Jordanian Media Coverage of Honor Crimes: Content and Implications

Objectives: The study identifies the values demonstrated by Jordanian media in dealing with the issue of honour crimes in Jordanian society. Methods: This study adopts a qualitative methodology using discourse analysis. The discourse analysis focuses on the verbal-visual relationship, voice hierarchy, and intertextuality. The data was gathered from 49 articles published by two Jordanian news websites, Khaberni and Hiber, between 2009 and 2021 (sample includes 7 news items from Hiber and 8 news items from Khaberni) , as well as (2) video clips shown on the privately-owned Jordanian “Roya TV”. Results: The results show that the Jordanian media's coverage of honour crime issues is lacking and assumes a formal character. This may be attributed to the "tribal" nature of the Jordanian society and the fear of "shame" and scandal. Jordanian media exhibits scant compassion towards the victims of rape or victims of so-called “honor killings”. As for intertextuality, Roya TV quotes literary and legal texts to confirm that Jordanian media remains sympathetic to the "patriarchal system" and reproduces "patriarchal discourse". Conclusions: Jordanian media discourse does not delve into the common assumption of the underlying relationship between honor and virginity, but rather focuses on other topics, such as legal aspects and the rule of law, and that both sides of the felony must receive punishment, while failing to criticizise the basic principle behind honor killings.