Skewed News: A Macro-Analysis of Gypsy, Roma and Traveler Coverage in the UK Press

ABSTRACT

This study of reporting by UK national newspapers of Gipsies, Roma and Travelers offers a macro-analysis to complement existing discourse analyses. The results show a significant imbalance in which two out of 12 newspapers accounted for more than half the total number of articles found. High volumes of coverage were associated with significant imbalance in the news categories covered toward stories that reinforce negative stereotypes of GRTs. The apparent bias is pervasive despite the study’s timeframe covering the end of the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Although previous discourse analyses have considered the likely effect of negative framing, there may be a research gap concerning potential harm to GRTs as news subjects. In considering the journalistic ethics of reporting on minority groups, this paper argues that ultimate responsibility lies with news editors and proprietors rather than with reporters.

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Mr. Kevin Murphy, MSc, and Dr. Arshad Makhdum for taking part in the study as independent coders.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.