Who is Afraid of the T-word? Labeling Terror in the Media Coverage of Political Violence Before and After 9/11

Abstract

Several studies conducted after 9/11 found that American journalists have largely embraced the government's official frame of the “War on Terror.” Drawing from the claim of an ideological bond, this study investigates how American news media covered politically violent organizations that are not linked to Al Qaeda or the events of 9/11. More specifically, the article examines whether the media's inconsistent use of the word “terror” changed as a consequence of 9/11 by comparing the coverage of these organizations before and after 9/11. A quantitative content analysis of American media indicates that overall the coverage of political violence did not change after 9/11. Moreover, journalists remained vigilant about using the word “terror” when covering politically violent organization.