Turkey in Italian Media: Between Islam and Europe

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the representation of Turkey in Italian newspapers. The questions that are investigated are: a if the representation of Turkey in Italian newspapers is stereotyped and ill-informed; b if there is a convergence among the political elites and the media on Turkey; and c whether Islam is being inserted into the construction of the perception about Turkey by the Italian media. This study argues that religion plays an important role in the Italian newspapers’ construction of the Turkish image. Several studies about the effects of mass media on public opinion argue that a linear relationship exists between the quantity of media reports and the opinions of the population. Thus it is argued that Italian public opinion on Turkey is highly related to the media coverage and, most importantly, on how it is addressed. Plus, it is also argued that there are similarities between the media’s agenda and the political agenda, with certain media outlets reflecting and repeating the positions of related political parties. This study concludes that the representation of Turkey in Italian newspapers is limited in its informative content and Islam is a major component of its representation.

Keywords

• Turkey, Italian media, public opinion, European Union, Islam.

References

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