PANDEMIC CONTENTS RELATED TO REFUGEES IN TURKEY: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE ONLINE WEBSITES OF THE THREE MOST CIRCULATING NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

Affecting all the continents and being a threat for the world population, Covid-19 pandemic also poses a risk for vulnerable groups such as refugees, exiles, stateless people and those suffering from conflicts and oppression in their countries. This study mainly aims to determine how refugee-specific contents are presented on online newspapers during the pandemic. In the study, 200 contents in the Internet archives of three newspapers with the highest circulation as of August 2020 (Sözcü, Hürriyet and Sabah) were analyzed using content analysis technique. The study concluded that unfair treatment of refugees was reflected in the contents although refugees were believed to pose a threat in terms of Covid-19 disease. In addition, while the Greek government’s approach towards the refugees was criticized, the lack of EU support for Turkey regarding the refugees was frequently voiced in the contents. It can also be said that politicians ask for help and expect sensitivity from EU countries because of the growing concern about refugees’ spreading the disease to the general public rather than the spread of the disease among the refugees. The problems refugees face in their inner worlds have never been voiced, not elaborated, or somehow dealt with superficially. Although there is no explicit hate speech in 91% of the contents, there is an implicit marginalization in the contents, which is generally supported by the theme "refugees are seen as a threat." Hate speech regarding refugees revealed in 28 items (14%). In these contents, the refugees are not criticized, and the hate speech observed in the society is criticized. Policies regarding refugees have become more urgent during the pandemic. Refugees cannot find water for cleaning; they cannot be quarantined. People avoid due to the concern that they will transmit diseases. So, this study contributes to the literature some details about immigrants' life during the pandemic. As a descriptive study, this research is essential to give some information about the presentation of the immigrants on the media.