Media Framing of the Syrian Conflict: Aljazeera, BBC, and ETV in Comparative Perspective
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Date
2014-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study entitled Media framing of the Syrian conflict: Aljazeera, BBC, and ETV in comparative perspective was conducted to investigate how these media institutions framed the conflict in Syria. Guided by framing and political economy theory of the mass media, this study was carried out to answer three research questions. To do so, articles that explicitly entertain the Syrian conflict were downloaded from their respective websites: www.aljazeera.com, www.bbc.com/news, and www.erta.gov.et.
With the aim to answer the research questions, a three month time frame was purposely chosen and qualitative content analysis (textual analysis) method was employed. Purposive sampling technique was also used to select articles which were relevant to answer the research questions. By thorough reading, analytical frames were finally identified to analyze how the selected media organizations framed the conflict during the time frame. These were diagnostic frame, responsibility frame, portrayal frame, solution frame, and prognostic frame.
The study revealed that differing only in portraying of ISIS and al-Nusra Front, and in the prognostic frame, Aljazeera and BBC framed the Syrian conflict almost the same way, while ETV, except in few frames, framed the Syrian conflict in a different manner. In the diagnostic frame, Aljazeera and BBC reported that the Assad family rule and the authoritarian nature of the government (emergency law and its repressiveness) were sole causes for the initial protests. In addition, all three similarly stated that the excessive force the government used on the demonstrators was a cause for the conflict to spread to other areas. In the responsibility frame, VII
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Aljazeera and BBC blamed government forces for killing civilians by chemical weapon but ETV took a neutral position. In portraying the government and the opposition forces, all three depicted government forces as killers of innocents, and, with the exception of ETV, portrayed the opposition forces as Victorious and caring of civilians. Within the opposition group, Aljazeera and BBC reported different attitude towards the two powerful groups of the FSA, ISIS and al-Nusra Front. While Aljazeera represented the two groups positively, BBC described them negatively. Western, particularly U.S, military intervention was reported by Aljazeera and BBC as a solution to end the conflict. But ETV stood on the side of peaceful solution. In the prognostic frame, while Aljazeera predicted state disintegration, BBC reported that the transformation of the country into an Islamic state.
Finally, the study found that Aljazeera and BBC were working toward their elite preferences rather than sticking to journalism profession in reporting objectively facts on the ground. Because of ownership and political positions, Aljazeera and BBC treated the Assad government unfairly. In contrast to the above two, ETV generally showed a neutral position.
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Media Framing of the Syrian Conflict