Periodic Reporting for period 1 - URMAC (Ultra Right Media And Communication)
Reporting period: 2018-10-08 to 2020-10-07
What are the reasons behind the continuous presence and, in some cases, enhanced visibility and electoral success, of the ultra-right? Why it is so that certain discourses, which deepen their roots in racist, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, misogynistic ideologies have poisoned our public spheres? In an attempt to address these questions, URMAC has focused on the media and communication strategies of a selection of ultra-right actors, in Italy and the U.K.. The research has implemented a multi-layered framework of methodologies, including content analysis, critical discourse analysis, and ethnography.
URMAC has studied ultra-right media and communication strategies as a continuum, holistic process, thus refraining from focusing on one single medium of communication or one single issue. This holistic process has included three main components: 1) ultra-right actors' presence on, and interaction with, mainstream media; 2) ultra-right 'alternative' media and use of communication technologies; 2) face-to-face communication and interactions among activists. Gendered communication and activism were also key elements of the analysis.
URMAC has studied ultra-right media and communication strategies as a continuum, holistic process, thus refraining from focusing on one single medium of communication or one single issue. This holistic process has included three main components: 1) ultra-right actors' presence on, and interaction with, mainstream media; 2) ultra-right 'alternative' media and use of communication technologies; 2) face-to-face communication and interactions among activists. Gendered communication and activism were also key elements of the analysis.
"URMAC began by analyzing the presence of ultra-right actors in the public sphere, specifically on a selection of major British and Italian newspapers. The main elements that emerged from such analysis point towards the fact that, both in Italy and the U.K. left wing newspapers tend to give much more attention to ultra-right groups than centrist or right wing mainstream news organs. Moreover, in a comparison between the two countries, the coverage on British newspapers appear more personalized in that ultra-right leaders and social media personalities receive more attention than their counterparts do on Italian newspapers.
A more in-depth reading (Critical Discourse Analysis) of selected news media texts has led to the articulation of three projects: one on media coverage of the ultra-right in Italy, one on media coverage of the ultra-right in the U.K. and one comparing coverage between the two countries. Through such reading, URMAC has identified main themes and patterns of 'nominalization' and 'perspectivation' in media texts. For instance, a case study of the coverage of Italy's neo-fascist party Forza Nuova on Corriere della Sera, has highlighted a tendency to normalize, through the use of routine journalistic narration, the presence of such actor on Italy's most influential news organ. Future studies will confirm if this tendency is generalized to other groups, news organs and across countries.
Some of the questions raised during this phase of the research were clarified through in-depth interviews with professional journalists. The fellow has interviewed 23 mainstream news media professionals in Italy, in addition to 3 British professionals (this latter still in progress). The aim of this part of the research was to discuss the role of news makers in covering anti-democratic actors, trying to understand why certain newspapers give more attention than others and provide journalists with the opportunity to reflect on their role in the discursive construction of the ultra-right.
As part of URMAC’s attention to the media produced by ultra-right actors, the research analyzed anti-feminist discourse on the social media platform YouTube enacted by various female YouTubers very popular within the North American 'Alt-right' and European Identitarian movement. The study revealed a trend on the part of ultra-right movements to mobilize more women as ‘social media personalities’ in order to present a more refined façade and broaden the appeal.
During the action, the social media giant Facebook shut down the accounts of some of the most visible ultra-right actors in the U.K. and Italy. This set in motion a series of media-related actions on the part of the ultra-right thus framing the context for the ethnographic work (on the ground and online). In this regard, the researcher followed the communication strategies and so-called ""anti-censorship campaign"" that various actors put in place to challenge the social media shutdown. These actors tend to frame such social media 'censorship' within their overall critique against the democratic system and 'elite media'. More attention on the part of democratic communicators is needed to detect and engage with this appearance of 'defense of freedom of speech' on the part of ultra-right actors."
A more in-depth reading (Critical Discourse Analysis) of selected news media texts has led to the articulation of three projects: one on media coverage of the ultra-right in Italy, one on media coverage of the ultra-right in the U.K. and one comparing coverage between the two countries. Through such reading, URMAC has identified main themes and patterns of 'nominalization' and 'perspectivation' in media texts. For instance, a case study of the coverage of Italy's neo-fascist party Forza Nuova on Corriere della Sera, has highlighted a tendency to normalize, through the use of routine journalistic narration, the presence of such actor on Italy's most influential news organ. Future studies will confirm if this tendency is generalized to other groups, news organs and across countries.
Some of the questions raised during this phase of the research were clarified through in-depth interviews with professional journalists. The fellow has interviewed 23 mainstream news media professionals in Italy, in addition to 3 British professionals (this latter still in progress). The aim of this part of the research was to discuss the role of news makers in covering anti-democratic actors, trying to understand why certain newspapers give more attention than others and provide journalists with the opportunity to reflect on their role in the discursive construction of the ultra-right.
As part of URMAC’s attention to the media produced by ultra-right actors, the research analyzed anti-feminist discourse on the social media platform YouTube enacted by various female YouTubers very popular within the North American 'Alt-right' and European Identitarian movement. The study revealed a trend on the part of ultra-right movements to mobilize more women as ‘social media personalities’ in order to present a more refined façade and broaden the appeal.
