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Media Framing of the Mahsa Amini Protests: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Coverage in The New York Times and The Guardian

Esmaeili, Maral LU (2024) SOLM02 20241
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract
This study examines how The New York Times and The Guardian framed the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran from September 2022 to September 2023. Using qualitative content analysis of 186 news articles, guided by framing theory and the protest paradigm, the study explores dominant frames, predominant themes, narratives, and depictions of protest legality and state responses. A mixed inductive-deductive coding approach was applied to capture emerging narratives while testing existing hypotheses about protest coverage.

The findings reveal that most articles adopted a neutral or positive tone toward the protests, challenging the conventional protest paradigm by emphasizing state violence and legitimizing the protesters’ demands for women’s... (More)
This study examines how The New York Times and The Guardian framed the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran from September 2022 to September 2023. Using qualitative content analysis of 186 news articles, guided by framing theory and the protest paradigm, the study explores dominant frames, predominant themes, narratives, and depictions of protest legality and state responses. A mixed inductive-deductive coding approach was applied to capture emerging narratives while testing existing hypotheses about protest coverage.

The findings reveal that most articles adopted a neutral or positive tone toward the protests, challenging the conventional protest paradigm by emphasizing state violence and legitimizing the protesters’ demands for women’s rights, freedom, and justice, encapsulated in the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom." Coverage of Iranian state responses was predominantly critical, highlighting repression, state violence, and censorship. Discussions on the legality of the protests were minimal, with a few articles referencing government statements framing them as illegal under Iranian law. This study contributes to understanding how media shapes public perceptions of social movements, particularly in authoritarian contexts, and offers insights into the role of international media in amplifying grassroots movements. (Less)
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author
Esmaeili, Maral LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOLM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Mahsa Amini, "Women, Life, Freedom Protests in Iran", Media Framing, Framing Theory, Protest Paradigm, Social Movements, Media Content Analysis
language
English
id
9178646
date added to LUP
2025-01-30 12:48:15
date last changed
2025-01-30 12:48:15
@misc{9178646,
  abstract     = {{This study examines how The New York Times and The Guardian framed the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran from September 2022 to September 2023. Using qualitative content analysis of 186 news articles, guided by framing theory and the protest paradigm, the study explores dominant frames, predominant themes, narratives, and depictions of protest legality and state responses. A mixed inductive-deductive coding approach was applied to capture emerging narratives while testing existing hypotheses about protest coverage.

The findings reveal that most articles adopted a neutral or positive tone toward the protests, challenging the conventional protest paradigm by emphasizing state violence and legitimizing the protesters’ demands for women’s rights, freedom, and justice, encapsulated in the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom." Coverage of Iranian state responses was predominantly critical, highlighting repression, state violence, and censorship. Discussions on the legality of the protests were minimal, with a few articles referencing government statements framing them as illegal under Iranian law. This study contributes to understanding how media shapes public perceptions of social movements, particularly in authoritarian contexts, and offers insights into the role of international media in amplifying grassroots movements.}},
  author       = {{Esmaeili, Maral}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Media Framing of the Mahsa Amini Protests: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Coverage in The New York Times and The Guardian}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}