The Brexit event through the Eye of the British newspapers: A study of how the Daily Express and Daily Mail newspapers represented the immigration case during the Brexit event
2020 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Media whether it is visible, audible or readable plays a substantial role when it comes to transferring news and events from all over the world and providing information to the public around the globe. Global news agencies and press representation of many issues, such as wars, conflicts and political dilemmas differ, depending of national origin or political leanings. The events leading up to the Brexit referendum, which took place in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2016, marked a turbulent political moment for the UK. One central issue at the center of this vote was immigration. Nevertheless, how the issues surrounding migration emerged in the news during this period, and especially how media can then be a place for the creation and reinforcement of political debate, have been understudied. To fill this gap, in this study I investigate how the right-wing represented EU and non-EU migrants in UK in light of the rise of populism across Europe. This study looks at two conservative British newspapers "tabloids": Daily Mail and Daily Express. Then with these incidents and two newspapers, this explores how images are rooted in political debate and become representative of it. I conclude that a negative portrayal and debate on migration is reflected in the right-leaning Daily Express and Daily Express. They both tried to create a less supportive and were more hostile debate regarding to migration policy and migrants in UK which helped spread populist thought among people. Furthermore, the thesis demonstrates that images are a crucial element in the development and strengthening of politized discourses.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. , p. 74
Keywords [en]
EU and non-EU Migration, populism, media, Brexit, UK, refugees, borders, newspaper, “us and them”.
National Category
Political Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-15441Local ID: EIS501OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hv-15441DiVA, id: diva2:1453981
Subject / course
Political science
Educational program
International Programme in Politics and Economics
Supervisors
Examiners
2020-07-232020-07-142020-07-23Bibliographically approved