Veiled Threats: Decentering and unification in transnational news coverage of the French veil ban

Abstract

In October 2010, France approved a law banning the Islamic veil in all public areas, asserting the republican principle of laicité. This cross-cultural analysis applies Muhlmann's theoretical framework to French and US news coverage from March 2004 to October 2010 in order to discern whether coverage featured unifying frames invoking shared values; or decentering frames challenging consensual views and presenting alternative contexts.

Keywords::

• Islamic veil
• qualitative analysis
• Muhlmann
• unifying
• decentering

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbara Friedman

Barbara Friedman is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Journalism & Mass Communication. A former journalist, Friedman focuses her research on historical and contemporary representations of gender and race in mass media. E-mail: [email protected]

Patrick Merle

Patrick Merle is an assistant professor at the Florida State University School of Communication. A former international reporter, Merle pays attention to cross-national perspectives, political communication, and public relations. E-mail: [email protected]