Abstract:
This thesis focuses on the issue of distinctive Brexit media framing by BBC
and DW during different periods of diplomatic relations between the UK Prime
Minister and German Chancellor. This led to the research question “How have
different diplomacies between the heads of government from the UK and Germany
during Brexit negotiations (2016-2021) affected the British Broadcasting
Corporation and Deutsche Welle to frame Brexit differently?”. BBC (from the UK)
and DW (from Germany) had the responsibility to report any news with a goal to
inform the public, despite their principles of being objective, subjectivity is bound
to occur. This led to certain degrees of framing in the news, which has the high
probability of affecting the readers - the public’s opinion. The different diplomatic
relations were evident when each individual was analysed psychologically using
Hermann’s Leader Assessment. The distinctive personalities and styles of
leadership affected diplomatic relations. Moreover, using content analysis, the
different Brexit framing tone by BBC and DW was noticeable when there was a
change in the UK prime minister. The findings for the diplomatic relations are then
analysed with the findings from the numerous articles from BBC and DW by
content analysis. Giving the result of how several personality traits of PM May and
Chancellor Merkel were mutual, hence created a personal diplomatic relation,
which therefore creating an image of unity and agreement between them that BBC
and DW also observed thus when reporting Brexit during the PM May period
(2016-early 2019), the framing for Brexit news were less negative and less critical.
Showing support due to PM May’s diplomatic efforts. However, with no mutual
personality trait between PM Johnson and Chancellor Merkel disagreements and
hostility in framing often appear, creating a coercive diplomatic relation, thus BBC
and DW tend to highlight Johnson’s achievements in negotiation instead of his
process – being more critical at the government and at Brexit (mid-2019-2021). All
this ultimately affects the articles BBC and DW produced which leads to
influencing the public opinion.
