Abstract

This contribution aims to investigate how the topic of immigration has been reorganized in conjunction with two recent crises that have affected the EU: the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict Russia-Ukraine. It addresses whether and to what extent those crises have redefined the way immigration is represented by the Italian mainstream newspapers, both in terms of attention levels and of discursive articulation. The survey follows the theoretical framework of the agenda building studies. The content analysis conducted on a sample of articles published by three outlets – «la Repubblica», «Corriere della Sera» and «Il Giornale» – during the turnover periods of those crises highlights a reduction in the production of immigration-related news items (especially in 2020), coupled with its redefinition as for its subtopics, though a continuity in narrative devices is even relevant. A more pronounced use of the human interest narrative emerges, as well as an attention towards the commitment by the arts in promoting multiculturalism. Further, immigration finds a new transformative context when it intersects the war and the solidarity effort for the refugees is linked to an unexpected geopolitical situation. The immigration issue has been treated through four prevailing frames: promotion of solidarity and multiculturalism, refugees as an unresolved problem for the EU, political-symbolic conflict, problematic management of flows. The three Italian outlets differ mainly in terms of attention paid to the political conflict, to the solidarity activities and in terms of criticism towards the EU.