During the action, the social media giant Facebook shut down the accounts of some of the most visible ultra-right actors in the U.K. and Italy. This set in motion a series of media-related actions on the part of the ultra-right thus framing the context for the ethnographic work (on the ground and online). In this regard, the researcher followed the communication strategies and so-called ""anti-censorship campaign"" that various actors put in place to challenge the social media shutdown. These actors tend to frame such social media 'censorship' within their overall critique against the democratic system and 'elite media'. More attention on the part of democratic communicators is needed to detect and engage with this appearance of 'defense of freedom of speech' on the part of ultra-right actors."
The conclusions of the action:
In order to address URMAC overall question the action focused on the media and communication strategies of a selection of ultra-right actors in Italy and the UK. The project implemented an interdisciplinary, critical approach and a multi-layered framework of methodologies for data collection.
URMAC identified patterns of mainstream news media coverage in the discursive construction of ultra-right actors and urged a reflection, through numerous interviews with key players, about the role of news journalists in covering those actors. On the side of the ultra-right media, URMAC highlighted the anti-feminist positions that characterize it, especially on social media. The project also studied, through an ethnographic approach, the role that ultra-right media activism plays in the re-elaboration of various highly visible discourses in the public sphere, in particular that on freedom of speech and social media regulation.
Overview of the results, exploitation and dissemination:
In addition to three journal manuscripts currently under peer review and a book monograph, the fellow secured a contract as guest editor for a special issue on ultra-right media and discourse with the International Journal of Communication. Six colleagues from various European universities will contribute to this special issue.
Moreover, the action resulted in:
Invited talks, including at the Centre for Social Media Research, Scuola Normale Superiore, Firenze, 15/12/20; Centre of Discourse Studies, Extreme Right Discourses Symposium, 23-27/11/20; School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Loughborough 20/11/20; Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, 11/11/20; University of Groningen, 23/04/19; and a panel on journalism and the extreme right organized the European Communication Research Association and International Association for Mass Communication Research, Madrid, 7-11/07/19.
Conference papers presented on various occasions, including the Association for Education Journalism and Mass Communication (Virtual), 6-9 August 2020; International Communication Association (Virtual), 21-25/05/20; Media Communication and Cultural Studies Association, Brighton, 8-1/01/20; International Association Mass Communication Research, Madrid, 7-11/07/19; Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right’s conference, American University London, 15-17/05/19; the Association Française de Science Politique, 2-4/07/19, Science Po, Bordeaux; Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies, The American University Rome, 14-15/06/19.
The wider societal implications of the project so far:
Given the continuous relevance of ultra-right actors in liberal democracies, URMAC is well positioned to be exploited for wider social implications; its results and ongoing projects aim at divulgation to the public at large. In this regard, the fellow envisions collaborations, as an expert, for news media sites in Italy as well as overseas.
[Note: there is no public website for this project]
In order to address URMAC overall question the action focused on the media and communication strategies of a selection of ultra-right actors in Italy and the UK. The project implemented an interdisciplinary, critical approach and a multi-layered framework of methodologies for data collection.
URMAC identified patterns of mainstream news media coverage in the discursive construction of ultra-right actors and urged a reflection, through numerous interviews with key players, about the role of news journalists in covering those actors. On the side of the ultra-right media, URMAC highlighted the anti-feminist positions that characterize it, especially on social media. The project also studied, through an ethnographic approach, the role that ultra-right media activism plays in the re-elaboration of various highly visible discourses in the public sphere, in particular that on freedom of speech and social media regulation.
Overview of the results, exploitation and dissemination:
In addition to three journal manuscripts currently under peer review and a book monograph, the fellow secured a contract as guest editor for a special issue on ultra-right media and discourse with the International Journal of Communication. Six colleagues from various European universities will contribute to this special issue.
Moreover, the action resulted in:
Invited talks, including at the Centre for Social Media Research, Scuola Normale Superiore, Firenze, 15/12/20; Centre of Discourse Studies, Extreme Right Discourses Symposium, 23-27/11/20; School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Loughborough 20/11/20; Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, 11/11/20; University of Groningen, 23/04/19; and a panel on journalism and the extreme right organized the European Communication Research Association and International Association for Mass Communication Research, Madrid, 7-11/07/19.
Conference papers presented on various occasions, including the Association for Education Journalism and Mass Communication (Virtual), 6-9 August 2020; International Communication Association (Virtual), 21-25/05/20; Media Communication and Cultural Studies Association, Brighton, 8-1/01/20; International Association Mass Communication Research, Madrid, 7-11/07/19; Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right’s conference, American University London, 15-17/05/19; the Association Française de Science Politique, 2-4/07/19, Science Po, Bordeaux; Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies, The American University Rome, 14-15/06/19.
The wider societal implications of the project so far:
Given the continuous relevance of ultra-right actors in liberal democracies, URMAC is well positioned to be exploited for wider social implications; its results and ongoing projects aim at divulgation to the public at large. In this regard, the fellow envisions collaborations, as an expert, for news media sites in Italy as well as overseas.
[Note: there is no public website for this project]