The Role of Media Framing in Shaping Public Opinion

Hey! I’m Nousayba, and welcome to my portfolio, which showcases my capstone project for the Media and Politics minor at Northwestern University in Qatar. I invite you to explore how media framing shapes our understanding of the world and profoundly influences public opinion. In today’s information landscape, the way stories are presented, which aspects are emphasized, which are omitted, and how narratives are constructed determines who we perceive as good and bad. My project examines how these framing techniques create stark contrasts in our perception of similar events based on where they occur and who they affect. From the differential treatment of Ukrainian and Syrian refugees to the shifting portrayal of resistance fighters as either “freedom fighters” or “terrorists” depending on geopolitical interests, my work illuminates how media narratives are never neutral but rather powerful tools that can foster love or hate toward specific groups. Throughout my academic journey in the Media and Politics minor, I have developed critical analytical skills to deconstruct these narratives. My courses with distinguished professors like Khaled Al-Hroub, Suzanne Hammad, Claudia Kozman, and others have equipped me with the “Forest and Tree” theoretical framework. This approach invites us to look at the broader scheme of an event or a problem from the bigger picture before we zoom in to dig deep into it. This portfolio represents my commitment to media literacy and my aspiration to create positive change through legal and policy frameworks. I invite you to delve deeper into my analysis and join me in questioning how narratives are constructed, whose voices are amplified, and whose suffering is acknowledged. Together, we can work toward a media landscape where all lives are recognized equally, regardless of political convenience and funding source. Through the course of this presentation, I hope you can better understand the elements that affect media framing and the consequences of that on public opinion and perception.

Faculty Mentor: Prof. Banu Akdenizli
E-Portfolio: https://sites.google.com/u.northwestern.edu/nousayba-fekhaoui-nu-q/home