IMAGE OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN MEDIA DISCOURSE: CRITICAL DISCOURSE-ANALYSIS OF MEDIA MESSAGES

Abstract

The article analyzes mass-media reports on internally displaced persons (IDP). The author demonstrates significance of this topic for contemporary Ukraine. A system proposed by M. Jorgensen and L. Phillips for classifying approaches to the study of discourse is described, particularly, poststructuralist, critical discourse-analysis and discursive psychology. The author shows advantages of the Van Dijk’s discourse- analysis concept for studying the construction of images of internally displaced persons in the media. The research presents results of the critical discourse-analysis of four mass-media (national / regional and official / alternative ones). The first and most common view of displaced people is image of these people as recipients that are unable to solve their problems on their own. Also, the image of internally displaced persons can be presented in a neutral way. The third image is negative one. The image of scammers who want to steal the state, to cash in without leaving is formed due to negative connotation. Some Media represent the image of IDPs as «active citizens»; in such reports the media try to show IDP from ’other cide’ demonstrating positive cases of their integration and adaptation. The seculiarities of construction of the image of internally displaced persons in official and alternative media are highlighted. Official sources use more neutral way of description migrants, while alternative sources are rich in metaphors and epithets.
Regional media have a wider range of topics to cover in their reports than national ones. It is shown that, using the media and issues of internally displaced persons, the authorities are trying to secure their positions of domination, and the IDP’ image is constructed as an image of people who are not able to solve their problems and need help.