The comparative study of BBC and DW framing on Brexit negotiations between UK-Germany heads of government in 2016-2021

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.