Framing from the inside: an examination of Pakistani newspapers’ house editorials on Osama bin Laden's targeted assassination

ABSTRACT

This study examined how two prominent Pakistani newspapers framed the US Navy Seals killing of Osama bin Laden. Framing and content analysis were used as theoretical and methodological tools, respectively. Only in-house editorials were analysed. Results show the newspapers blaming the Pakistani government for its security laxity during the invasion that killed Osama bin Laden. Results also focused on the ruptured diplomatic ties between the USA and Pakistan, but not on condemning the USA for the breach of Pakistan's national sovereignty in the process of assassinating the al-Qaeda leader.

KEYWORDS:

• Framing
• al-Qaeda
• Osama bin Laden
• house editorials
• content analysis
• Pakistan

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Note on contributor

Dr Uche Onyebadi obtained his PhD in Journalism from the University of Missouri (USA) and is currently the Director of the School of Journalism, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois (USA). His research interests include Political and International Communication, Media Ethics and Mass Communication Theory. His articles have appeared in a number of communication journals such as Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, International Communication Research Journal, International Communication Gazette, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Media, War & Conflict, Journal of Mass Media Ethics and Journalism & Mass Communication Educator.

Notes

1. Bin Laden's demise wounds al-Qaeda at opportune moment (2011, May 2). From http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011–05–03-Bin-Laden-killed-opinion-editorial_n.htm.

2. House Editorial, Dawn, May 4, 2011.

3. House Editorial, Dawn, May 8, 2011.

4. House Editorial, The News International, May 5, 2011.

5. House Editorial, The News International, May 8, 2011.

6. House Editorial, Dawn, May 18, 2011.