Media Analysis of Online Media Contents on the Phenomenon of Current Emigration from Croatia

Abstract

By comparing the four Croatian online media portals and their impact on the perception of emigration through media analysis, it is evident that Croatian portals have biased attitudes towards emigration, while this is not the case with Deutsche Welle, a German media service. The articles of the 24sata, Večernji list and Index.hr are critical, focusing on presenting a negative image of living and staying in Croatia, while Deutsche Welle publishes articles that have informational and educational purpose, mostly written with an unbiased approach. Deutsche Welle is the only media without presentation of a positive image of Croatia, as opposed to the remaining web media portals. Deutsche Welle, Index.hr, Večernji list are choosing unnamed sources as main source of information, while the 24sata still has the largest share of articles in which there are no unnamed sources of all three portals, all information in the articles are verifiable. The articles show that there are one or more sources representing only one side, which may refer to the suggestiveness of articles. Again, Deutsche Welle records the largest share of the articles that bring another source that represents the opposite side, while in the Croatian media it is not the same. Večernji list has the highest percentage of consultation with people who are still living in the Republic of Croatia while other portals base their information on the statements of emigrants, which implies promotion of certain opinions or beliefs towards readers.
Quotations from conversations with immigrants, experts, politicians and people who still live in Croatia have a negative tone, or neutral, however, the positive attitude towards staying in Croatia is not represented in any online media network. To show a negative image of staying in Croatia, they also show comments on social networks, which are placed below the articles. The comments mostly talk about leaving Croatia, expressing dissatisfaction with the system or the statements of emigrants about better life outside of Croatia. Few of them express a realistic picture of the emigrant countries and exaggerate the blessings of other states. Ireland and Germany are the countries mostly discussed.
The headlines aim at attracting readers. Most are sensationalist without informative nature. 24sata and Index.hr through articles are retrieving personal attitudes and little information, while Deutsche Welle and Večernji list are trying to bring an equal number of information and attitudes. Deutsche Welle gives readers the greatest opportunity to interpret their articles without expressing their views as the only relevant ones, and Večernji list from the remaining media imposes their opinions as the only relevant one. The main reasons for emigration are mostly politics and society, and there is a small emphasis on the economic sphere of emigration. Most articles discuss the political decisions, the crisis of morale, the uncertainty in the state, the system and general uncertainty about the future, nepotism, corruption, exploitation, but also inefficiency of the state itself, and disabling workers to go to other cities, to try to improve their financial situation. Issues such as the Croatian lobbying for emigration or the emigration network are not mentioned, which is a sign that the focus of articles is on criticism of politics and society, but not on dealing with consecutive issues which must be viewed from all aspects. It is possible to conclude that Croatian media are biased in displaying the topic of emigration, as it is evident that attitudes, the choice of interviewees, quotes, and subjectivity are present, with the superficial treatment of problems.
The headlines are sensationalistic, attract readers, and they reflect the text. Negative reactions in comments below articles show that the commentary continues in a similar tonality in which the article was written, and emphasis is placed on listing of all of the aspects of the negatives of staying in Croatia and moving to another country as a better option.