Representation of Iraqi Turkmen in the media: Press and visual reflections

This study presents a qualitative discourse analysis conducted on three news stories that received the highest engagement on Anadolu Agency over the past year, with the aim of thoroughly examining the representation of Iraqi Turkmen in the media. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the analysis provides a multi-layered evaluation ranging from news headlines to in-text metaphors, visual presentation, and actor selection. The news stories generally created a monotonous narrative of victimization, confining Turkmen to the roles of "victims," "needy," and "targeted community." The analysis revealed the ideological codes that reproduce power relations in the media and who holds the voice rights, while also highlighting how othering strategies work. While the voices of official actors and agency reporters were given prominence, ordinary Turkmen citizens were limited in their ability to share their direct experiences. Visual analysis showed that the interaction between news images and text was shaped to reinforce the "dramatic effect." In conclusion, minority representation in the media must be freed from narrow narratives centered on crisis and tragedy and replaced with a multi-layered model that also encompasses social solidarity, proposed solutions, and cultural resistance. In this context, the findings of this study offer an important roadmap for media institutions and content producers to create more inclusive representations. Keywords: Media Representation, Critical Discourse Analysis, Iraqi Turkmen, Minority Representation, Victim Narrative