Media construction of deviance - othering of Roma minority in television news discourse

Abstract

How was the Roma minority represented in the main evening news program Události of Czech Television, the public service media, between 2000 and 2015? This article focuses on the visual representation of Roma and the key signs used in television news reports. It presents findings from analysis based on quantitative content analysis and semiotic analysis. Visual representation of the Roma on television news is dominated by images of groups, children and young adults and shots of the environment and places where they live including clutter and ramshackled houses. On the contrary, representations of Roma as authorities are missing. Analysis revealed a long-term repeated thematization of Roma otherness. Although the voice-over is correct, the visual signs used in reports connote negative meanings and stereotypes. Through such visuals Roma are constructed as culturally different. Thus news accentuated and reproduced negative attitudes that a large part of the Czech majority maintains towards Roma.

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