Expanding peace journalism: A new model for analyzing media representations of immigration

Abstract

This article aims to expand peace journalism scholarship by proposing a new peace journalism model for analyzing media representations of immigration. By employing framing and content analysis, the paper takes a closer look at the ways in which four Greek newspapers portrayed immigration in crisis-stricken Greece between 2011 and 2014. Results indicate that a conflict frame prevailed in the majority of all newspaper articles analyzed. In this context, immigration was portrayed (1) as an issue that generated conflict among different political and social groups, (2) through stereotypical portrayals of immigrants as a threat to public health and security, (3) as a mass of people in extreme conditions of exception, and (4) as a problem to almost every aspect of the Greek society: for tourism, trade, the economy or even Greece’s relationship with the EU. A peace frame, conversely, was identified in around one fourth of all news stories. At the same time, findings lead us to conclusions that transcend the peace and conflict journalism dualism revealing five distinct subframes that provide a more nuanced understanding of the peace journalism concept; (1) a ‘direct conflict subframe’ enhancing division and dispute over immigration, (2) a ‘journalism of conventions subframe’ following well-established journalistic conventions with important consequences on the quality of information, (3) a ‘journalism of values subframe’ being closer to the traditional values of journalism, (4) a ‘diversity journalism subframe’, including all elements referring to a pro-immigrant approach, and (5) a ‘positive peace subframe’, closer to Galtung’s notion of positive peace.