media bias in the portrayal of asylum seekers and refugees

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