Media Narratives Research Articles

Hues of Refuge: Framing Compassion and Condemnation in Refugee Portrayals Through a Political-Media Cycle of Reinforcement

Abstract This study examines biased media portrayals of refugees, focusing on the contrast between Ukrainian and MENA refugees. It proposes a “politics-media cycle of reinforcement” where political agendas influence media narratives, and vice versa. This cycle amplifies racial bias, impacting how refugees are perceived. The research employs a comparative content analysis of Western media and political rhetoric. Findings reveal a stark difference: Ukrainians are seen as deserving victims, while MENA refugees face negative stereotypes. Interviews with media professionals and analysts support these conclusions. The study exposes racialized “othering” that marginalizes specific refugee groups. It confirms a more sympathetic portrayal of Ukrainians, likely due to political and racial factors. This research highlights the need for a more balanced and empathetic approach to all refugees.

Representations of Swedish ‘gangster rap’ in contemporary media – Exploring dimensions of public pedagogy

ABSTRACT This article investigates Swedish ’gangster rap,“ a prominent topic in Swedish media since its emergence in late 2018. The aim of the article is twofold; i) to analyse the dominant narratives about Swedish gangster rap that emerge through a selection of media publications, and around which values they are centred, and ii) to explore how these narratives can be understood in terms of public pedagogy. The theoretical approach of this study draws from cultural studies, anchored in both Bourdieusian theory and perspectives derived from popular pedagogy. This framework guides the qualitative analysis of Swedish media portrayals of ”gangster rap“ as a cultural phenomenon. Our findings reveal that these publications predominantly emphasize values such as enigma, anxiety/caution, nostalgia, introspection, and positioning. To elucidate the connection between these values and different narrative strands, results are presented through three distinct themes: ”Gangster rap as a journalistic sub-cultural enigma,“ ”Gangster rap as a cautionary media narrative,“ and ”Gangster rap as a youth culture continuum.’ These themes are discussed in relation to the multifaceted ways in which Swedish gangster rap is represented and interpreted in the media landscape, shedding light both on its cultural significance and popular pedagogical implications.

How negative tones in earnings calls shape media narratives

How negative tones in earnings calls shape media narratives

External forces and sector fragility: a policy perspective on Scotland’s self-catering industry

ABSTRACT This study examines the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland's self-catering sector, based on insights from a comprehensive survey by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC). Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines quantitative data with qualitative insights to offer a nuanced understanding of the sector. Despite growing consumer demand, the industry faces significant pressures, including rising living costs, evolving consumer behaviours, dynamic shifts in tourism markets, tightening regulatory frameworks, and negative political and media narratives. These challenges are exacerbated by concerns about overtourism and anti-tourism sentiments, testing the sector's resilience and adaptability. The study contributes both theoretically and practically by exploring the cumulative effects of these externalities, offering evidence-based insights for industry practices and tourism policymaking. Recommendations emphasise fostering a supportive regulatory environment and promoting sustainable growth to safeguard the sector’s viability. The findings underscore the importance of embedding resilience and adaptability into tourism management strategies, aligning with broader goals of sustainable tourism development. This research advances understanding of Scotland's self-catering sector while contributing to wider academic and policy discussions, offering value for practitioners, policymakers, and academics focused on tourism governance and sustainable development.

Perceptions of China in the Age of COVID-19: Findings from Pakistan's Media Spheres

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a test for China's soft power, drawing diverse reactions from its friends and foes. This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on China's image, delving specifically into sentiments within one of the most China-friendly nations in the world, Pakistan. This study conducts a qualitative content analysis of Pakistan's news media and X sphere and investigates sentiments towards China and Chinese vaccines from 2020 to 2021. Media narratives were found to be distinctly more negative towards Chinese vaccines than China in the aftermath of the pandemic. An assessment of dominant media narratives offers possible explanations for the divergence in sentiments, mainly attributing them to “China's support of Pakistan,” “China's domestic containment,” “China's international role,” and “conspiracy theories and misinformation.” This article provides insights into China's vaccine diplomacy, its soft power dynamics, and public sentiment sway within its most amicable partnership in the international arena.

