| Yhteenveto: | The present thesis explores the construction and representation of Ukrainian migrants within the Hungarian media landscape, focusing on Érdi Újság, a local weekly newspaper, from 2014 to 2022. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research was conducted with an initial inductive data collection process, which identified key terms such as migration, migration crisis, war in Ukraine, Ukrainians, Transcarpathia, Transcarpathian Hungarians, refugees, and immigration across 491 issues of the publication. The dataset was first examined using Content Analysis to uncover quantifiable patterns, followed by Critical Discourse Analysis to investigate metaphorical language, discursive framing, and underlying power relations.
The findings reveal that migration-related discourse was heavily shaped by political narratives, with migrants, particularly non-Christian groups, primarily framed as societal threats within the context of government propaganda. The media's use of xenophobic discourse was instrumental in reinforcing fear-based narratives. A notable shift in tone and representation occurred after 2022, attributed not only to the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the influx of Ukrainian refugees to Hungary but also to a change in municipal leadership in the city of Érd. This political transition significantly influenced the reporting direction of the newspaper, contributing to a more nuanced and humanitarian portrayal of certain refugee groups. The study contributes to broader discussions on media representation, propaganda, and the politicization of migration discourse.
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