Semiotic Analysis and Narratology of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communications in BBC Persian News

This article aims to study the role of non-verbal communications in conveying the BBC Persian Channel’s media ideology. Furthermore, it aims to explore the extent to which this goal is compatible with Iranian audience’s cultural attributes and considerations. Semiotics and narratology are the two qualitative methodologies used in this research. Samples included 60 pieces of news broadcast from the BBC Persian during Bahman and Esfand (Persian months). The findings indicate that non-verbal communication (body language, dressing, hairstyle, images) reinforces verbal communication, and this is done based on the audience’s cultural attributes. News stories are often multi-narrative, fluctuating between two sad-endings.