A Media Distortion Analysis of National Terrorism News Coverage

• In Event: War and Terrorism in the Media

Abstract

News coverage of some highly celebrated terrorism attacks, like the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11 attacks, and more recent Boston bombings have increased potential for shaping public understanding and policy responses to terrorism. In contrast, some terrorist incidents may receive no national news attention. In this study, we are interested in what makes some terrorist incidents more or less newsworthy. We are aware of only one study that has empirically examined which terrorist incidents are most likely to be covered and receive more coverage in the United States. This study, however, only examined terrorist incident prior to the 9/11 attacks. The purpose of the current study then is to examine how national news media evaluate the newsworthiness of terrorism incidents in the United States before and after 9/11. Terrorism data for this study come from the American Terrorism Study (ATS), which is run by researchers at the Terrorism Research Center (TRC) at the University of Arkansas. News media data are collected for each terrorism incident identified by the ATS between 1990 and 2010 from the New York Times and Washington Post. Findings will advance our understanding of those terrorist incidents that are highlighted by media and those that are ignored.

Authors

• Jeff Gruenewald, University of Arkansas

• Noah Schneider, University of Arkansas

• William Parkin, Seattle University

• Steven M. Chermak, Michigan State University