From Guns to Mental Health and Accountability: Decoding Media Narratives and Audience Reactions in Public Mass Shootings

Public mass shootings pose a critical safety challenge in the U.S. This study investigates how media framing relates to public online engagement, focusing on gun regulation, mental health, and individual and political accountability across five major TV networks: ABC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes 678 news reports and 7605 audience comments. Findings reveal significant differences in audience engagement based on framing, and in key variables show audiences taking opposite positions to their news network’s narratives. ABC, CNN, and NBC’s thematic framing, highlighting systemic failures, elicits more balanced responses, whereas Fox News and MSNBC’s episodic framing, emphasizing individual or political accountability, correlates with polarized reactions. This research extends media framing theories by showing how episodic framing reduces support for systemic reforms, emphasizing personal responsibility. The study offers crucial insights for scholars, policymakers, and journalists on media’s role in shaping public discourse on gun violence.

Linguistic Markers of Gender Stigmatization: Media Narratives as a Case Study

Gender stigmatization prevails in the Moroccan media mainly in films, and series where the sexist language used against women is tied within cinematic narrative elements. Women are portrayed as primarily responsible for the domestic task, but men are the dominant of public sphere. The Moroccan media plays a salient role in contributing to the perpetuation and reinforcement of traditional gender roles through the use of sexist language and stigmas in dialogues tied within narrative scenes. The current research aims at investigating the representations of the sexist linguistic discourse used against women. The research studies the linguistic derogatory terms, gender stereotypes, reification of women, and dismissive attitudes of women’s interests. The study utilizes a mixed approach of selected Moroccan films and sitcoms through the analysis of dialogues, and interactions among characters. It aims at discerning the representations of the sexist language in media and how gender inequalities are maintained. The data analysis points out the various ways of gendered stereotypes or negative derogatory terms used against social groups typically women. The results unveil prominent interrelations between gender representations and the reinforcement of gendered stereotypes. The research concludes that the Moroccan media has a role play in structuring prerequisite linguistic stigmas. Through drawing the significant ways in which the sexist language is used in films and sitcoms. The findings display the linguistic stigmatization used against the female kind. Such stigmatization could be touching the stereotyped gender discourses prevailing in societies with patriarchal system.

The Politics of Representation: Arundhati Roy’s Re-framing of Media Narratives in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

In the current global scenario, media discourse has incontestably become one of the most powerful means of constructing the narratives which influence public response to the events occurring in the modern world. When the issue of media power is examined within the overarching paradigm of international media representation of events occurring in countries with a long-standing history of colonization, it becomes clear that earlier Orientalist attitudes are still potent in representing certain populations as inferior to and of lesser value than their Western counterparts. This essay will examine Arundahati Roy’s portrayal of media discourse in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) in the light of Edward Said’s ideas of Orientalism and Judith Butler’s notions of the frames of recognition used in media discourse to show that certain lives are considered more valuable and grievable than others. This essay will also demonstrate how media representation can be placed within the framework of global capitalism with images and stories being circulated according to market demands of global media consumption. Maintaining that Roy’s attitude to media narratives in her novel is ambivalent and complex, this essay will argue that her representation of these media narratives within the larger frame of the novel is a subversive act that makes transparent the assumptions underlying media discourse and power. Spectrum, Volume 18, June 2023: 10-21

“Not just a game”: Power, politics, and media coverage of Qatar's World Cup 2022

The intertwined legacy of sports and racism has been a consistent feature in the maintenance of social power, cultural politics, and racial inequality in modern history. Despite providing a critical platform for individual or collective national expressions, sports (as a game and a stage) have also been deployed as strategic tools to articulate a representational vision for western neo-colonial ideology. The aim of this article is to critically examine the pervasive media narratives that have shaped western cultural popular discourse about Qatar's FIFA World Cup as the embodiment of the Arab-Muslim oriental other. Relying on postcolonial theory and discursive analysis, this article argues that the racialized cultural disparagement of the ‘Arab’ and ‘Muslim’ Qatari identity in some popular media narratives during the 2022 FIFA World Cup was in fact a form of neo-colonial anxiety intended to disavow the ‘menacing presence’ of Europe's cultural other within its presumed civilizational domain.

