An Introduction to Media Analysis: Representation of Refugees By Sandra Ellis, Tahlia Forrest and Sarah Moed (The Australian 2011)

What do you see when presented with the image below? (economist.com 2015)

How do photographs and images communicate meaning? All photographs and images that are published in the media communicate messages to the general public. This week we will investigate the semiotic tools of framing and voicing in relation to the ‘Children overboard’ image. You will also read and analyse a case study, Working borders in racial discourse: The challenge of the ‘Children overboard affair’ in news media texts (Macken-Horarik 2003). You will learn how political leaders can use such images to communicate messages to the public and how these images can be used to skew the truth.

Some key themes Look at how words are used in voicing, words such as ‘child’ versus ‘children’. These small differences can impact perception and meaning. How does framing obstruct our understanding of the image or direct our conscious to an intended understanding? How do the semiotic resources of framing and voicing work to produce specific effects in media? Get a glimpse into how politics of race are taking advantage of visual news. Discover ideological projection – how do politicians use this to enhance their political position.

Do you see a photograph and immediately believe its contents? Most of us would answer ‘yes’ to the above question. As a society we are lead to ‘believe’ what we ‘see’. We often believe that photo = fact. This week you will learn how seeing is not always believing and how framing and voicing can manipulate images to produce connotations, subliminal messages and even provide an underlying message for racial vilification.

Semiotic Square: How does this relate to the images we consume? (University of Minnesota 2015)

Watch the Series: Go back to where you came from This series takes part in conducting a social experiment that has never been attempted before. Six Australians with strong views on refugees, one month of isolation from family and friends and an unexpected experience. These six Australians will have their beliefs and views challenged in the most extreme ways. This is a dangerous refugee journey in reverse.

Some key points to consider whilst watching the series What does it mean to be refugee and how are refugees reported in the media? What is the role of semiotics in media in relation to the refugee crisis? What role does the media play in our given perception of refugees? Does Media hold a large responsibility for racial discourse?

This series was compelling! You will get a glimpse into the world of refugees, the pain, despair, suffering, feelings of displacement… the utter desperation that these people encounter. You may even find yourself asking questions about how you would cope if you were in their shoes. Would you get on that boat to find a better life? Do you think the media would portray your experiences accurately? Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself at the end of this series: Has your perception changed? If so, how? Do you think the media accurately reports on Asylum seekers? Do you think the media has a role to play in the racial vilification of asylum seekers?

Resource 1: Navigating the national and global media representation of refugees This article outlines the link between media, globalisation and refugees/migrants. It describes a media culture that uses images, words, spectacles and sounds to shape our views (Rai 2008). It also looks deeper into the relationship between the role of the media and how national culture and identity are formed. There is an analysis on how media constructs meanings and discourses and the complexity of this on a globalized scale.

Resource 2: Moving images: The Media Representation of Refugees This article will outline some of the contemporary issues in the media representation of refugees. It investigates the common patterns in the construction and usage of images. It discusses how we are becoming a visual culture allowing media images to constuct our views (Wright 2002). You will also find that this paper investigates how current images of refugees have origins of christian iconography. As well as a look into the wider social and political agenda of how images are being used to determine how we view and perceive ‘refugees’.

Resource 3: Shaping Media Representations of Sudanese-Australians: The AuSud Media Project This video outlines the fact that the Sudanese refugees living in Australia, specifically Melbourne, are being negatively represented by the media. They are portrayed as problematic outsiders that have doubtful moral character and may be living illegally in Australia (Farquharson 2012). The media representation is causing a negative impact on the Sudanese’s lives and many feel as though they do not have a voice to defend their positions in society. They are rarely sought by media for their opinions. A research program has been started as a way to involve and give the Sudanese a media voice. They are partnered with a journalist as a mentor as well as a writing tutor. One outcome the program is working towards is the creation of ethnic media outlets for the Sudanese people as a community.

Resource 4: The Media and Refugees: Reflecting Public Concern or Fuelling it? This article outlines an alternative view and perspective of the media’s representation of refugees. It suggests that perhaps we could consider if we agree with everything the media is telling us because it’s all we know or if it is our cultural or individual opinion. The article questions whether the media is controlling Australians fixation on border control or if it is purely reflecting public concern. Furthermore, the article encourages the media to release alternate stories of refugees and allow for some positive light to be shed on the issue. Statistics mention about the lack of knowledge a number of Australians have of refugees, and suggest perhaps this lack of knowledge is where the increase of fear is developed. It is acknowledged in the article that majority of Australians only have one source of information regarding asylum seekers – the media. The overall message of the article is that a large amount of Australians are much too uneducated in the real facts of refugees and asylum seekers to make an appropriate or valid judgment on the issue and simply agree with whatever the media is releasing (Hunt 2011).

Resource 5: The Portrayal of Asylum Seekers and Refugees during Election Campaigns This article is written by a lawyer and human rights activist. It outlines an interesting point that when there is an election approaching and during election campaigns, refugees are presented as being a burden on society by some candidates and political parties. These representations lead to negative reactions by the general public and influences Australian’s point of view on refugees (Tranter 2013). The negative portrayal of refugees is certainly amplified during election times. This article highlights that it should be the governments moral and ethical responsibility to present the Australian public the real facts regarding refugees rather than giving them negative inferences only. The article poses the question, is it actually the media that is controlling Australians negative thoughts and views on refugees or is it actually the government controlling these thoughts based on the information reported through the various media channels?

References Farquharson, K 2012, ‘Shaping media representations of Sudanese-Australians: the AuSud media project’, Swinburne Commons, viewed 20 July 2015,. Go back to where you came from 2011 [television series], SBS-TV, 21 June, viewed 14 July 2015,. Go back to where you came from 2011 [television series], SBS-TV, 22 June, viewed 14 July 2015,. Go back to where you came from 2011 [television series], SBS-TV, 23 June, viewed 14 July 2015,. Go back to where you came from 2011 [television series], SBS-TV, 28 June, viewed 14 July 2015,. Hunt, S 2011, ‘The media and refugees: reflecting public concern or fuelling it?’, Crikey, 23 December 2011, viewed 19 July 2015,. Macken-Horarik, M 2003, 'Working the borders in racist discourse: the challenge of the 'children overboard affair in news media texts', Social Semiotics, vol. 13, no. 3, pp Rai, M 2008, ‘Navigating the national and global: media representation of refugees’, Communication, Politics & Culture, vol.41, no.2, pp , viewed 14 July 2015,. Tranter, K 2013, ‘The portrayal of asylum seekers and refugees during election campaigns’, Kellie Tranter, 29 April 2013, viewed 21 July 2015,. Wright, T 2002, ‘Moving images: the media representation of refugees’, Visual Studies, vol.17, no.1, pp , viewed 15 July 2015,.

Image References Image 1: The Australian, [image] Debbie Guest, 22 August 2011, viewed on 14 July 2015,. Image 2: economist.com 2015, [image],'++asylum seekers - refugees - boat people - illegal immigrants++', The Economist, 25 April 2015, viewed 14 July 2015,. Image 3: University of Minnesota 2015, [image], semiotic square, viewed on 16 July 2015,.

Team Members and their Responsibilities Sandra Ellis – Research and design of slides 1 to 11. Research and summary of resource 1 and 2. Initial referencing for resource 1 and 2 as well as the three images. Written script for slideshow narration. Tahlia Forrest – Research and design of slide 13. Research and summary of resource 4. Narration of slideshow. Completed initial discussion board post and uploading of slideshow to discussion board. Sarah Moed – Research and design of slides 12, 14, 15, 16, 17. Research and summary of resource 3 and 5. Completed final editing and reference check.