The Portrayal of Syrian Immigrants in Finnish Headlines, and the Impact on Labour Market Integration.
Sabbagh, Saara (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120231537
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120231537
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this research-based thesis was to investigate the role of Finnish media in portraying Syrian immigrants within YLE’s headlines, and the impact on the Labour Market experience for Syrian-origin immigrants in Finland. Headlines were selected as to their functions to summarise information and are considered powerful framing tools.
This research had employed a complimentary mixed methods model to the analysis of 17 YLE headlines, employing a manual coding mechanism for the Critical Discourse Analysis of the headlines. The complimentary method is the survey questionnaire designed for Syrian-origin immigrants to provide insights into their experience with labour market integration in Finland, and to reflect and share their beliefs on the role of Finnish media. This is linked to the 3- Dimensional Critical Discourse Model portraying discourse on a textual, discursive and sociocultural level
The results from the headlines analysis that the security frame was the most prominent main frame, and conflict was the most common ancillary frame. Negative valence was identified as the most common form of valence, often seen in conjunction with the security frame. Syrians as passive actors were present in 7 of the headlines, and quotation and arbitration were the most common form of lexical and rhetorical devices. Agency was present in the form of backgrounded, delegated, and ambiguous, all supporting the form of passive actor representation. Results from the survey show that there is a strong educational background obtained in both Syria and in Finland, at various levels of higher education, including master's degrees. Qualifications and skills are also high, yet there is a clear lack of transferability of these skills to the Finnish labour market. Language skills are presented with strong numbers in bilingual and professionally abilities. On the reflection of Finnish media, YLE is the mostengaged with media source amongst participants. There is also strong evidence showing that Syrian-origin immigrants believe that the Finnish media circulates certain stereotypes such as limitations to refugees, and security concerns, and 69 percent stated that Finnish media has played a role in impacting their labour market experience in a negative manner.
The conclusion is presented in accordance with the theoretical analysis through the 3- Dimensional Critical Discourse Model portraying impact on all three levels: textual, discursive, and socio-cultural level.
This research had employed a complimentary mixed methods model to the analysis of 17 YLE headlines, employing a manual coding mechanism for the Critical Discourse Analysis of the headlines. The complimentary method is the survey questionnaire designed for Syrian-origin immigrants to provide insights into their experience with labour market integration in Finland, and to reflect and share their beliefs on the role of Finnish media. This is linked to the 3- Dimensional Critical Discourse Model portraying discourse on a textual, discursive and sociocultural level
The results from the headlines analysis that the security frame was the most prominent main frame, and conflict was the most common ancillary frame. Negative valence was identified as the most common form of valence, often seen in conjunction with the security frame. Syrians as passive actors were present in 7 of the headlines, and quotation and arbitration were the most common form of lexical and rhetorical devices. Agency was present in the form of backgrounded, delegated, and ambiguous, all supporting the form of passive actor representation. Results from the survey show that there is a strong educational background obtained in both Syria and in Finland, at various levels of higher education, including master's degrees. Qualifications and skills are also high, yet there is a clear lack of transferability of these skills to the Finnish labour market. Language skills are presented with strong numbers in bilingual and professionally abilities. On the reflection of Finnish media, YLE is the mostengaged with media source amongst participants. There is also strong evidence showing that Syrian-origin immigrants believe that the Finnish media circulates certain stereotypes such as limitations to refugees, and security concerns, and 69 percent stated that Finnish media has played a role in impacting their labour market experience in a negative manner.
The conclusion is presented in accordance with the theoretical analysis through the 3- Dimensional Critical Discourse Model portraying impact on all three levels: textual, discursive, and socio-cultural level.