Representation of Lebanese shiites in Lebanese media -

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the representation of the Lebanese Shiites in the Lebanese media. The main question that the study attempts to answer is if Lebanese newspapers frame Lebanese Shiites and the predominantly Shiite areas in Lebanon in negative, stereotypical, or homogenous ways. The method used to analyze newspapers is qualitative content analysis since it is suggested that this method is the most appropriate one to be used when analyzing representations. Four articles from each newspaper were analyzed. While all four newspapers treated the Lebanese Shiites as one homogenous group, Al Mustaqbal and al Nahar's articles propagated the stereotype of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiites, and Dahye as dangerous, using descriptions such as terrorists, militias, or a group that wants to dominate. Their general representation of this group could be described as negative. Al Akhbar and al Safir, on the other hand, propagated the stereotype of a targeted yet resistant population. Surprisingly, in its coverage of the kidnappings carried out by the Mokdad clan, al Akhbar treated the tribes of Bekaa and the Lebanese Shiites as a homogenous group, portrayed them in a negative light, and portrayed Dahye and Bekaa as dangerous areas.