Have you ever noticed how the news often talks about some ethnic groups more than others — and not always in a positive way?
Dutch sociologist and linguist Teun A. van Dijk spent years studying this. He wanted to understand how the media uses language to create certain ideas about race, ethnicity, and difference.
His research helps us see that racism isn’t just about nasty comments or discrimination — it can also be built into the everyday language of news and media.
The Big Idea
Van Dijk argues that language is never neutral. The way the media talks about people can show who has power in society.
He says that journalists and editors often reproduce what he calls “elite racism” – a subtle, hidden kind of racism spread by people in powerful positions, like politicians and media owners.
This means that the media doesn’t need to use openly racist language to spread inequality. It can happen through small choices — the words used in headlines, what stories get reported, and whose voices are included or left out.
His Main Work
Some of van Dijk’s best-known books include:
- News as Discourse (1988)
- Racism and the Press (1991)
- Discourse and Power (2008)
In these books, he looked at thousands of newspaper articles about immigration, crime, and ethnic minorities. He found that ethnic minorities were often shown as a problem — linked to crime, unemployment, or social tension — rather than as active, positive members of society.
This kind of coverage encourages people to see minorities as “different” or even as a threat.
How He Studied It: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)
Van Dijk used a research method called Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).
This means studying how language and power work together in texts like news articles.
He looked at three main things:
- The language used – for example, words like “flood” or “influx” to describe immigration make it sound dangerous or out of control.
- The context – what was happening in society at the time (e.g. public debates about refugees or terrorism).
- The structure of stories – who gets to speak? Whose opinions come first? Whose voices are missing?
By doing this, van Dijk showed that even “normal” news reporting often supports existing power structures and stereotypes.
What He Found
Van Dijk discovered some clear patterns in how ethnic minorities are shown in the media:
1. Linking Minorities to Problems
Stories about ethnic groups often focus on issues like crime or immigration. This creates a negative image and can make audiences associate these groups with trouble.
2. “Us vs. Them” Thinking
Media stories often divide society into “us” (the white majority) and “them” (minorities or immigrants). This can make differences seem bigger than they really are.
3. Limited Voices
Minorities are often spoken about rather than listened to. They rarely appear as experts or leaders, and when they do, they are sometimes only included for “balance.”
4. Ignoring the Positive
Positive stories about ethnic minorities – like success in business, culture, or community work – are much less common. This gives an unfair and one-sided view of society.
5. Elite Racism
Van Dijk’s key idea is elite racism – racism spread through institutions and the media, often unintentionally. Journalists may not be openly racist, but their work still reflects the values and perspectives of powerful groups in society.
Why It Matters
Van Dijk’s work links to Marxist and neo-Marxist views of the media.
Like Stuart Hall, he believed that the media helps maintain hegemony – the dominance of the ruling group’s ideas and values.
In this case, the media promotes the idea that white, Western culture is “normal,” while other groups are “different” or “problematic.” This helps keep the existing power structure in place.
It also connects to Critical Race Theory, which says that racism isn’t just about individual prejudice but about the way institutions (like the media, schools, or the police) can unfairly disadvantage certain groups.
How This Fits Your A-level Course
AQA Sociology
Van Dijk’s research links to:
- Media Representations (how ethnicity, gender, class and age are shown)
- Power and Inequality (how the media supports ruling-class ideas)
- Theoretical Views of the Media (he supports Marxist ideas and challenges Pluralist ones)
In essays, you can use him to argue that the media is not neutral – it reflects and supports the views of powerful groups.
OCR Sociology
For OCR, his ideas fit topics like:
- Social Inequalities: showing how racism can be built into institutions
- Culture and Socialisation: how representation affects identity and belonging
- Media: who controls information and what messages it sends
Van Dijk’s work helps explain how the media can shape public opinion and maintain inequality, even without meaning to.
Why It’s Still Relevant Today
Although van Dijk first studied newspapers in the 1980s and 1990s, his ideas still apply today.
Think about how social media, online news, and even memes can spread stereotypes or biased messages about ethnic groups.
When certain stories go viral — like linking migrants to “crime waves” or describing refugees as “floods” — they can create fear and division, just like the headlines van Dijk studied decades ago.
In Summary
| Aspect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Main Focus | How media represents ethnic minorities |
| Method | Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) |
| Key Concept | Elite Racism |
| Main Findings | Negative and limited representations; media reflects elite views |
| Links to Theory | Marxism, Neo-Marxism, Critical Race Theory |
| Relevance | Explains how media supports inequality through language |
Final Thought
Teun A. van Dijk helps us see that racism isn’t just about bad individuals — it can also be built into the language and structure of institutions like the media.
By learning to spot these patterns, sociology students can understand how power really works — and how challenging everyday assumptions about language can help create a more equal society.
References
- van Dijk, T. A. (1988) News as Discourse. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- van Dijk, T. A. (1991) Racism and the Press. London: Routledge.
- van Dijk, T. A. (2008) Discourse and Power. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Hall, S. et al. (1978) Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State and Law and Order. London: Macmillan.
- Hall, S. (1997) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: Sage.
You can download a PPT of Van Dijk’s work on Racism in the Press here:
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