The aim of this research paper is to highlight the representation of the Roma ethnic group in four British newspapers throughout the year 2013; two mainstream papers which are The Daily Express and The Daily Mail and two broadsheets which are the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph. Different articles from the mainstream papers and the broadsheets are collected through the Key Word Search in Context (KWIC) technique.
The analysis of the findings relies on the Qualitative Content Analysis method. This paper displays how the Roma minority has been subjected to constant negative portrayal in the newspapers selected. The focus on representing the Roma as a problem emerges through the topic of appellation. The newspapers selected use different labels to identify the Roma. Some of these labels are loaded with hackneyed stereotypes and stigmas but the overall effect of these different labels is the enigma created around this group, which is hard even to identify, and thus will always pose a problem.
The articles selected from the Tabloids often use the terms Roma and Romanian interchangeably which can be explained as an anti-immigration policy. The wave of immigration from Eastern Europe and particularly from Romania was not welcomed and thus recurring to identify Romanians as Roma was the easiest way to create fear and repulsion in the audience of these newspapers. Another key issue that characterizes the representation of the Roma in these newspapers is the obvious distinction made between the Roma ethnic minority and other minorities in the UK.
The Roma are portrayed as marginalized minority which refuses to work or contribute positively to the British society. This marginalization is fostered in the coverage of these newspapers through the emphasis on stereotypes and also through the emphasis on the exclusion of the Roma from space and also from any positive contribution. Another focal point in this paper is the representation of the Roma in a multicultural Britain in which everybody is invited to live equally and to be accepted despite their race, religion or ethnicity. The Roma in these newspapers are constantly asked to assimilate and to change their culture to fit in and that contradicts the aims and values of a multicultural society.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review of literature
I. Methodology:
1. Sample:
2. Qualitative Content Analysis:
II. The Findings:
1. The issue of Appellation:
a. Romany/Romani people:
b. Gypsy:
c. Travelers:
2. Model minority versus marginalized minority:
a. Stereotypes:
b. Exclusion:
3. The Roma community in a multicultural Britain:
a. Integration versus assimilation:
b. The Roma and welfare state:
VI. The Discussions:
1. Appellation :
a. Romani/Romany people:
b. Gypsy:
c. Travelers:
2. Model Minority versus Marginalized minority:
a. Stereotypes:
b. Exclusion:
3. Roma in a Multicultural Britain:
a. Integration vs. assimilation:
b. Welfare state:
Conclusion
Objectives and Scope
This research paper examines the representation of the Roma ethnic group in four British newspapers throughout 2013, focusing on how journalistic discourse constructs and marginalizes this community. The study investigates the interplay between media labels, societal stereotypes, and the political climate surrounding immigration and multiculturalism in Britain.
- Analysis of linguistic choices and labeling (e.g., Roma, Gypsy, Traveler) in mainstream and broadsheet press.
- Investigation into the construction of the Roma as a "marginalized minority" versus the "model minority" paradigm.
- Examination of the discourse regarding multiculturalism, integration, and assimilation policies.
- Exploration of how the Roma are utilized as a scapegoat in debates concerning the British welfare state and European immigration.
Excerpt from the Book
The issue of Appellation:
There is an ongoing international debate as to which term better represents the Roma community. The most commonly used ethnonyms are Traveler, Gypsy and Roma also spelled as Rroma. The articles examined, though do not target the issue of appellation in an outspoken manner, serve to intensify the confusion related to the issue of identification. The appellation issue can be deduced first from the discrepancy between the use of the above mentioned labels in the two broadsheets and their use in the two tabloids.
The articles clearly show that the two broadsheets opt to identify Romani people with two precise terms; Roma or Romani and Travelers. The term Roma is mentioned in 25 instances and the word Traveler in 11 instances. These two terms are either used interchangeably or with further description added to the word Traveler and it is often the term “Irish”. However, the articles selected from mainstream newspapers label the ethnic group under study with a plethora of terms; “Gypsies” in 13 instances, “Roma Gypsies” in 7 instances,“Travelers”in 21 instances, “Roma” in 36 instances and they usually add further information to the term Roma like “Romanian” and “Bulgarian”, Roma from “Eastern Europe” mentioned once, “Slovakian Roma” mentioned four times,and they also use in 8 instances the term “Romanians” instead.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides context on the visibility of the Roma minority in British media during 2013 and outlines the research objective concerning media representation and immigration discourse.
Review of literature: Analyzes theoretical frameworks regarding media discourse, language power, and previous studies on ethnic minority representation.
I. Methodology: Details the sample selection of 26 articles from four British newspapers and explains the application of Qualitative Content Analysis.
II. The Findings: Presents data on the usage of labels, the contrast between "model" and "marginalized" minorities, and the framing of the Roma within the multicultural debate.
VI. The Discussions: Synthesizes the findings to uncover hidden agendas and political motives behind the negative portrayal of the Roma in the British press.
Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, highlighting the persistence of negative stereotypes and the failure of current media discourse to promote authentic integration.
Keywords
Roma, British media, immigration, stereotypes, marginalization, multiculturalism, journalistic discourse, appellation, welfare state, assimilation, integration, Gypsy, Romaphobia, identity, representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the representation of the Roma ethnic group in four British newspapers—The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph—during the year 2013.
Which specific themes are central to this study?
The study centers on three main thematic pillars: the issue of appellation (naming), the construction of the Roma as a marginalized minority versus a model minority, and the role of the Roma within the context of a multicultural Britain.
What is the primary research question?
The research asks how the British press represents the Roma minority, and specifically, how language and journalistic discourse are used to construct them as a "problem" in relation to integration, the welfare state, and national identity.
Which scientific method is utilized in this work?
The author employs Qualitative Content Analysis to penetrate deeper layers of meaning within the selected articles, focusing on latent messages and ideological framing rather than quantitative counting.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines how newspapers use specific labels to create confusion, how they perpetuate stereotypes like "folk devils" and "noble savages," and how these portrayals are linked to anti-immigration agendas.
Which keywords define this research?
Key terms include Roma, media representation, stereotypes, marginalization, multiculturalism, immigration, assimilation, and Romaphobia.
How do broadsheets and tabloids differ in their representation of the Roma?
The study notes that while both often maintain the Roma status of invisibility, the tabloids are more likely to use pejorative, xenophobic language, whereas the broadsheets, particularly The Guardian, may attempt a more defensive or sympathetic portrayal.
Why is the year 2013 significant for this study?
2013 was a pivotal year in Britain due to political debates regarding the influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, which the media used as a catalyst to frame the Roma as a threat to the economy and social cohesion.
How does the author define the "Appellation" issue?
The author argues that naming is an exercise of power; by using various and often confused labels (Roma, Gypsy, Traveler, Romanian), the press alienates the Roma and obscures their distinct identity.
What is the author's stance on the "Multiculturalism" debate?
The author highlights the "hypocrisy" in the integration discourse, noting that while multiculturalism is promoted, the press simultaneously demands total assimilation, which ultimately reflects a failure to realize a truly pluralistic society.
- Quote paper
- Dhouha Jedidi (Author), 2014, The Portrayal of the Roma Ethnic Minority in British Newspapers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313684
