Publishing your media articles in, at least, English language is a goal that every professional journalist should strive for. Exactly as you need a specialized doctor or a lawyer you need a translator specialized in media translation. A translator familiar with the principles of media translation so that your message is not distorted by non-specialists or by Google Translation. The media translator must be aware of the principles of argumentation, logic and persuasion.

As we know media depends on argumentative discourse. A professional translator must be aware of the genre conventions embedded in the argumentative English source texts. As a persuasive genre, counter-argumentation contains certain conventions used by the media to persuade an ever more sophisticated readership. Untrained practitioners are probably unaware of the determinant semiotics. As a result, most translated editorials and opinion columns often tend to lose their persuasive vigor. Serious western press publications, such as the Economist, Financial Times, use argumentation extensively. Unfortunately some known Arabic publications such as Majalat Al Majala don’t observe argumentation rules. In a study conducted by the writer of this article, it was found that Arab translators often literally replace or transfer the equivalent meaning of argumentative texts from the English into Arabic. They seem to concentrate mostly on aesthetic, rhetorical, semantic and eloquent aspects of the target language writing rather than the underlying notions of argumentation of the source language. These textual and intertextual practices are closely related to the other existing practices in mass media. The abovementioned study uncovered the gaps in the translation of argumentation genre. A translator needs to move beyond the text and into the context of the production and publication industry. Specialized media translation is needed to revolutionize, not only the translation of persuasive genres but writing tradition as a whole. Arab commentators, translators, writers, and publishers therefore need to be genre aware for their messages to get through.

Editorials and opinion columns (ed/ops) are an example of manipulative tools used by written media to reflect, affect and persuade. Persuasion is changing to a changing audience. Increasingly nowadays speakers and writers have to bear in mind that in order to convince the public, they have to educate, and to raise awareness by arguing with evidence-based justifications and clarifications. Writers and speakers do not restrict themselves to the statement of facts though; instead, they aim to make the reading or listening process a challenging adventure.

Argumentation is well enshrined in the holy book, the Quraan. The authorized voice in writing is a social tradition that respects the reader and saves him/her the offense of abhorrent terms. Terms that disdain the reader are never allowed in respected writing circles. After all, it is a tradition that goes hand by hand with our social and political systems.

Research refers to two general types of argumentation: “Counter Argumentation” and “Through Argumentation”. Generally, counterargument takes the form of; argument, followed by counterargument, response to counterargument, and conclusion (sometimes). In the counter-argumentative discussion, two voices are actively engaged to resolve a point of view. In through-argumentation on the other hand, a thesis is stated, extensively supported, mostly positively, before a conclusion is reached. Throughout the Through-argumentative process, only one voice is predominant, and that is the voice of the writer.