Media, Conspiracy Theories, and Political Gain: A Case Study of Antena 3 CNN and the 2021 Romanian Anti-(COVID-19) Restrictions Protests

Författare

Emilia-Ioana Vincene

Summary, in English

The aim of this paper is to examine the media coverage of Antena 3 on the anti-lockdown protests that took place on 2 October 2021 in Bucharest, Romania, as a way of understanding the impact on the public narratives and political discourse of the employment of conspiracy theories by the media.

By exploring the allure, politicization, and mentality of conspiracy theories, along with utilizing discourse analysis and elements borrowed from cognitive linguistics, the thesis will explore Antena 3 CNN’s use of conspiracy theories in relation to the protesters present at the aforementioned manifestations. The conspiracy theories emphasized by the news channel have been echoed by people at the protests, and the protests themselves have been used by a certain political party in Romania, namely the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), to advertise themselves and gather more support from those voters who accept conspiratorial mentalities.

These findings highlight the need for addressing misinformation, as a means to ensure a well-informed electorate and democratic processes. This research could contribute to the broader understanding of the role of conspiracy theories in contemporary politics, providing a foundation for further studies on the implications of conspiracy theories driven by the media in democratic societies.

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