9/11 Attack Coverage Reveals Similarities, Differences

Abstract

This content analysis of the coverage of five television networks and eight newspapers found that both broadcast and print media focused coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks on facts, but differences do appear in coverage frames and source use.

Reality and newsworthiness: Press coverage of International Terrorism by China and the United States

“…Some studies focus on media portrayals of terrorism incidents or terrorists, whereas others examine how the media label terrorist actions and actors (e.g., Livingston, 1994;Lule, 2002;Picard & Adams, 1991;Weimann & Winn, 1994) or reporting formats and story types (e.g., Altheide, 1987;Atwater, 1987). Still other studies focus on particular terrorist organizations, such as the Irish Republican Army 450 D. Zhang et al (Viera, 1991), or a single terrorism event, such as the 11 September 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon (Li & Izard, 2003). Other scholars use gatekeeping theory to explain why mass media cover only a small number of the terrorist events that take place every day.…”

Another Disaster: An examination of portrayals of race in Hurricane Katrina coverage

“…On the news producer side, journalists are often faced with reporting stories quickly and without time to verify sources, seek alternative sources, or thoroughly review their work (Li & Izard 2003). On the audience side, receivers rely almost completely on the media during times of crisis or natural disaster (Graber, 1997, p. 138;Li & Izard, 2003;Ledingham & Masel-Walters, 1985).…”

Media, Public Attitude and Mumbai Terror of 26/11

“…The third stage overlaps the first two. To provide context, the media must place the crisis in a larger, longer-term perspective" (cited in Li and Izard, 2003).…”