Representation of Syrian Women and Children Refugees’ Health in Turkish Daily Newspapers

Abstract

This study explores the patterns of media representations of displaced Syrian women and children’s health in local and national Turkish dailies, sampled from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2015. This was a critical period following the peak of the refugee crisis, which benefitted from extensive media coverage. It also has specific contextual characteristics due to the state’s open-door policy of welcoming Syrian refugees and because society largely treated them as Muslim guests in need of protection—although this attitude has disappeared since 2016. The study content analyzed 5575 news items reporting Syrian refugee health problem cases and categorized them under 13 content categories representing several dimensions of refugee health, including illness/disease, injuries in general, mental health, reproductive health, health problems caused by armed conflict, type and quality of health services, and service-providing actors. The data reveals a strong humanitarian tone in the media representation pattern that mobilizes moral responsibility and searches for remedies. This distinguishes it from the common Western media pattern of stereotyping refugees during the peak of the Syrian refugee crisis. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.