Media Framing and Tone of Voice in Dutch Newspapers: A Comparative Analysis of the Syrian and Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
Summary
The way issues are portrayed in the media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and policy decisions. This study conducted a comparative content analysis of 200 news articles from Dutch popular and quality newspapers to explore how media framing and tone of voice differ between the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015 and the Ukrainian refugee crisis in 2022. Adopting the five generic frames identified by Semetko and Valkenburg (2000) and assessing the tone of voice in headlines and body text, this study revealed significant differences in media coverage of the two crises. The Syrian refugee crisis was primarily framed in terms of responsibility, conflict, and economic consequences, while the Ukrainian refugee crisis was described in a generally positive tone. The type of newspaper had little effect on the framing and tone, suggesting that the nature of the crises themselves had a stronger influence on media portrayals. These results support the ongoing media debate on the perceived double standards in treatment of Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, emphasizing the need for further research and increased awareness among policymakers and journalists to promote balanced and fair representation of refugees.