media bias in the portrayal of asylum seekers and refugees
TRANSCRIPT
MEDIA BIAS IN THE PORTRAYALASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES
Jon Beechlassn.org.uk
oneworldleeds.org@oneworldleeds
facebook.com/lassnleeds
WHO IS TELLING THE STORY?
• Of 119 articles in one week in June 2011• Refugees and asylum seekers are rarely
quoted – 1 out of 30 articles.• For every 1 positive quotes from
politicians there are 36 negative quotes.
HOW THE STORY IS TOLD • Language used is framed as disaster and
threat• influx, swamped, soaring, waves, masses,
flooding, tidal wave, huge, so many• British people are portrayed as angry and
betrayed• What a joke, outrage, a mockery, fury, open to
abuse• Asylum seekers are portrayed as cheats or a
burden• pay-outs, scroungers, workshy, benefit tourists, in
luxury
• words used when talking about IMMIGRANTS• millions and thousands• terrorist, suspected and sham.• flood, influx and wave• “Illegal Immigrant” - a phrase the Advertising
Standards Authority found to be “racist, offensive and misleading.”
• words used when talking about MIGRANTS• economic• jobs and benefits• flood
Portrayals of Immigrants, Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees in National British Newspapers, 2010 to 2012, Migration Observatory, University of Oxford
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
• words used when talking about ASYLUM SEEKERS• failed• illegal • child, destitute and vulnerable.• illegal, criminals• stay
• words used when talking about REFUGEES• this is strikingly different and includes words
about conflict and fleeing and people’s nationalities.
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
HEADLINES STICK IN PEOPLE’S MINDS
SAME DATA – DIFFERENT HEADLINES
• G4S and Serco failing to house asylum seekers properly, says watchdog – The Guardian
• Firms ‘place asylum seekers in sub-standard housing’ – BBC
Mellish cries 'Enough' on Asian influx
New Flood of Asians to
Britain
Another 20,000 Asians are on the
Way
QUEUE JUMPING RUMPUS8th May 1976 18th May 1976
There were Russian Jews, Polish Jews, German Jews, Peruvian Jews: all kinds of Jews, all manner of Jews.
They fought and jostled for the foremost places
The flight from Tsarist pogroms in 1900
The way stateless Jews from Germany are
pouring in from every port of this country is becoming an outrage
Flight of Jews from Nazi Germany 1938
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK CLAIM ASYLUM IN THE UK EACH YEAR?
• Around 5,000 6%• Around 25,000 23% Actual• Around 100,000 31%• Around 200,000 23%• More than 500,000 18%
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC• People are confused – who is an asylum seeker, who
is a refugee and who is an immigrant• People think – everyone is bogus - illegal• People think we are being flooded• People think everyone comes for the benefits• People think asylum seekers are terrorist & criminals• People think UK is the number one destination for
asylum seekers
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR POLITICIANS• “politicians respond to public fears and
anxieties which feature in and are generated by the popular press and other media”
• politicians are fearful of media backlash• politicians want to be seen to be tough and in
control• talking about immigration is a way of avoiding
talking about the real issues – e.g. housing
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES
• The terms refugee and asylum seeker become generic terms for bad behaviour by any immigrant or minority.• Lack of trust in refugee’s narratives• Asylum seekers are simply not believed• Headlines stick in people’s mind