Fake News and National Security Threats in Nigeria: The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception and Policy Responses

The proliferation of fake news presents a critical threat to national security, with Nigeria being a prominent example. This study examines the relationship between fake news dissemination and national security threats, focusing on the media's role in shaping public perception and influencing policy responses. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research incorporates content analysis of Nigerian media, public opinion surveys, and interviews with policymakers and security experts. The findings illustrate how fake news intensifies conflicts, deepens social divisions, and hampers governmental security efforts. The study also highlights the role of traditional and social media in spreading misinformation, leading to diminished public trust in official communications. Case studies on election-related misinformation, ethnic tensions, and terrorist propaganda reveal how media narratives shape societal reactions and government strategies. In addition, the research evaluates current anti-fake news policies and suggests measures to mitigate its impact on national security. The study emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated efforts between media, government, and civil society to combat misinformation and enhance public resilience. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on media and national security, providing empirical evidence from Nigeria with implications for other nations facing similar challenges.

India and China on the War in Ukraine: A Comparative Analysis

Background The Russian invasion of Ukraine has divided the world. While the Western countries have formed a coalition to support Ukraine, those in the Global South have taken more nuanced positions, refraining from explicitly condemning Russia. Within the BRICS group, which includes Russia, as well as China and India, the latter two nations have sought to leverage the situation to advance their own strategic interests. Method This research aims to analyze the dominant narratives in Indian and Chinese media regarding the international situation. Particular focus is placed on their relationships with Russia, as well as in the context of energy resources, perceptions of the West, and the broader impact of the war in Ukraine on the global order. A qualitative research methodology was employed, focusing on the comparative analysis of secondary sources, namely news articles. The hypothesis posited is: “While India and China, both members of the Global South and BRICS, share some geopolitical alignments with Russia, their differing systems of governance – democratic in India and authoritarian in China – result in distinct perspectives on the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the international order.” Results The analysis reveals that, despite both China and India countries' alignment with the Global South and their identification with developing nations' interests, China and India differ fundamentally in most aspects of their approach to the war in Ukraine and its implications. Conclusions Both Chinese and Indian media emphasize the importance of a multipolar world and multilateralism, articulating a clear critique of "Western dominance" and stressing the need for change. At the same time, they differ in their strategies to leverage the current situation for their respective interests.

Goodnight Ma’am The Queen’s death as a media event and the contestation of legacies in live participation

On the 8th of September, 2022, the world paused as the BBC announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. After 70 years on the throne, the longest-reigning British monarch had died aged 96. The Queen’s death immediately became a global media event that would eventually culminate in the state funeral broadcasted live and followed online worldwide. While many legacy media maintained the classical ceremonial mode of reporting the media event, the narratives and visuals on social media instantaneously challenged and re-narrated the ‘official’ media event dramaturgy. Through digital media ethnography of the media event, unfolding live in both legacy media and on social media platforms, this article demonstrates how diverse social media publics reacted to the legacy media narratives. Special emphasis is placed on the coverage of and the reactions to three parts of the event on BBC and on Twitter: (1) breaking news of the Queen’s death, (2) the Lying-in-State and (3) the State Funeral. The article concludes with a reflection of how the performances of live participation on social media created diverse dramaturgies and how those dramaturgies spoke to very different publics and consequently created a variety of possibilities to interpret the event and its meaning in history.

