162. Name: Berglind Eygló Jónsdóttir Title: Unequal Grievability: A Discourse Analysis of International News Coverage of the 2011 Libyan Conflict (A Comparison between BBC, New York Times, Al Jazeera and RT) Institution: University of Iceland Country: Iceland Date: 2014 Language: Icelandic Abstract: This study examines the discourse of international media concerning the 2011 Libyan conflict. A particular attention is paid to the difference between mainstream Western media and the media outlets that not typically regarded as such. Constructivism, post-structuralism, Judith Butler’s ideas on grievability, agenda setting theory, framing effects and theory of narratives make up the theoretical framework. These theories have in common the view that the world is socially constructed. Critical discourse analysis was used for the study to analyze the discourse of four online media outlets: BBC, New York Times, Al Jazeera and RT. The comparative analysis showed two discursive themes in international media discourse regarding the Libyan conflict, highlighting a strong dualism: the portrayal of Gaddafi as a merciless enemy who did not behave according to established norms, and the silent suffering of ‘others’, especially Libyans and African refugees. In general, there was a detectable difference between the Western media outlets, where the ‘othering’ of Gaddafi was prominent, and the non-Western ones, where the ‘othering’ of Gaddafi was less prominent. All media outlets, however, had their distinctive traits on covering both themes.
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