Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This paper employs quantitative content analysis to compare how six websites of Italian legacy national newspapers framed Roma people between January 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019. The study investigates how news websites defined problems related to the Roma community, identifies the sources used to frame the problems, and how news media presented solutions, and sources of the solutions. The findings of this study only partially confirm the previous literature about the representation of Roma people in news media. Roma being defined as criminals was the main theme mentioned in the stories examined, but the analysis also showed a more nuanced and complex media coverage. In relation to problems and solutions presented, and sources quoted or paraphrased, there was a clear ideological divide between newspapers traditionally considered as right wing and news outlets that are closer to progressive or liberal positions. In a trend that follows the shifting Italian political landscape, news outlets that are historically considered as centrist or moderate tend to give prominence almost exclusively to stories about the removal of Roma camps, evictions, arrests, and investigations, while neglecting coverage of programs that would support and help the Roma community.