How the Media Promotes Security and Affects Stigma: The Cases of Ultra-Orthodox “Haredi” Jews and Palestinian-Israelis during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Media can play a crucial role in enabling vital capabilities during a health emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic. While capabilities are essential to everyone, they are especially vital to marginalized populations. Therefore, this study examined how two prominent minority groups in Israel: ultra-Orthodox Jews and Palestinian-Israelis, were portrayed in the Israeli news media during the Covid-19 pandemic. Findings revealed that the news media typically contributed to security by rendering the audience aware of risks, threats, and behaviors endangering public safety, and that the media habitually lowered potential stigma by contextualizing and explaining incidents, highlighting minority contributions, and portraying complex depictions.