Exsul: a sociological analysis of print media representations of the refugee crisis.

Abstract

The print media functions as an important means of information communication in society in that it brings global events into the homes of consumers on a daily basis where text and images can be read and re-read at the user's leisure. In the specific instance of the ongoing refugee crisis the reporting of the print media has become increasingly loaded and virulent, therefore, this creates a heated political context, which this research contributes to. This research conducted a rigorous grounded theory analysis over a four month period on the media coverage of the refugee crisis from June-September 2015 from both the Scottish Daily Mail and the Guardian, and uncovered 328 Guardian articles and 333 Daily Mail articles. This process generated a set of conceptual categories: geopolitical and economic discourses, the reactionary power of politics and the media and the language of fear. It was found that the Guardian mainly focuses on the humanitarian elements of the crisis, while the Daily Mail tended to take a differing stance, which places emphasis on increasing calls for securitisation. The ideologies and historical context of these differing stances are at odds and the underlying rationale appears to rest on political allegiance. The language used in reporting is crucial in relaying information to readers and therefore the distinction made between migrants and refugees is critical, as this has a direct effect on the public appetite to support international assistance. This is owing to the structured reality that the print media builds and develops through a series of narratives and representations; this not only shapes, but constrains the public's understanding of the refugee crisis in such a way that perceptions of the crisis are distorted.