We don’t belong to the same war: A comparative analysis of media coverage in Germany on the Syrian and Ukrainian war

• Autor(a) principal: Oliveira, Natalie da Cunha
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/29561
• topic: Syrian conflict; Ukrainian conflict; Refugiados -- Refugees; Media coverage; Media portrayal; European Union; Conflito na Síria; Conflito na Ucrânia; Cobertura mediática; Representação mediática; União Europeia

Global migration and refugee flows have increased sharply in recent years, particularly as a result of the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, which subsequently forced the European Union (EU) to act. However, the EU's response has been unequal, leading to accusations of double standards. With a comparative analysis of the Syrian and Ukrainian war, this thesis aims to examine how these conflicts are portrayed in the media, focusing on specific aspects and refugee portrayals. To this end, a qualitative content analysis of news articles from Deutsche Welle at selected time periods was conducted. For better comparability, the results were quantified. The findings indicate that the media coverage of the Syrian conflict only increased when it directly affected the European Union. In contrast, the Ukrainian conflict received extensive media attention which was accompanied by additional insights from politicians and experts in the field. Syrian refugees were portrayed as a threat to national security, while Ukrainian refugees were described as part of the European community. This highlights how proximity and cultural factors play a role in shaping news and public perceptions of refugees. Emphasizing the need for balanced reporting that provides a holistic picture of conflicts and advocates for all refugees equally.