Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine how a national minority, in our case Israeli Arabs, perceives its representations in the media during a global pandemic. The importance of this research is in gaining a better understanding of the perceptions of such minorities during global crises so that it can serve as a framework for various similar studies. Israeli Arabs were perceived as those who did not obey the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the government of Israel during the pandemic. Therefore, this study asks: “How and in what ways do Israeli Arabs perceive their representations in the media during the COVID-19 pandemic?” Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to answer this question. The findings show that the interviewees believe that the media did not represent them properly but in a stereotypical way, and that the government and media should have adjusted health instructions in a way that is compatible with their culture. The research concludes that the media have the responsibility of ensuring an overall representation of minorities that is adequate and positive.
About the author
Dr. Nissim Katz (Ph.D.) is a senior lecturer in communication department of the Kinneret Academic College on the Sea of Galilee. His research interests are „media and social change“ and „media and minorities“. Vice chair of AUD section in IAMCR. Former Chair of Junior Faculty Forum, Israel Communication Association And member of the Management Committee of Israel Communication Association.
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