The Media can problematize, marginalize, exclude or sterotype social groups. This is often done by writing or speaking negatively about other social groups through text or talk.
The purpose of this study is to linguistically examine the creation of a stereotyped image of Muslims through priming and framing in the media. Hence, this study explores if a stereotyped image of Muslims was identified in Dutch and British mainstream newspapers –De Volkskrant, Trouw, NRC, De Telegraaf, The Guardian, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Telegraph and the Sun– in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Theo van Gogh in 2004, the 7/7 attacks in 2005 and the Charlie Hebdo attack 2015.
In this way, this study is primarily occupied with; (1) if a stereotyped image of Muslims is created through language; (2) the agenda setting of Muslims; (3) the language used by journalists to describe Muslims in response to terrorist attacks at home or abroad.
The analysis of language in the newspapers is conducted from a critical discourse analysis perspective and is done for both countries separately. The analysis of Dutch newspapers provides more evidence of stereotyped frames compared to the UK but there is not enough evidence to claim that any of the eight newspapers created a stereotyped image of Muslims in the aftermath of the studied terrorist attacks.
Includes:
- Priming Theory;
- Agenda Setting Theory;
- Framing Theory;
- Critical Discourse Analytics;
- Priming of Muslims in Newspapers;
- Framing of Muslims in Newspapers
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.1.2 Purpose of the Study and Research Question
1.1.3 Rationale behind the Study
1.1.4 Background Information
1.1.5 A Stereotyped Image of Muslims?
1.1.6 Conceptual definition of Muslim(s)
1.2 Literature Review
1.2.1 Islamophobia
1.2.2 Media Representation of Muslims
1.2.3 Gap in the Literature
1.3 Sequence of the Study
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework and the Media
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 Priming and Agenda Setting Theory
2.1.2 High Priming Level of Muslims
2.2 Framing Theory
2.3 Utilization of the Social Theories
2.4 Conclusion
Chapter 3: Methodology
3.1 Introducing CDA
3.1.1 Rationale behind CDA
3.2 Data Collection
3.2.1 Selection of Terrorist Attacks
3.2.2 Rationale behind Newspapers
3.2.3 Selection of Newspapers
3.2.4 Unit of Analysis
3.2.5 Categorization and Coding of the Data
3.2.6 Time frame
3.3 CDA execution
3.4 Conclusion
Chapter 4: Priming of Muslims in Dutch and British Newspapers
4.1 Priming Triggers Stereotyped Images
4.2 Priming Implications for Dutch Newspapers
4.2.1 Priming Analysis of Muslims in Dutch Newspapers
4.3 Priming Implications for British newspapers
4.3.1 Priming Analysis of Muslims in Dutch Newspapers
4.4 Cross-National Conclusion
Chapter 5: Framing of Muslims in Dutch Newspapers
5.1 Stereotyping in Dutch Newspapers?
5.2 Domestic Attack Theo van Gogh
5.2.1 Article Selection
5.2.2 Priming of Muslims
5.2.3 Stereotyped Frames
5.2.4 Stereotyped Frames Dominant?
5.2.5 Differences or Similarities
5.2.6 Stereotypes in Non-Muslim Articles
5.3 7/7 and Charlie Hebdo Attacks
5.3.1 Article Selection
5.3.2 Priming of Muslims
5.3.3 Stereotyped Frames
5.3.4 Stereotyped Frames Dominant?
5.3.5 Differences or Similarities
5.3.6 Stereotypes in non-Muslim Articles
5.4 National Comparison and Conclusions
Chapter 6: Framing of Muslims in UK Newspapers
6.1 Domestic 7/7 Attacks
6.1.1 Article selection
6.1.2 Priming of Muslims
6.1.3 Stereotyped Frames
6.1.4 Stereotyped Frames Dominant?
6.1.5 Differences or Similarities
6.1.6 Stereotypes in Non-Muslim Articles
6.2 Van Gogh and Charlie Hebdo
6.2.1 Article Selection
6.2.2 Priming of Muslims
6.2.3 Stereotyped Frames
6.2.3 Stereotyped Frames Dominant?
6.2.4 Differences or Similarities
6.2.5 Stereotypes in Non-Muslim Articles
6.3 National Comparison
6.4 Cross National Comparison and Conclusion
Conclusion
Limitations
Dutch and British Context
Stereotyped Framing
Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The study examines whether mainstream newspapers in the Netherlands and the UK create a stereotyped image of Muslims through linguistic priming and framing in the aftermath of major terrorist attacks. It aims to identify if media coverage propagates negative stereotypes or distinguishes between perpetrators and the wider Muslim community, using Critical Discourse Analysis to compare domestic and international coverage.
