166. Name: Mohammed Salih Title: Media Framing of the Syrian Conflict: Al Jazeera, BBC, and
ETV from a Comparative Perspective Institution: Addis Ababa University Country: Ethiopia Date: 2014 Language: English Abstract:
This study investigates how international media framed the Syrian conflict. It shows that Al Jazeera and BBC framed the conflict almost similarly, while ETV’s framing was different. In the diagnostic frame, Al Jazeera and BBC reported that Assad’s authoritarian family rule was the main cause for the initial protests. All three media stated that the excessive force the government used against demonstrators contributed to the conflict spreading to other areas. In the responsibility frame, Al Jazeera and BBC blamed government forces for killing civilians with chemical weapons but ETV took a neutral position. In portraying the government and the opposition forces, all three outlets depicted government forces as killers of innocents, with the exception of ETV that portrayed the opposition forces as victorious and caring for civilians. Within the opposition group, Al Jazeera and BBC reported different attitudes towards the two powerful groups of FSA, ISIS and al-Nusra. While Al Jazeera represented the two groups positively, BBC described them negatively. Western military intervention was reported by Al Jazeera and BBC as a solution to end the conflict, but ETV supported a peaceful solution.
398
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter