Framing Migrant Workers: A Content Analysis of Qatar Media Coverage of Migrant Workers During the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates how local Qatari media framed issues related to migrant workers during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a particular focus on the types of frames employed and the sources cited. Methods: Using a mixed-method approach, the study examines 52 news articles from two Qatari news outlets—The Peninsula and Doha News—published between November 1 and December 31, 2022. Framing was analyzed at the paragraph and story levels across five predefined categories (responsibility, conflict, morality, economic consequences, and human interest), alongside sourcing patterns and episodic versus thematic frames, allowing for statistical analysis of framing patterns. Results: The analysis finds a dominant use of responsibility and conflict frames, with minimal use of morality and human-interest frames. Government officials were the most frequently cited sources, and coverage was overwhelmingly episodic. These patterns reflect alignment with official narratives, consistent with the indexing hypothesis. Conclusion: Qatari media coverage of migrant workers during the World Cup privileged government perspectives and conflict-driven narratives while marginalizing human-centered or ethical considerations. This framing likely influenced public understanding of migrant labor conditions and highlights the need for broader media accountability and inclusion of diverse voices in future reporting.