Press Coverage of the Migration: A Content Analysis of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mass media is a major contributor to direct change of individual, opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. Harnessing the power of mass media has constructive and informative projections on most of the communities. Since the beginning of its emergence, the contribution of the mass media has not always been as constructive, it has also been a direct cause of hatred, polarization, and aggression. From the perspective of Balkans, specifically of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a clear impact of mass media on the migration process. Recently migration roads have crossed paths with Bosnia and Herzegovina as transit corridor subsequently, transformed its roles from a migrant producing to a migrant-receiving country as citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are informed about the issue of immigration mainly through media outlets including television, newspaper, radio, and social media. Therefore, it has also been a direct the mass media on daily basis produce the bulk of information and public discourse that results in dual effect: a sense of community for humanitarian help and division of society by reporting the public enemy image. However, immigrants are generally associated with an internal political crisis or the cause of trouble; the migration crisis is the preferred title by most of the mass media. To learn why this research is to explore what is driving media coverage in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, the research is based on content analysis of media discourse using four printed media which are very favored by constituent peoples. The researcher will analyze dominant discourse and dominant narratives of print and online media in Bosnia and Herzegovina from each media house published from 2017 to 2018. By the end of the research, an understanding of the situation of Bosnia and Herzegovina between mass media and the public sphere will be provided. It will also offer invaluable insights into the current predominant trends of the region.