Discursive constructions and visual representations of Syrian refugees: a focus on the media in Turkey

This study explores the discursive construction and media representations of Syrian refugees in relation to wider politics of nationalism and contested narratives of national identity in Turkey. For this purpose, frontpage coverage of 5 national dailies that were selected based on circulation size, target readership and ideological orientation were analyzed using Discourse-Historical Approach. News items and accompanying visuals sampled from Cumhuriyet, Yeni Akit, Hürriyet, Sözcü and Sabah were subjected to analysis through a set of paradigms that this study develops. These paradigms are Humanitarian, Religious, Economic, Socio-cultural and Demographic, Citizenship and Rights, respectively. Under each paradigm, associated subthemes of media framing with regard to the distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’ are scrutinized. This research argues that media discourse on refugees cannot be separated from the broader social and political context and different narratives of who ‘we’ are. Media discourses of inclusion and exclusion that are intertwined; sometimes feeding each other and sometimes rejecting each other and are deeply interwoven with contemporary politics create meaning at social level regarding the representation of “Syrian refuge”.