Linguistic and Framing Patterns in Bangladeshi Print Media Representations of Dhaka's Rickshaw Pullers: A Content Analysis of Headlines and Leads

Abstract

This study examines how Bangladeshi print news constructs representations of Dhaka's rickshaw pullers. A qualitatively driven mixed-methods content analysis was conducted on 50 news items published in five national dailies between 2018 and 2024. The items were selected purposively from 67 candidates using headline relevance, story centrality, and length. Analysis focused on headlines, sub-headlines, and leads. Seventeen primary codes were organized into five mutually exclusive primary themes at the article level, while a separate voice/source indicator was used only for qualitative auditing. The five themes were urban-problem framing (16%), linguistic and framing bias (30%), economic and social contribution and worker visibility (24%), policy engagement and its limits (22%), and health, labor rights, and humanizing representation (8%). The largest single primary code was fatalistic death reporting (18%). Because the sample is purposive and the analysis is focused on headline- and leads-level text, these findings describe patterns within this corpus and do not establish audience effects, newsroom intent, or policy consequences. The findings suggest that contribution, rights, health, and worker voice receive less attention in the coded material than problem- and event-centered framing, while also showing that humanizing and policy-oriented reporting is present in a minority of items.