Page 69 - Tallinn University

HARIDUSTEADUSED Tallinna Ülikooli üliõpilaste 2015/2016. õppeaasta PARIMAD TEADUSTÖÖD / Artiklite kogumik
All respondents recognized that the ERR’s article was informative and neutral while Õhtuleht’s had a provocative, out of context title to receive clicks and the content included the opinions of regular citi- zens and representatives of the state to construct a con ict. In the case of Postimees, ve out of seven informants stated that the author and the article itself were pro-refugee while other two were not able to identify a speci c position. Four respondents also pointed out that the text focused on some histori- cal aspects of Estonians and compared it to the refugee situations today.
reality perceptiOnS
e results of the second part were divided into three themes: media coverage, risk perception, and personal stance. In regard to the topics and their variations in the online coverage of the refugee crisis, more than half of the respondents pointed out that in the beginning the online articles focused more on the numbers of refugees arriving to Europe and Estonia. It was also pointed out that the news web- sites looked towards other European countries and discussed those topics in the context of Estonia. All respondents also agreed that online news media had ampli ed the topics concerning refugees, and most of them stated that the ampli cation of this issue inclined towards negative stance.
Furthermore, ve out of seven respondents called attention to their own or people’s fears in general regarding the migration of refugees to Estonia, either in relation to terrorist attacks, appearance of ghettos or sexual assaults. As one important aspect in the risk perception, respondents concentrated on the attitudes of Estonians and pointed out that the sense of nationalism and negative prejudice towards refugees could actually generate greater hazards. One interviewee divided the opponents of refugees into two major groups: those who believed in a „pure Estonian race” and those who were afraid of terrorism attacks.
When discussing who was an average refugee seeking asylum, four out of seven respondents replied automatically that they were men, and two of them explained that they automatically envisioned dark- skinned men. In addition, during ve interviews it became evident that the position of respondents was to a great extent in uenced by their interests or environment. One respondent argued that there were already many people from di erent cultures on the streets of Tallinn, and another few also called attention to international students studying in Estonian universities. Also, it was pointed out that due to the opposition of Estonians to refugees, foreign students su ered as well.
diScuSSiOn
e results demonstrate that journalists of online news media utilize a variety of news frames, which could derive from such factors as the selection of spokespersons and their standpoint or the excerp- tion of speci c themes and problems. us, journalists have the power to set the agenda and apply news frames to highlight certain opinions on the topic. erefore, to understand the setting of frames, it is important to consider organizing principles of media discourse, which accumulates intertwining, but at the same time competing ideas (Reese, 2001; 7). Also, the main outcome regarding the agenda- setting in online news media was concerned with attracting readers as the respondents pointed out the phenomenon of „clickbait articles”.
e results of content analysis of three news websites indicate that the respondents’ perception of the narratives in the articles is in correlation with the ndings of frame analysis. Castells (2009; 158) notes
69