The Influence of Television News Depictions of the Images of War on Viewers

Pfau, Michael; Haigh, Michel M.; Shannon, Theresa; Tones, Toni; Mercurio, Deborah; Williams, Raina; Binstock, Blanca; Díaz, Carlos Arturo Mosquera; Dillard, Constance; Browne, Margaret; Elder, Clarence; Reed, Sherri; Eggers, Adam; Melendez, Juan

doi:10.1080/08838150801992128

Cited by 36 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While research shows that a conflict’s casualties can influence its news coverage (Gartner 2004), elections (Grose and Oppenheimer 2007), and public opinion (Gartner and Segura 2000; Gartner 2008a), studies surprisingly find consistently weak evidence for the link between war imagery and individual opinion (Gilboa 2005; Pfau, Haigh, Fifrick, Holl, Tedesco, Cope, Nunnally, Schiess, Preston, Roszkowski, and Martin 2006; Pfau, Haigh, Shannon, Tones, Mercurio, Williams, Binstock, Diaz, Dillard, Browne, Elder, Reed, Eggers, and Melendez 2008). Most wars start with a rally of public support that erodes over time (Gaines, Kuklinski, Quirk, Peyton, and Verkullen 2007; Kam and Ramos 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On Behalf of a Grateful Nation: Conventionalized Images of Loss and Individual Opinion Change in War1

Gartner

2011

International Studies Quarterly

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conventionalized images of wartime loss picture scripted, ceremonial events, such as flag-draped coffins off-loaded from planes or soldiers handing a triangular folded flag to grieving relatives saying, ''on behalf of a grateful nation.'' In comparison, unconventionalized war photographs, such as battlefield pictures, present more chaotic, less standardized images. I develop a theory of wartime media that examines how qualities of both the signal (whether photographs deal with military loss or militarism, and whether images employ conventionalized or unconventionalized imagery) and the receiver (the partisanship of the individual) influence individual opinion. I anticipate that viewing conventionalized images of loss will affect the likelihood that individuals shift from supporting to opposing a conflict and that partisanship can mitigate this effect. Results from analyses of seven experimental studies with 1,769 subjects and varied research designs strongly support the theory, finding that qualities of the signal and individual (and their interaction) influence the likelihood of wartime opinion change. These findings help to explain previous weak results linking wartime photography and public opinion, improve our understanding of wartime public opinion dynamics, and speak directly to current policy debates.It is the photographs that give one the vivid realization of what actually took place. Words don't do it.Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense 2 Despite significant advancements in our understanding of the dynamics of wartime and crisis politics (Geva,

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On Behalf of a Grateful Nation: Conventionalized Images of Loss and Individual Opinion Change in War1

Gartner

2011

International Studies Quarterly

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This analysis is important because the former Bush administration increasingly criticized media coverage of the ongoing violence in Iraq, explaining coverage became an obstacle to the US enterprise in the Middle East and a driver of US public opinion (Pfau et al, 2008). Thus how embeds perceived they performed as journalists was considered in light of changes in the battlefield information environment as well as in safety concerns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasion vs occupation

Fahmy

Johnson

2012

International Communication Gazette

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to determine how well embedded reporters perceived they covered the Iraq War and whether those attitudes have changed over time. While findings suggested embeds continue to judge their overall performance as positively in 2005/6 as in 2004, respondents largely recognized problems with the embedding process. Data analysis indicated after the official declaration of victory that embedded reporters became significantly less likely to agree that embeds were qualified for their job. Professional values and norms were perceived as the top factors in reporting the war, as suggested in both surveys. Other measures at the individual level were judged as less influential. Further, while journalistic routines were the strongest predictors of embed performance, these factors did not change over time. Embedded reporters identified individual-level factors, extra-media factors and ideological factors as more influential on their reporting after President Bush declared victory in May 2003 than before that declaration.

show abstract

“…statement encapsulates the viewpoint that visual representations have impact beyond the level of the individual and that the visual media play an important role in fashioning societies' collective memories of politically and historically significant world events (for some expositions of this argument, see Edwards, 2004;Hariman & Lucaites, 2004;Hoskins, 2008Hoskins, , 2009Kennedy, 2003; and for some empirical evidence in its support, see for example, Schwalbe, 2006;Pfau et al, 2008). Neisser (1982) drew a connection between collective memories and FBMs in particular, proposing that FBMs serve not only as personal recollections of our own circumstances of learning of historically significant incidents, but also serve to link us to the broader historical and social contexts of such events.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…General exposure to media images has been found empirically to have wide-ranging implications: It can improve retention of a news story (e.g., David, 1998), or can distort memory of the news (e.g., Garry, Strange, Bernstein, & Kinzett, 2007;Sacchi, Agnoli, & Loftus, 2007). It can affect our attitudes, emotions, and behaviour intentions (e.g., Cho et al, 2003;Domke, Perlmutter, & Spratt, 2002;Pfau et al, 2008;Sacchi et al, 2007;Wyer & Adaval, 2004), and even the contents of our dreams (Propper, Stickgold, Kelley, & Christman, 2007). It is surprising, therefore, that there has been little or no direct investigation of just what effect immediate or virtually immediate viewing of images of a momentous news event may have on the formation and quality of flashbulb memories (FBMs).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

TV or not TV? Does the immediacy of viewing images of a momentous news event affect the quality and stability of flashbulb memories?

Schaefer

Halldorson

Dizon-Reynante

2011

Memory

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The flashbulb accounts of 38 participants concerning the September 11th 2001 terrorist attack reported at both 28 hours and 6 months following the event were examined for quantity, quality, and consistency as a function of the time lapse between first learning of the event and initial viewing of media images. The flashbulb accounts of those who reported seeing images at least an hour after learning of the event differed qualitatively, but not quantitatively, from accounts of participants who reported seeing images at the same time as or within minutes of learning of the event. Delayed viewing of images resulted in less elaborate and generally less consistent accounts across the 6-month interval. The results are discussed in terms of factors affecting flashbulb memory formation and individual differences in connectedness to the event.

show abstract

The Influence of Television News Depictions of the Images of War on Viewers

Cited by 36 publications

References 67 publications

On Behalf of a Grateful Nation: Conventionalized Images of Loss and Individual Opinion Change in War1

On Behalf of a Grateful Nation: Conventionalized Images of Loss and Individual Opinion Change in War1

Invasion vs occupation

TV or not TV? Does the immediacy of viewing images of a momentous news event affect the quality and stability of flashbulb memories?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About