Journalistic Constructions in the Kärrtorp Demonstrations : How are Racists, Antiracists and Immigrants Portrayed and Constructed in the Kärrtorp-Demonstrations in Dagens Nyheter and Aftonbladet?

Abstract: This study investigates journalistic constructions regarding the antiracism demonstration in Kärrtorp in 2013. How do the newspapers Dagens Nyheter and Aftonbladet construct the racist, antiracist and immigrant during and after the demonstration? Through the use of Critical Discourse Analysis, Media Theory, Nationalism Theory and Whiteness Theory this study examines how these groups (racist, antiracist, immigrant) are constructed to be excluded as part of the “others” as well as included as part of “us” in addition to who actually expresses opinions about these groups in the articles.       In the construction of the Kärrtorp demonstration a threat was presented (in form of Nazi organizations) that threatened the contemporary Swedish democracy and the solution offered here was to stand up for anti-racism and integration in the demonstration. The journalistic technique of coding and decoding is what occurs in many instances when comparing the perpetrator and their cause to history. The small minority, perpetrator and racist is within the articles constructed as men belonging to organized racist networks that do not believe that all human beings are equal and is constructed as one of the country of Sweden’s major problems that needs to be fixed. What has been argued then is that instead of only constructing and discussing racist propaganda and the extremes within the news it would more important to evaluate institutionalized routines and pattern behaviors within the Swedish society.       Noticeable in the study is also the journalists’ attempt to resent, reject and disapprove Racism, Nazism and violence on all levels and how they in general construct articles with antiracists as spokespersons. Moreover, immigration is mentioned in very few instances in the construction and usually through the racist or Nazi negative perspective with which the journalist does not agree.