Impact of Arab Media Propaganda on Anxiety Levels in Indonesian Society: A Case Study of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This study examines the geopolitical dynamics in the Arab region, focusing on factors such as regional conflicts, foreign intervention, leadership changes, and control over energy resources. Conflicts like the Syrian war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and tensions in the Persian Gulf significantly shape regional stability. Foreign intervention, whether military or political, often escalates tensions, while leadership transitions and energy resource control, particularly oil, influence regional and global policies. These developments, widely disseminated through digital media, can impact the psychological state of Indonesian society, particularly when propaganda and biased narratives dominate media coverage. This study employs a case study approach combined with content analysis from digital media platforms and anxiety level measurements using psychological instruments such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Findings reveal that media narratives significantly influence public perception, often amplifying collective anxiety and shaping opinions on geopolitical issues. Digital platforms play a key role in intensifying these effects by merging traditional and modern media channels. The study underscores the importance of media literacy education and public awareness programs to foster critical thinking and resilience against propaganda. These findings provide valuable insights into the intersection of media narratives, public psychology, and geopolitical events, offering recommendations for mitigating their societal impact

Studying Abroad Narrative Imaginaries: North and South Europe

Through analysis of 50 autoethnographies I interpret international students’ imaginaries of Italy-Florence (South Europe), Finland-Helsinki (North Europe) and what can be called “the cosmopolitan elsewhere”. International students’ imaginary of Finland-Helsinki is very slight; that of Italy-Florence is richer and variously articulated: media images and narratives shape students’ expectations before their arrival in the host country. The Finland-Helsinki country profile is instead associated with a vague idea of Northern Europe and often confused with Scandinavia. The respective autoethnographic passages can be synthetically interpreted as past (Italy) vs. present (Finland). On one side Italy-Florence’s image is almost embedded in a cultural past, on the other Finland-Helsinki’s image is almost severed from its history and is seen more as a geographical entity: the deep and mysterious north. Analysis of secondary sources connected with studying abroad reveals the absence of a clear-cut narrative of what it means to be an international student. Nevertheless, there is a glimpse of a vague cosmopolitan narrative. This story, constructed on a global scale by different actors and institutions upholds the generic validity of studying abroad for both instrumental and expressive reasons, and sees it as an institutionalized rite of passage towards global citizenship.

Commemorative media narratives about the South Atlantic crisis. The case of Para Tiduring the transition to democracy in Argentina (1983-1984).

El presente artículose inserta en una investigación más amplia sobre la cobertura que realizaron las revistas argentinas de circulación nacional sobre el conflicto entre Argentina y el Reino Unido por las Islas Malvinas (1982). Su alcance es acotado y se propone conocer y comprender de qué modo rememoró Para Ti, de la editorial Atlántida, la crisis del Atlántico Sur durante la transición a la democracia (1983-1984). El interés por esta revista radica en su circulación y en que pertenece a una de las principales empresas editoriales que apoyó de modo explícito algobierno dictatorial. También porque hay una vacancia de estudios específicos sobre las narrativas y las memorias que activó y configuró en relación con Malvinas. La metodología es cualitativa y articula categorías operativas de la sociosemiótica y el análisis del discurso.

Living with media: Rethinking mediatization through the queer life course

Over the last three decades, mediatization has been heralded as the new grand theory to explain how social transformations have increasingly become intertwined with media technologies. However, like other grand narratives about historical transformations, it risks failing to take into account the reality of lives in peripheries, not least because they rarely leave their traces in archives. In this article, I explore how media are linked to transformations in queer life course in order to shed light on the significance of evolving media technologies for persons whose lives are shaped by inequalities. Drawing on 60 non-media-centric interviews conducted with LGBTIQ+ people in Germany and the UK, I argue that media images, narratives, and technologies hold the potential to spark crucial turning points in the life course of persons whose needs are not fulfilled by social institutions. While the evolution of media technologies over time has led to increased agency for people to access queer content and engage in interpersonal connection, it simultaneously exacerbates a generational inequality. The results presented here invite us to rethink mediatization from a queer life course perspective, and emphasize the crucial role played by media technologies in shaping the social contexts in which lifeworlds unfold.

