Criminalising search-and-rescue operations? Framing the role of SAR NGOs in Italian and French media (2017–2025)

Between 2017 and 2025, non-governmental organisations involved in search and rescue (SAR) in the Central Mediterranean have become controversial entities in European migration discussions. This thesis looks into how media in Italy and France have portrayed these NGOs during a time of significant changes in migration rules and the growth of strict right-wing politics. Using framing theory and a comparison of media reports, the study explores what the main narrative frames are that Il Corriere della Sera and Le Figaro newspapers use to depict SAR NGOs and how these frames have evolved over time.