The use of experts in journalistic accounts of media events: A comparative study of the 2005 London Bombings in British, American, and Russian newspapers

Abstract

Drawing on previous research about journalistic news sources, this study explores the use of experts and other sources in coverage of the London suicide bombings (7 July 2005) in British, American, and Russian newspapers. Using content analysis of news reports of these attacks, it assesses the differential usage of information sources across newspapers published in countries with different media systems. The comparative analyses indicate that the use of government officials, non-government experts, and other journalistic sources in this context varies both between and within nations’ media systems. However, despite their media systems-related differences, ideological orientation, and source utilization, the cross-national newspaper coverage of the London bombings often reflected similar themes and a common dialogue that affirmed each nation’s shared mourning and condemnation of the bombings.