The treatment of information on migratory flows in the media of the Mediterranean countries

Abstract

This article aims to identify and analyse the media information on migratory flows registered in the Mediterranean context and the treatment given to the migrant subject in the representations made of the people’s mobility between different countries of the region. An international and interdisciplinary group of researchers has analysed 3452 news related to the Mediterranean basin, and produced by the main newspapers and television public channels of Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, United Kingdom and Tunisia. In addition to the first State-level broadcasters, in the case of Spain were also considered four regional public channels (Spanish autonomous communities). The selection of the sample corresponds to two weeks of May 2013. The matrix of analysis included formal aspects of selection and hierarchization of subjects, the topics addressed, the main actors highlighted in the headlines and the designations used in regards to these subjects and actors. The results reveal a few differences in the thematic agenda of the media researched. On both shores of the Mediterranean, migration and migrants are presented as a problem or associated with a source of conflict rather than an idea of opportunity for migrants as well as for host countries.