Publication
Title
Did the European migrant crisis change news coverage of immigration? A longitudinal analysis of immigration television news and the actors speaking in it
Author
Abstract
Although immigration always has been an issue of political debate, the 2015 European migrant crisis led to an enormous increase in attention from policymakers and news media. Many studies already focused on the representation of the crisis in the news, but no systematic longitudinal research existed comparing coverage in crisis and non-crisis times. This study analyzes all television news items on immigration in Flanders (Belgium) from the two main broadcasters from the period 2003-2017. By doing so, we are able to study whether there are changes in immigration coverage before and during the crisis years. We focus specifically on the actors that get the opportunity to voice their point of view on immigration and on the issues related to immigration. Our results show that before the crisis, immigration news coverage on the commercial and public service broadcaster was relatively similar. However, during the crisis their approach changes. The commercial broadcaster criminalizes immigration more and focuses on political actors. The public broadcaster opts for a broader issue approach and gives the word more to citizens and immigrants during the crisis. We elaborate in the conclusion on how crises can change the nature of reporting.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Mass communication & society. - Mahwah, N.J., 1998, currens
Publication
Abingdon : Routledge journals, taylor & francis ltd , 2019
ISSN
1520-5436 [print]
1532-7825 [online]
DOI
10.1080/15205436.2019.1663873
Volume/pages
22 :6 , p. 733-755
ISI
000486828000001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
The Voice of the People. Displays of Public Opinion in the News and Their Influence on Audiences.
Diversity and Information Media : New Tools for a Multifaceted Public Debate (DIAMOND).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.09.2019
Last edited 02.10.2024
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