Gängkriminalitet som medialt konstruerat fenomen : En innehållsanalys av hur gängkriminalitet framställs i Aftonbladet och Expressen (2024–2026)

Sammanfattning

The aim of this study is to analyze and illustrate how gangs and gang-related crime are constructed in Swedish news media, with a particular focus on Aftonbladet and Expressen during the period 2024-2026. Based on a qualitative content analysis, the study identifies recurring linguistic patterns and representations that shape media reporting. The findings indicate that gang crime is to a greater extent through a limited number of themes where violence, conflicts and societal threats are given a prominent position. Gangs are often constructed as organized and hierarchical structures, which contributes to a simplified and homogenized understanding of the phenomenon. At the same time, young individuals emerge both as perpetrators and victims, creating a more complex representation. Structural and socioeconomic explanations are largely marginalized in favor of dramatized and individualized narratives. While in comparison between the two newspapers reveals overall discourses, it also highlights variations in framing and emphasis, suggesting that reporting is shaped by selective news values. Overall, the study demonstrates that news media do not merely reflect reality but actively participate in constructing perceptions of crime. In doing so, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of media in the formation of social problems within a contemporary Swedish context.