The portrayal of Tripoli on MTV and Al Jadeed

Abstract

With the increased importance of media in our life, and with it being a significant source upon which we build our perceptions on different issues, the need to study its possible effects on the audience has become more significant. Even though various studies were conducted on the issue of media influence, very few were the studies that dealt with the role of the media in portraying cities and their effect on audiences, whether positive or negative. For that reason, it is important to shed light on the importance of the media in portraying a city and its ability to either stereotype it or thrive it. Since Tripoli is the largest city in Lebanon, after Beirut, and considered the capital of the North, it is significant to study the portrayal of this city by Lebanese TV stations, and the effect of this portrayal on the perception of people living in and outside Tripoli. Based on content analysis, the portrayal of Tripoli on MTV and Al Jadeed, is examined by monitoring and analyzing the 8 P.M prime time news bulletins of those stations throughout the period of April 15th to May 15th 2014 and January 2015. Results showed that media coverage of Tripoli is largely negative, while coverage of what might be interpreted as positive news, even when warranted, is rare. The thesis shows that MTV and Al Jadeed portray Tripoli in a stereotypical way.