Refugees in the news: Comparing Belgian and Swedish newspaper coverage of the European refugee situation during summer 2015

Abstract

This comparative content analysis of Belgian and Swedish newspaper coverage of the ‘refugee situation’ in 2015 (N=898) revolves around responsibility indicators, news actor characteristics, and thematic emphasis. As they are a potential influential factor in the public-opinion formation process, the studying of media portrayals is an essential first step in investigating the dynamic interplay between media discourse and societal reactions. Belgium and Sweden differ with respect to migration policy, integration indicators, and the number of incoming refugees. They also differ in terms of journalistic cultural values. As a result, they make for an excellent case study of intercultural differences and similarities in how refugees are reported on. Our analysis made clear that Belgian news coverage shows regional diversity, with Francophone Belgian journalists showing more tolerance towards migrants and thus tending to be more in line with their Swedish counterparts. Still, refugees are seldom allowed to speak for themselves. This warrants attention and action by news professionals.

Media use, fear of terrorism, and attitudes towards immigrants and refugees: Young people and adults compared

“…In a time marked by a high influx of refugees and immigrants in Europe, research shows that many native citizens have negative feelings towards these newcomers (Ceobanu and Escandell, 2010; De Coninck et al., 2018; European Commission, 2016a; Jacobs et al., 2017a; Wike et al., 2016). Differences in attitudes towards newcomers can be explained by socio-demographic indicators as well as news media consumption, since these negative feelings are cultivated by exposure to negative news reporting on immigration, which is common in Europe (De Cleen et al., 2017; De Cock et al., 2018; Jacobs and Hooghe, 2015; Jacobs et al., 2016, 2017a; Van Gorp, 2005). Although young people and adults are found to have different media menus (Apestaartjaren, 2016; Newman et al., 2017; Wennekers and de Haan, 2017) and young people tend to be more positive towards immigrants and refugees (Heath et al., 2016; Jacobs et al., 2017a, 2017b), so far little research comparing media use and attitudes towards newcomers among young people and adults has been carried out.…”

Drifting Further Apart? How Exposure to Media Portrayals of Muslims Affects Attitude Polarization

“…We then measured how frequently individuals are exposed to positive information about Muslims and Islam on SNSs ( ρ = 0.91, M = 2.92, SD = 1.49) and in traditional media ( ρ = 0.92, M = 3.21, SD = 1.47). Based on existing content analyses (e.g., De Cock et al, 2018), we asked how often participants encounter information about (1) positive achievements and (2) the successful integration of Muslims in Austria.…”

“…Second, although news coverage about Muslims is dominated by negative information (Ahmed & Matthes, 2016;Bowe et al, 2013;Dixon & Williams, 2015;Powell, 2011), journalists often deliberately portray particular positive examples of minority members (Ramasubramanian, 2011(Ramasubramanian, , 2015. In fact, content analyses on news coverage in general show that in many countries, positive topics such as successful postarrival integration or rights for immigrants are almost as prevalent as negative topics centering around border control or crime (Brosius, van Elsas, & de Vreese, 2019;De Cock et al, 2018). Yet, existing research reveals conflicting results regarding the effects of positive media portrayals of minority members suggesting that they may either attenuate (Bodenhausen, Schwarz, Bless, & Wänke, 1995;Ramasubramanian, 2011Ramasubramanian, , 2015Schemer, 2012) or backfire and aggravate existing attitude polarization (e.g., Bail et al, 2018;Wojcieszak, 2010Wojcieszak, , 2011Wojcieszak & Price, 2010).…”

Setting the Agenda for Research on Media and Migration: State-of-the-Art and Directions for Future Research

“…Regarding the portrayal of migration and migrants in mass media, the general focus of the literature is on aspects of salience of the issue (e.g., Boomgaarden & Vliegenthart, 2009;Greussing & Boomgaarden, 2017), the tonality with which migration or migrants are depicted in mass media (e.g., Lawlor & Tolley, 2017) and more recently in social media (e.g., Heidenreich, Eberl, Lind, & Boomgaarden, 2019;Lee & Nerghes, 2018), the framing or related stereotypical tendencies of such coverage (e.g., Greussing & Boomgaarden, 2017;Heidenreich, Lind, Eberl, & Boomgaarden, in press;Joris, d'Haenens, Van Gorp, & Mertens, 2018;Ramasubramanian & Miles, 2018), the visual representation of the issue (Zhang & Hellmüller, 2017), and the silencing of migrant voices in the news (e.g., De Cock et al, 2018;Georgiou & Zaborowski, 2017;Kluknavská, Bernhard, & Boomgaarden, 2019). In sum, one can conclude that media coverage of refugee and asylum issues is dominated by problemorientation (e.g., Cecchi, 2011;Gemi, Ulasiuk, & Triandafyllidou, 2013;Grobet, 2014;Heller, 2014;Lynn & Lea, 2003).…”