CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NEWS ARTICLES ON MEXICAN MIGRATION

Abstract

This paper examines the changes in the language used to describe migrants in News articles regarding Mexican migration into the United States. This report analyzes the frequency of words used to describe migrants in 98 online articles from 9 news outlets of varying political leanings from the year 2008-2019. Mexican migration into the United States as well as the tensions surrounding it has been on the rise. Changing sentiments regarding migration are often reflected in the kinds of words used to describe the people migrating across the southern Mexican border. How and where this discourse is happening is important because it matters not just that events are reported accurately, but in a nonbiased manor. While a certain bias even when unintentional is almost unavoidable. This means that the words used to describe certain people and events can give insight into the sentiments of the author as well as potentially the opinions of the average reader. Trends of how news is reported, whether with an active or passive tone, with sympathetic or negative descriptors, and with what key words can indicate shifts in public opinion as well as their correlation to world events that may not be otherwise apparent.