Framing terrorism: geography-based media coverage variations of the 2004 commuter train bombings in Madrid and the 2009 twin suicide car bombings in Baghdad

Abstract

Written media mould how civil society perceives acts of terrorism. In employing different framing techniques, news articles develop a unique narrative that influences how readers comprehend an attack. Past studies of the relationship between the media and terrorism ignore how media portrayals of terrorist attacks vary based on the attacks’ geographic location. By comparing two similar terrorist attacks, one that occurred in the West – Madrid, Spain – and the other in the East – Baghdad, Iraq – the paper seeks to explore how media coverage of terrorist attacks that occur in different geographic locations varies. Employing news frame analysis reveals how coverage of the 11 March 2004 commuter train bombings in Madrid differs from the 25 October 2009 double suicide bombings in Baghdad. Coverage of an attack on a Western nation compared to one on an Eastern nation contributes to Islamophobia and exacerbates an us–them mentality. Simply accepting information published in news articles at face value inhibits forming rational conclusions about the nature of terrorism.

Keywords:

• terrorism
• media
• media framing
• Madrid
• Baghdad
• 11-M
• othering
• Islamophobia

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah May Patrick

Sarah May Patrick is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University. Currently a senior majoring in international relations and minoring in justice and peace studies, she conducted this research for a course taken in the spring semester (2013) of her sophomore year. Her future research endeavours focus on United Nations peacekeeping and non-violent social movements.