How Does the Business of News Influence Terrorism Coverage? Evidence From The Washington Post and USA Today

Observers argue that the business of news is responsible for worsening the coverage of terrorism, but exactly how economic considerations influence coverage is controversial. Based on an analysis of over 1600 articles from The Washington Post and USA Today, we find that concerns about the effects of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Terrorism and political violence 2010-10, Vol.22 (4), p.559-580
Main Authors: Hoffman, Aaron M., Jengelley, Dwaine H. A., Duncan, Natasha T., Buehler, Melissa, Rees, Meredith L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business conditions
Competition
Counterterrorism
Economic impact
Economics
Influence
Markets
Media
Media coverage
Press
Terrorism
Terrorist Organizations
U.S.A
United States of America
USA Today
Violence
Washington Post
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Summary:Observers argue that the business of news is responsible for worsening the coverage of terrorism, but exactly how economic considerations influence coverage is controversial. Based on an analysis of over 1600 articles from The Washington Post and USA Today, we find that concerns about the effects of economic pressures on terrorism reporting are exaggerated. The business climate affects coverage, but the long-term impact of market pressures on coverage is modest. Articles about terrorist violence are increasingly prominent, but coverage of counterterrorism remains robust. Efforts to inoculate the press against the worst excesses of the market are unnecessary.
ISSN:0954-6553
1556-1836
DOI:10.1080/09546553.2010.493778