20/03/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
According to the media monitoring report prepared by Kaos GL Association, hate speech against LGBTI+ community doubled compared to the previous year. The rate of discriminatory language increased to 69 percent.
Kaos GL Association published the annual media monitoring report. Media Monitoring Report 2022, which examines the all the LGBTI+ related news articles, columns and interviews covered in the print media, was published with the subtitle “Hand in Hand against Hate”.
Ali Özbaş conducted the research for the 2023 report of the association, which focuses on LGBTI+ representation in the media for 15 years. Yıldız Tar, Media and Communication Program Coordinator of the association, wrote the report. Tar, evaluated 2023 report as follows:
“LGBTI+ voices and narratives were notably absent from the pages of newspapers”
“When examining the dwindling impact of print media and the intertwined relationship between media and politics, discussing hate speech and discriminatory language in the media becomes challenging. The surge to 69 percent in discriminatory language against the LGBTI+ community in 2023 is hardly shocking. Within this 69 percent bracket, it’s noticeable that most publications are either pro-government or critical of the government for not taking a firm stance against LGBTI+ rights.
While some newspapers may unintentionally use hate speech or discriminatory language, their impact on research findings is minimal. However, in an environment where journalistic integrity is compromised by political agendas, ignorance becomes a feeble defense. Our initial efforts in media monitoring aimed to engage with those who err due to ignorance, organizing workshops on LGBTI+ rights and media ethics to foster understanding. As a result, there are newspapers that now champion LGBTI+ rights in their reporting. Yet, underlying censorship mechanisms persist, leading to a reluctance to delve into substantive reporting. Instead of merely highlighting the government’s anti-LGBTI+ agenda, there’s a need for more in-depth coverage that addresses the core issues at hand. In 2023, this trend became particularly evident. The fervor of parliamentary and presidential elections provided a pretext for pro-government media, known for its hostile stance towards LGBTI+ individuals, to escalate their rhetoric. Meanwhile, LGBTI+ voices and narratives were notably absent from the pages of newspapers.”
“Discrimination, hate speech reached a record high”
Highlights of the report, for which 4876 news articles, columns and interviews regarding LGBTI+s in print media were examined, are as follows:
- Discrimination, hate speech and prejudice against LGBTI+s in print media, reached a record high in 2023. LGBTI+s were portrayed as “immoral”, “criminal”, “perverse” or “enemy” in 69 percent of news and columns in print media.
- Hate rallies titled as “Great Family Meeting” and general elections marked LGBTI+ hostility in 2023. While there was a temporary halt in the portrayal of LGBTI+ individuals in the media immediately following the earthquakes occurred on February 6th, newspapers resumed targeting them in various ways during the election frenzy, often with a belated sense of urgency. More than half of the news articles and columns on newspaper pages called for the closure of LGBTI+ associations, reflecting a concerning trend. Discrimination reached a record high and discrimination, itself, has become the main purpose writing news. Discriminatory language was observed in the press was 69 percent.
- Hate speech was generated within the scope of 3123 texts, corresponding to 64 percent of all texts.
- LGBTI+ rights were paid regard only in 31 percent of the total 4876 texts in the print media.
- On the other hand, half of the news articles and columns, which paid regard to LGBTI+ rights, was composed of reporting violation of rights such as discrimination and hate speech. If we exclude news items regarding hate speech and discrimination; LGBTI+s could take place on newspaper pages only when they were subjected to a hate crime or discrimination.
- LGBTI+ organizations, were the source of news regarding LGBTI+s in only 56 out of 4876 news articles and columns.
- Instead of being represented in the media as subjects who have lives, wills and rights, LGBTI+s continued to be represented as “a problem” spoken of in the media, so to speak.
A call to journalists: We are aware that this ‘hand’ will not stand still
The introduction of the report includes a call to journalists:
“When considering the role of journalists in perpetuating the cycle of violence on social media alongside our ongoing efforts to shed light on the deterioration of print media through annual statistics and the state of internet media through qualitative analysis, it becomes evident that hostility towards the LGBTI+ community in the media has become a Gordian Knot that defies easy solutions.
When we consider the complex web of political affiliations, the propagation of falsehoods from centers of hostility as credible news, and the misguided fear instilled in those who associate with LGBTI+ individuals, the solution to unravel this knot becomes evident: Cut it out.
In the midst of a war dominated by deceptive narratives, we urgently need individuals willing to untangle the knot and amplify the voices of the LGBTI+ community. In this, our final annual report, we issue a call to those who are committed to the truth: We are still here and persist to exist. We urge comrades, independent journalists, to unite in our quest to cleanse the tarnished media and journalism, to transform it from an impenetrable quagmire into a beacon of clarity and truth…
Our pledge from the Great Life Meeting and Hand in Hand Against Hate videos remains resolute: we intend to continue with our 30-year-long commitment of support and solidarity. We are aware that this ‘hand’ will not stand still...”
The 2023 report marks the conclusion of the association's annual analysis of print media. Moving forward, the association will continue to monitor both internet and print media, with analyses published on KaosGL.org rather than in annual reports.
CLICK HERE for the 2023 Media Monitoring Report in Turkish.
Tags: media