- Priming and agenda setting in news media
- Framing of Muslim communities in Western newspapers
- Comparative analysis of Dutch and British media discourse
- Linguistic indicators of stereotyping after terrorist events
- The role of political stance in media representation
Excerpt from the Book
1.1.5 A Stereotyped Image of Muslims?
Stereotyping is often traced back to Walter Lippmann and refers to the typical thought that comes to mind when thinking about a particular social group. In other words, stereotypes are often misleading or wrong generalizations about social groups since stereotypes are most often negative but could also be positive (Blum 2004: 251; Gonzalez 2008: 669). Hence, stereotypes could shape the perceptions of people who stereotype others in such a way that they see stereotypical characteristics even when they are not present (Blum 2004: 251; El Farra 1996: 1).
In this way, stereotyping of Muslims in the media can occur in several ways since journalists can use various sorts of language to portray common beliefs about Muslims (Hamza 2009: 19). Since the media has the power to influence the mind-set of people, social relationships are often driven by stereotypes and prejudice (Shadid and van Koningsveld 2002: 174).
For the purpose of this research, a stereotyped image of Muslims is classified as the direct combination of ‘Muslim(s)’ with one of the commonly identified stereotype(s); ‘terrorist(s),’ ’extremist(s)’ ’fanatic(s),’ ‘jihadist(s),’ ‘radicals(s) and ‘fundamentalist(s).’ This means that combinations like; ’Muslim extremists,’ ‘Muslim jihadists,’ ’radical Muslims’ and so on for the other stereotypes will be searched for in this study. It has been regarded as important to select multiple stereotypes since several concepts are used in media coverage to describe Muslim extremists (Poole 2011: 52). However, just the combination of one of these stereotypes with ‘Muslim(s)’ is not sufficient to create a stereotyped image of Muslims. Additionally, the articles have to neglect the moderate masses of Muslims or as Mamdani put it; the distinction between terrorists and civilians (Mamdani 2002: 766). This could for example be visible when articles refuse to clarify that Muslims are the first victims of terrorism or that the majority of Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism (Horobin and Thomas 2015).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the research scope, defines the research questions, and establishes the importance of investigating how media coverage influences public perception of Muslims.
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework and the Media: The chapter explains the theoretical basis of the research, specifically focusing on priming, agenda-setting theory, and framing theory as tools for analyzing media discourse.
Chapter 3: Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology, specifically the application of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the process of data collection from Dutch and British newspapers.
Chapter 4: Priming of Muslims in Dutch and British Newspapers: This chapter presents the quantitative priming analysis, evaluating the frequency of mentions of Muslims in the selected newspapers following the studied terrorist attacks.
Chapter 5: Framing of Muslims in Dutch Newspapers: This chapter examines the specific language and frames used by Dutch newspapers to portray Muslims and determines if these frames constitute a stereotyped image.
Chapter 6: Framing of Muslims in UK Newspapers: The final analytical chapter performs a similar framing analysis on UK newspapers and provides a cross-national comparison between Dutch and British reporting.
Keywords
Muslims, Media, Representation, Priming, Framing, Stereotyping, Terrorism, Newspapers, Netherlands, UK, Critical Discourse Analysis, Islamophobia, News Agenda, Journalism, Political Stance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation investigates whether major newspapers in the Netherlands and the UK create a stereotyped image of Muslims in their coverage of terrorist attacks, focusing on linguistic choices and media framing.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The study covers media effects theory, specifically priming and framing, the representation of religious minorities in the press, and the differences in media approaches between various political spectra and countries.
What is the main research question of this study?
The research asks if newspapers in the Netherlands and the UK create a stereotyped image of Muslims following the van Gogh, 7/7, and Charlie Hebdo attacks, and how this relates to priming/agenda setting.
Which methodology is applied to the research?
The researcher utilizes Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as the primary quantitative and qualitative approach to examine the language and content of online newspaper articles.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical framework, the methodology of data collection and categorization, a detailed priming analysis per country, and a thorough framing analysis of news articles from eight selected newspapers.
Which keywords define the scholarly profile of this work?
Key terms include Muslim representation, priming, framing, Islamophobia, terrorist attacks, news agenda setting, and Critical Discourse Analysis.
Does the study find that a stereotyped image of Muslims is dominant?
No, the findings do not show that a stereotyped image of Muslims is dominant in the newspapers studied, although isolated examples of stereotyped framing were identified.
How does the media coverage differ between the Netherlands and the UK?
The study observes that Dutch newspapers tend to show more sensitivity to stereotyped framing than their British counterparts, which demonstrate a relatively more balanced approach in their coverage of the investigated attacks.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding priming and stereotyping?
The author concludes that there is no direct relationship between high priming levels of Muslims in the media and the creation of a stereotyped image.
- Arbeit zitieren
- MA International Relations Daniel Wijnans (Autor:in), 2015, The Representation of Muslims in the Media, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/316255
