Immigrant portrayal through 2010s-present
In more recent times the media has shifted from emphasising “illegal” migration to focusing on the overall numbers of migrants, highlighting potential dangers or threats instead of the benefits immigrants may bring.
The media often frames migration as a crisis, focusing on numbers of migrants and their legal status. While small boat arrivals account for only a tiny percentage of total immigration, they receive disproportionate media coverage. Terms like “surges” and “swarms,” dehumanize migrants and frame them as a threat to society.
The framing of immigration stories, particularly those about small boat crossings, varies dramatically across media outlets