Argumentation Schemes in Media Coverage of Religious Topics Media Coverage of the Removal of Archbishop Róbert Bezák

The paper focuses on the media coverage of religious topics and compares the coverage of these topics by secular and religious media. The media coverage is evaluated in terms of the classical rhetorical categories – the topoi – so as to arrive at the argumentation foundations of individual media messages. Based thereupon, the author draws conclusions as to how secular and religious media cover these topics, and points to the philosophical, personal background and value-driven assumptions of specific media environments and individuals who shape them. The author examines the recent story of the Slovak Archbishop Róbert Bezák’s dismissal from the management of the Archdiocese of Trnava. The paper examines the coverage of this story from its very beginning in June 2012 until today. The story had an unprecedented impact on the Slovak society and was heavily covered even by secular media, and therefore represents an optimal material for this type of research. The research was conducted using the quantitative and qualitative content analysis method with a focus on examining the topoi. This ancient concept is currently experiencing a rebirth and is regarded by modern researchers as a very fruitful and efficient way to explore the intersection of the religious and media communication sphere.