Islam and Democracy in the 21st Century

The discourse on the relationship between Islam and democracy has been thrust into the limelight amidst the backdrop of the “War on Terror.” From this ongoing dialogue, three overarching perspectives have emerged, each shedding a unique light on this complex nexus: Firstly, there is the belief that Muslim societies inherently lack the capacity to cultivate a liberal culture, thereby hindering the attainment of democracy in Muslim-majority nations. This viewpoint is often propelled by Western media narratives. Contrastingly, a second perspective asserts that democracy not only aligns with Islamic principles but contends that historical Islamic polities have exemplified democratic values more profoundly than any other system worldwide. Lastly, a third viewpoint dismisses democracy as a foreign concept, incompatible with the Islamic tradition, and inherently Western in nature. These last two perspectives find resonance within Muslim intellectual circles.

Media Framing of Rohingya Muslims: A Comparative Analysis of Western, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian Media

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in Myanmar, have long suffered systematic discrimination, persecution, and violence that has culminated since 2017. The Myanmar government refuses to grant citizenship to the Rohingya, considering them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though they have lived in Myanmar for generations. To highlight the complex relationship between media, geopolitics, and public opinion formation, this research seeks to analyze potential biases and contrasting narratives between Western, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian media opinions on Rohingya Muslims. To examine the portrayal of the Rohingya as “refugees”, “victims of violence”, and “rejects”, this study used NVIVO 14 by analyzing 120 news stories, consisting of 40 stories from Western media (CNN and BBC News), 40 from Middle Eastern media (Al Jazeera and Alarabiya News), and 40 from Southeast Asian media (Kompas and The Star). The results showed that Western media tended to frame the Rohingya as victims of violence, Middle Eastern media highlighted the plight of refugees in some countries, while Southeast Asian media highlighted the theme of resistance to their arrival. The analysis also found that the media tended to use neutral sentiments, although bias was detected in certain narrative and framing choices. This research contributes to discourse studies by emphasising the importance of understanding framing biases in shaping public opinion and suggests further analysis that includes levels of semiotics and critical discourse to reveal the depth of media narratives on the Rohingya.

ROLA EUFEMIZMÓW W KREOWANIU OBRAZU RZECZYWISTOŚCI WOJENNEJ: PRAGMALINGWISTYCZNA ANALIZA ROSYJSKIEGO DYSKURSU MEDIALNEGO NA TEMAT WOJNY W UKRAINIE

The article is devoted to the role of euphemisms in the development of journalistic newspeak in contemporary Russia. Euphemistic-dysphemistic instruments in media communication correspond to the agonistic, bipolar essence of political discourse. The narrative of the official Russian media about the “special military operation” is based on the use of expressive evaluative vocabulary, which contributes to creating a certain image of military actions in an appropriate convention and a clear polarization of “us” and “them”. Contemporary political newspeak contains numerous incomprehensible lexemes, often euphemistic (хлопок instead of взрыв, перегруппировка instead of отступление). In accordance with the practice of effective manipulation, euphemisms and dysphemisms are constantly repeated, which helps to deprive the recipient of alternative thinking.

Xi–Biden Summit coverage: Chinese media frames for global and domestic readers

Situated against the recent tumultuous backdrop of Sino–U.S. relations, this study examines the coverage of the November 2023 Xi–Biden Summit by the People’s Daily and China Daily. As authoritative, national-level media outlets reflecting party policies, the People’s Daily, published in Chinese, primarily caters to a domestic audience, while China Daily, in English, targets an international readership. Using framing analysis grounded in agenda-setting theory, this paper investigates how these two outlets presented the summit to foster public support for China’s U.S. policy, particularly after a decade of predominantly negative portrayals. The study examines which aspects were emphasized, downplayed, or omitted and identifies key similarities and differences in their approaches, considering the implications for their respective audiences. Our findings show that both the People’s Daily and China Daily portrayed the summit positively, highlighting President Xi’s diplomatic efforts and China’s commitment to constructive engagement with the United States. This approach emphasizes China’s growing global influence and its willingness to work with other major powers. However, while the People’s Daily focused on areas of agreement and cooperation for domestic readers, China Daily also addressed contentious issues by employing conflictual frames in line with Western news conventions. Additionally, China Daily emphasized cultural elements underscoring China’s heritage and civilization. This study offers valuable insights into how state media outlets frame and interpret such diplomatic events, revealing the nuances of Chinese media narratives and their impact on domestic and international audiences.