The framing of terrorism : a comparative analysis of news media framing of terrorism

Abstract

Terrorism as a social phenomenon has existed in society since the beginning of recorded history. However there remain many areas related to terrorism that are underdeveloped. This thesis focuses on how domestic news media frames acts of violence as terrorism. This thesis teases out the main themes of framing of terrorism and the processes of establishing an ‘other’ in the National Post, The Globe and Mail and the CBC News with regard to two violent events. The first, the Ottawa shootings, has been framed as terrorism whereas the second event, the Moncton shootings, is not framed as terrorism. This thesis therefore identifies the criteria by which the label of terrorism is applied by framing risk levels and fear, through the use of language, and through the construction of the ‘Other’ or ‘Othering’.