Framing theory and operation Iraqi freedom: an analysis of news frames and the 2003 conflict in Iraq

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This master's thesis analyzes newspaper coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the conflict in Iraq that officially began on March 19, 2003 and ended on May 1, 2003. Framing theory (Entman, 1993) is the theoretical basis, and quantitative content analysis is the methodology. The general research question is this: How and to what extent did coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the New York Times, London Times and Toronto Star parallel the military and political agendas of the United States, Britain and Canada, respectively? The hypothesis is that each of the three newspapers presented coverage of the operation that was framed in consistency with the agendas of their respective governments. The analysis disproved this hypothesis, and three conclusions were formed: First, no news frames were found in the coverage. Second, significant similarities existed in coverage in all three newspapers. Third, these similarities may be indicative of cultural framing, or the idea that the same reality is presented and understood by different cultures in different ways. The analysis and discussion address issues such as bias, advocacy, culture and neutrality.