A Depiction of Rohingya Refugees in India’s Online News Platforms Following the Shift in the Indian Government’s Stance in 2017

Yasmin Aldamen () and Dilana Thasleem Abdul Jaleel
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Yasmin Aldamen: Department of Journalism, Media, and Digital Communication, Faculty of Arts, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Dilana Thasleem Abdul Jaleel: Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, School of Communication, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul 34480, Türkiye

Societies, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-31

Abstract: The media plays a crucial role in framing and representing humanitarian crises, significantly influencing public opinion. The representation of these crises in the media directly impacts the dissemination of information to the global public. One prominent international crisis is the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, which dates back to the 1970s. News about the Rohingya refugees has been a major humanitarian topic on the global stage. The findings of this study reveal that Rohingya refugees are predominantly represented negatively in popular media platforms in India. Negative framing, including dehumanization and misrepresentation, is often employed in political discourse and developments. The portrayal of Rohingya refugees in Indian media frequently resorts to one-dimensional and stereotypical depictions. The frequent occurrence of dehumanization and misrepresentation, identifiable through the use of language and selective reporting practices, indicates a strong alignment of most Indian mainstream media with the government’s position. However, it is noteworthy that some platforms maintain a critical perspective. The portrayal of Rohingya refugees in India’s mainstream news outlet’s online platforms, such as Hindustan Times Online, NDTV Online, The Times of India Online, and India Today Online, reveals a complex landscape with varying narratives and governmental alignments.

Keywords: Rohingya refugees; India; Indian government’s stance in 2017; NDTV online; Hindustan Times Online; The Times of India Online; India Today Online; media framing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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