Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 94 No. 2, 2024.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.94.2.2
Image of Croatian Veterans in the Media. Analysis of Media Content About Croatian Veterans in the Period from 2010 to 2021
Miriam Mary Brgles
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Ježovita
orcid.org/0000-0003-0165-798X
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Mateja Plenković
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The role of the media in creating and maintain an (un)unfavourable position of veterans in the public presents an important and compelling research question. This content analysis was conducted based on theoretical and empirical knowledge about the importance of media reporting in shaping the public image of veterans. It spans 11,849 articles published on internet websites and newspapers from 2010 to 2021 in Croatia. The first research question was: What are the dominant themes of media reports referring to Croatian veterans in public communication? We have established that the dominant theme pertains to the focus on various forms of veterans’ associations. The following two research questions were: What is the dominant sentiment towards veterans in relation to (1) the type and (2) the author of the media report? Positive sentiment prevails in interviews or statements as a type of media coverage. None of the potential authors stand out in terms of expressing positive sentiment. Negative sentiment prevails in comments and columns as a type of contribution, where readers are identified as primary authors. Finally, the fourth question was: Which and whose value judgments are made towards different groups related to veterans? Positive value judgments are mainly expressed by members of veteran’s families, representatives of religious communities, and politicians in power. Experts, scientists, and journalists were found to primarily express negative value judgments.
Keywords
Croatian veterans; veterans; media; content analysis; agenda-setting theory.
Hrčak ID:
320462
URI
Publication date:
3.9.2024.
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