The Language of Risk and Vulnerability in Covering the COVID-19 Pandemic in Swedish Mass Media in 2020: Implications for the Sustainable Management of Elderly Care

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic—in terms climate, economy and social aspects—cannot yet be fully assessed, but we can already see how pandemic is intensifying existing socio-economic inequalities. This applies to different population groups, particularly elderly. In this article, our goal identify linguistic constructions elderly citizens in Swedish mass media coverage 2020 from a sociological corpus linguistics perspective. More specifically, aim explore discursive formations during these relate risk as well in- out-groups. Drawing on corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS), inspired by discourse–historical analysis (DHA), examine three newspapers published 2020: Aftonbladet, national tabloid; Svenska Dagbladet, morning newspaper; Dalademokraten, regional newspaper. news articles their messages are considered performative extent that—for example, at same time story expressed—the becoming seriously ill due COVID-19; moreover, position vulnerability for simultaneously created. result reveals that were constructed an at-risk group, while visitors, personnel nursing homes being risky or threat