Analysis of Media Articles on Pablo Escobar

Introduction

Pablo Escobar was considered as one of the most wanted men in the world by legal authorities who ran a cocaine cartel based in Medellin, Colombia. He died in a shootout in an ambushed operation masterminded by the police and military. Escobar was at the helm of the drug trafficking network for more than a decade and had eluded the government authorities for a very long time.

The purpose of this paper is to compare and critically analyze the articles written about the incidences of the military-like operation which culminated in victory (death of Escobar on the rooftop). Examples of articles analyzed include Head of Medellin Cocaine Cartel is Killed by Troops in Colombia, Colombia Drug Lord Escobar Dies in Shootout, Escobar Killed in Medellin, and Death of the Cocaine King. This paper analyses the way the articles were written, what kind of vocabulary is used, the point of view, and ideology. Finally, the paper offers the similarities and differences among the articles.

Head of Medellin Cocaine Cartel is Killed by Troops in Colombia

This article is written to describe the events that took place during the intense military like a shoot out against the world’s greatest drug lord Pablo Escobar. The article describes Escobar as one of the most successful traffickers of cocaine that was equally murderous who met his inevitable death in heated gunfire in his own house. The type of vocabulary used in this article assumes that of the military operation as the detectives kept on shouting ‘We won’ to denounce the long-standing activities of Escobar and his mercenaries in drug business (Hawkinns, 2016, pp. 12-13).

The writer’s point of view is assumed to be third person multiple since there are several characters who are mentioned in the article. The writer explains the activities undertaken by various players in operation to bring down one of the world’s greatest fugitive. The ideology expressed in this article political in nature to describe the collaboration among various government agencies to fight the drug baron (Moustafa, 2016, pp. 1-2).

Colombia Drug Lord Escobar Dies in Shootout

This article is written in a way to describe the important events that occurred during the operation to capture or kill Escobar. This article brings out a vivid explanation of the events as they unfolded during the shootout. The witnesses give accounts of what they ‘saw’ and heard during the 20-minute shootout such as the ‘bullet-riddled body’ of Escobar.

The type of vocabulary used in this article includes that of the military operation that was aimed to bring to an end an enemy of the government. The writer uses the terminology ‘triumph’ to indicate the military mission in winning the battle against Escobar and drug trafficking. Similarly, the writer uses the terminology ‘dismantle’ to describe the entire shootout process that was aimed at preventing Escobar getting away just like he had escaped prison (Hawkinns, 2016, pp. 12-13).

The writer’s point of view assumes that of a third person by collecting views and information from the ‘unreliable’ witnesses as well as security chiefs at the scene. The writer also tackles the events that occurred before the final raid such as Escobar’s surrender, escape from a self-designed prison and inbuilt pressure from rebellions in the ‘People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar’ (PEPES).

The ideology expressed in this article is assumed to be a war against drug trafficking that is orchestrated by the central government. The political ideology of the government to clean the country of any forms of drug trafficking is clearly manifested in the raid against Escobar. The writer shades light on the inevitable fact that drug trafficking will only skyrocket after the demise of the drug kingpin. The failure of the government to successfully handle Escobar implies the inherent bureaucracy, corruption, massive assassinations and violence among its senior officials (Moustafa, 2016, pp. 1-2).

Escobar Killed in Medellin

This article is written in the form of reported speech of passive voice to describe how Escobar was killed by disciplined forces in his own house. The article describes Escobar as the godfather of drug trafficking in the country. The writer prefers to paraphrase the events that took place during the shootout and to affirm the incidences by including the names of the chief police officers in charge of the operations.

The type of vocabulary used in this article is descriptive in nature to illustrate the subject matter under concern. For example, the writer describes Escobar as a ‘God Father’ who began his career in criminal as a mere thief of cars. He also specialized in robbing people in tombstones and rose through the ranks to control the Medellin Cartel that owns more than 80 percent of the drug business in the US (Hawkinns, 2016, pp. 12-13).

The writer’s point of view is assumed to be third person multiple since there are several individuals who are mentioned together with their respective actions during and after the incident. There are several actors who are included in this article being lead by the protagonist in the name of Escobar.

The antagonists are led by Prsidents Cesar Gaviria and Bill Clinton together with security bosses at the scene such as Prosecutor General Gustavo de Greiff, and Drug Enforcement Administrator Stephen Greene. The ideology expressed in this article is drug terrorism that was masterminded by Escobar as a result of him being at the helm of the cartel. During his tenure, Escobar had committed numerous atrocities among the Colombian citizens and politicians (Moustafa, 2016, pp. 1-2).

Death of the Cocaine King

This article is written in the form of literature analysis that describes the events after analyzing available sources of information. The writer did not conduct interviews with the witnesses or the police bosses in charge of the operation so as to ascertain the pertinent facts herein. The writer rewrites the events in paraphrased fashion that indicate total inadequacy in first-hand details. On the hand, the writer uses the direct quotes extracted from other sources such as tape recordings to substantiate the facts of the operation.

The type of vocabulary used in this article is legal in nature so as to describe the actions that unfolded in the greatest national sagas of all time. For example, extradite is used to describe the actions of the government to send Escobar to the US in order to face charges for drug trafficking and other crimes. Military vocabulary is also used to describe the operation of shooting between the agents and Escobar (Hawkinns, 2016, pp. 12-13).

The writer’s point of view takes that of the effects of the operation on the livelihoods of the Colombians as well as on the operations of drug trafficking. The writer describes the immaterial effect of his death on the flow of narcotics business. This is because his role in the cartel had significantly reduced to negligible magnitudes as the members anticipated his eventual demise or recapture. Likewise, the locals breathed fresh air after the shootout for he had been held responsible numerous assassinations and mass killings. The ideology expressed in this article political in nature to demonstrate the commitment of the government to end the activities of Escobar against humanity (Moustafa, 2016, pp. 1-2).

Conclusion

Various articles were written by journalists and editors to enlighten the mass about the events that took place during the murder of Pablo Escobar. This is a Colombian drug lord in charge of the Medellin Cartel that controlled a larger proportion of narcotics’ business in the US. This paper has analyzed some of the major articles written about the operation that was led by a unit of more than 500 military and police officers. All these articles are accurate in terms of describing the exact events leading to his death on the rooftop of his two-storey house in the heart of the city. These articles make use of various types of vocabularies depending on the expertise levels of the writers. These articles are written from the third person point of view that is multiple in natures as the writers describe the level of commitment and involvement of parties in the operations. The elaborate difference among the articles is expressed in the ideologies being handled by the writers.