Middle East
Date Range
Score Range
ABC News (Beneficial / Harmful) : Turkey removes a restriction on direct trade with Armenia to improve ties
Regional relations in the South Caucasus are framed as improving for mutual benefit
Turkey’s foreign ministry statement is quoted expressing commitment to regional prosperity, implying broader positive consequences beyond bilateral ties.
“Türkiye will continue to contribute to the development of economic relations in the region and to further advancing cooperation for the benefit of all countries and peoples of the region”
The New York Times (Safe / Threatened) : What You Need to Know About the Federal Gas Tax
Middle East framed as unstable and under threat due to ongoing war
The article opens with 'War in the Middle East'—a dramatic, emotionally charged phrase that sets a tone of regional instability and danger without immediate context or attribution, priming readers to perceive the region as fundamentally threatened.
“War in the Middle East”
news.com.au (Safe / Threatened) : ‘They’re more worried’: Gap in economic forecasts between RBA and Treasury reveals ‘uncertainty’ at heart …
The Middle East conflict is framed as a persistent and dangerous threat to global economic stability
[omission] (severity 7/10): The article does not mention that the war context involves active US-Israeli military operations against Iran and Hezbollah, including significant civilian casualties and war crime allegations, which could affect economic assumptions.
“The economic outlook remains highly uncertain and heavily contingent on the severity of the conflict in the Middle East”
RTÉ (Safe / Threatened) : Eurovision boycott: How did we (not) get here?
The Middle East framed as a region under severe and ongoing humanitarian threat
The article consistently references the 'appalling loss of lives in Gaza' and ties it directly to the legitimacy of cultural participation, framing the region as deeply endangered. This emotional framing is used to justify political action (the boycott), but omits context about other regional actors or conflicts involving Israel, creating an imbalanced portrayal.
“would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza”
The Guardian (Stable / Crisis) : UAE’s secret attack on Iran risks drawing Gulf states into the war
Regional situation framed as escalating toward full-scale war
Sensationalism and framing-by-emphasis in headline and lead amplify crisis perception by using 'secret attack' and warning of Gulf states being 'drawn into the war,' despite lack of immediate verification. This heightens urgency and instability framing.
“UAE’s secret attack on Iran risks drawing Gulf states into the war”
Daily Mail (Safe / Threatened) : Ireland will broadcast Father Ted's 'Song For Europe' episode instead of showing Eurovision because of …
The Middle East is framed as a region defined by Palestinian victimhood and Israeli aggression
The article emphasizes casualties in Gaza while omitting context about the broader regional war initiated by attacks on Israel, including from Iran and Hezbollah. This selective reporting creates an imbalanced portrayal of threat and safety, centering Palestinian suffering without acknowledging complex security dynamics.
“citing the 'appalling loss of lives in Gaza'”
The Guardian (Safe / Threatened) : More than 100 Labour MPs sign statement against Starmer leadership challenge
framed as an ongoing threat affecting domestic stability
mention of Middle East crisis used to justify continuity in leadership, implying external instability
“The prime minister talked about the challenges we faced as a country, the crisis in the Middle East and the impact on the cost of living here.”
The Washington Post (Beneficial / Harmful) : Iran war pushed inflation to highest rate in nearly three years
The Middle East region framed as a source of economic harm to the US
The article consistently links the Middle East to negative economic outcomes for Americans, reinforcing a narrative of the region as a destabilizing, harmful force without contextualizing US/Israeli military actions as initiators of the conflict.
“Now, with a new energy shock emanating from the Middle East, Coibion and Gorodnichenko warn the second wave may be beginning”
news.com.au (Ally / Adversary) : Federal budget light on cost of living relief as government tries to avoid fuelling inflation
The Middle East crisis is framed as an external adversarial force destabilizing Australia’s economy
[framing_by_emphasis]: Repeated attribution of inflation and cost of living pressures to the Iran War and Middle East crisis positions the region as a source of economic threat.
“a situation it largely blames on the Iran War”
news.com.au (Ally / Adversary) : ‘Severe economic impacts’: Budget papers warn of nightmare scenario in Middle East
Middle East framed as a hostile, destabilizing force to global stability
The article frames the Middle East not as a region suffering conflict but as the source of economic danger to Australia, using metaphors like 'unexploded bomb' and 'nightmare scenario' to depict it as an active threat.
“Nestled in the federal budget papers, released on Tuesday night, is an unexploded bomb.”