Intersectional equality in the media during the COVID-19 crisis: A qualitative content analysis of news articles from 2020

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School of Business | Master's thesis
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Date

2024

Department

Johtamisen laitos

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Mcode

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mib

Language

en

Pages

48+10

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between equality, media, and policy-making during crisis. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Finland in March, the government gave out massive corporate subsidies to help businesses survive the crisis. Regardless of the government’s commitment to equality, considerations for equality were not included in decision-making for the corporate subsidies. The purpose of this study is to examine whether and how issues of equality were addressed by the media in relation to corporate subsidies during 2020, the initial year of the COVID-19 crises. Specifically, the study seeks to determine the extent to which gender and intersectional equality was discussed and to analyze the nature of these discussions. This qualitative study was conducted through data-driven content analysis by analysing the 116 (N=116) Helsingin Sanomat (HS) articles related to Covid corporate subsidies published in 2020. The results of the analysis show that equality or intersectional equality were not central topics in HS when covering COVID-19 corporate subsidies. The themes that emerged were closely related to equality, but the articles did not address equality directly. The central topics of fairness in grant allocation and the hardship endured by the hospitality and restaurant industry sectors, are both implicitly part of the broader equality discussion, but explicitly this discussion was not had in the media. Five articles discussed equality directly, but there were no follow-ups, resulting in a stunted media debate. This is an important finding, as the media’s impact on shaping public opinion is significant.

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Thesis advisor

Koskinen Sandberg, Paula

Keywords

intersection equality, COVID-19 crisis, economic policy, content analysis, media impact

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202408185445

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[gradu] Kauppakorkeakoulu / BIZ