Reflections of femicide in the print media

Violence against women is a serious social issue that continues to increase both in Turkey and around the world, and has become a significant indicator of gender inequality. This study aims to examine how femicides are represented in the media and to analyze how these representations influence public perception and reproduce gender inequality. The research population consists of media coverage of femicides across Turkey, while the sample includes news reports published over the course of one month in Cumhuriyet and Yeni Akit newspapers, which represent differing ideological orientations, regarding the murders of Ayşenur Halil and İkbal Uzuner. Using qualitative content analysis, the study evaluates the language, discourse, tone, and representational strategies employed in the news articles. It investigates how these discursive structures frame violence against women and convey it to the public. The findings reveal that some news reports tend to normalize or legitimize gender-based violence, while others adopt a more critical approach aimed at raising social awareness. In this regard, the study seeks to contribute to media criticism and the literature on gender studies.