Format and Symbols in TV Coverage of Terrorism in the United States and Great Britain

Abstract

A conceptual scheme for understanding how TV news formats shape reports broadcast in the United States and the United Kingdom is examined in this explanatory, comparative study of TV news coverage of a terrorist incident in London's Hyde Park in 1982. While ideological positions clearly flow from most news reports, the analysis suggests that news practices and perspectives also contribute to the visual and thematic emphasis of reports. News formats of the event type associated with regular evening newcasts in both countries focused on visuals of the aftermath and tactics of terrorism, while topic type formats associated with interviews and documentary presentations included materials about purposes, goals, and rationale. These variations in format produced consistent differences in message content in both countries, suggesting that an organizational media logic is relevant for understanding information control about terrorism and other events. Implications are noted for theoretic understanding about ideology and social control. In particular, future research attention is directed to regulation and control of news formats, and the implications for a mass audience, leadership styles, and international affairs.