Leiden University Student Repository

Simeonov, Aleksandar (2025)

Media Narratives of Ukrainian Migration in Bulgaria: A Thematic Analysis of Post-2022 Reporting

Bachelor thesis | Security Studies (BSc)

This thesis examines how Bulgarian media outlets reported on the Ukrainian migration crisis following the 2022 Russian invasion. Grounded in securitization theory and media discourse studies, the research investigates the narratives constructed by major public outlets (BTV and NOVA) and independent media outlets. The research project uncovers how Ukrainian refugees were portrayed across different media platforms by conducting a qualitative thematic content analysis of 52 Bulgarian-language media articles, published between 2022 and 2025, as well as their respective photographic visuals. The analysis identifies five central themes: victimization of migrants, securitization narratives, positive portrayal of migrants, representations of effective governance, and depictions of governance failures. These themes highlight the competing narratives that coexist within the Bulgarian media landscape, reflecting both humanitarian and threat-based framings. While public broadcasters showed...Show moreThis thesis examines how Bulgarian media outlets reported on the Ukrainian migration crisis following the 2022 Russian invasion. Grounded in securitization theory and media discourse studies, the research investigates the narratives constructed by major public outlets (BTV and NOVA) and independent media outlets. The research project uncovers how Ukrainian refugees were portrayed across different media platforms by conducting a qualitative thematic content analysis of 52 Bulgarian-language media articles, published between 2022 and 2025, as well as their respective photographic visuals. The analysis identifies five central themes: victimization of migrants, securitization narratives, positive portrayal of migrants, representations of effective governance, and depictions of governance failures. These themes highlight the competing narratives that coexist within the Bulgarian media landscape, reflecting both humanitarian and threat-based framings. While public broadcasters showed higher levels of securitization and state-affirming discourse, independent outlets emphasized victimhood and policy critique more strongly. The findings suggest that media narratives were shaped not only by geopolitical context and public sentiment but also by institutional allegiances and Bulgaria’s political instability during the researched period. This research contributes to academic debates on securitization by demonstrating how media serve as both platforms and agents of discursive power. It offers insights into the dynamic interplay between state narratives, media freedom, and public discourse in post-communist contexts, and calls for further comparative and interdisciplinary research on media representations of forced migration.Show less

Author

Simeonov, Aleksandar

Faculty

Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

Supervisors

Abisso, M.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en