222. Name: Sabrina Zearott Title: Bias: Al Jazeera America, CNN, and the U.S. Responses(s) to the Ghouta Attacks Institution: Washington State University Country: United States Date: 2017 Language: English Abstract: Al Jazeera America channel (AJAM) was a shortlived American media outlet active from 2013 to 2016. Since its inception, the channel faced opposition from various corners and has been criticized for potential bias. The current study is designed to see whether Al Jazeera America has indeed demonstrated bias with regard to the United States, using CNN as a mainstream standard and reference point for comparison. The study employs a comparative rhetorical framing analysis to search the coverage of both media outlets for the U.S. response to the 2013 chemical weapons attacks in Ghouta, Syria. The sampled articles for this study were downloaded from both AJAM and CNN’s websites, then sorted by new event. Approximately one article per source per event was selected and analyzed. The research findings include pro- U.S. (that is, pro-U.S. Department of State) bias from CNN and a spectrum of pro-U.S. bias, neutral coverage, and anti-U.S. bias from Al Jazeera America. In addition, the study examines AJAM as a domestic media source demonstrating counter-hegemonic tendencies and thus offers a test of one of the foundational aspects of framing theory, media hegemony.
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