Media Framing Treatment of the Lebanese Digital Article and Editorial Regarding Maritime Border Demarcation Agreement between Lebanon and Israel October 2022: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to identify the frameworks for processing Lebanese digital press articles regarding the maritime border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel, signed on October 27, 2022. It focused on the aspects, patterns, and trends of media treatment of the subject on Lebanese websites and digital newspapers, as well as the frameworks and appeals used in relation to this agreement.

Method: The study employed a descriptive analytical approach and relied on content analysis to achieve its objectives. A random sample of 120 articles from six newspapers and digital websites representing political and sectarian trends in the Lebanese arena was analyzed.

Result: Lebanese newspapers' digital websites focused on the political aspect of the maritime border demarcation agreement. The positive trend toward the agreement was most prominent in the articles. The treatments of the border demarcation agreement relied on emotional and logical appeals. The political framework and the framework of determining responsibility received the most attention.

Conclusion: Treatments of press articles in Lebanese newspapers and digital websites focused primarily on the political aspects of the maritime border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The analysis showed a preference for the press column and analytical articles, while editorial articles were largely absent from the sample. The treatments of the articles adopted emotional and logical appeals, using the political framework and the framework for determining responsibility to address the topic.