotional damage that he has caused, this case will not end the fake news and conspiracies that Jones has brought to life and spread his audience. Both authors used ethos, pathos, and logos in their articles to convince the reader of their arguments towards Jones’ actions, and whether or not the trial verdict will be able to stop people like Alex Jones from being able to hurt these families and victims in the future.
just be a daughter grieving my mother and stop worrying about the conspiracy theorists,” said Lafferty, adding that “[the] hate, lies and conspiracy theories will follow both me and my family through the rest of our days” (Oladipo, 2022). Another use of courtroom testimony which again solidifies the audience’s understanding of the author’s seriousness and credibility when talking about this issue. Lastly, Oladipo uses another quote from Lafferty who claims “There will be more Alex Joneses in this world, but what they learned here today is that they absolutely will be held accountable” (Oladipo 2022). This was said after the verdict was given and it reinforces the author’s claims and shows her views on this case, which again are that Jones and those that spread lies and views just to make money will be stopped.
Oladipo used ethos to establish her credibility on this case and the media coverage surrounding it. She showed professionalism by using evidence from one man’s testimony in court and wrote, “Mark Barden testified how conspiracy theorists urinated on the grave of his seven-year old son, Daniel, and threatened to dig up the child’s coffin” (Oladipo, 2022). Taking a piece from the actual court case shows that Oladipo is using real evidence and is giving it to her audience. Therefore, it shows she is dedicated to giving her readers real information that will help convince them while establishing her credibility. In addition to this, Oladipo uses another quote from a parent whose kid passed during the shooting: “I wish that after today, I can
In the article by Tamkin, she uses the same strategies with ethos to establish credibility to the reader. In her article she states, “A jury in Connecticut ruled this week that the notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay eight families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting…”(Tamkin 2022). Tamkin’s use of the verdict shows that she has done her research on the trial and the jury’s decision and she presents it to the reader. She also quoted tweets, the first being said by “Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican member of Congress, tweeted, “political persecution must end” (Tamkin 2022). The second being from “Charlie Kirk, another right-wing talk show host, tweeted to his 1.7 million followers that the jury’s decision was “about sending a message: if you upset the Regime, they will destroy you” (Tamkin 2022). She uses tweets as a way to show her interest in the case and looking at the response from the other side of the political aisle. This tells the reader that she has done her research and is credible on the subject. Finally, Tamkin states, “I am glad that the victims’ families won” (Tamkin 2022), which is the last reinforcement for the author’s views
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