A comparative framing analysis of ISIL in the online coverage of CNN and Al-Jazeera

摘要

This study is a content analysis of how CNN and Al-Jazeera framed ISIL in their online news coverage from June to October 2014. A total of 154 stories were analyzed in order to determine the differences in the news framing and sourcing of ISIL (also known as ISIS). The websites’ original languages were used, respectively English (CNN) and Arabic (Al-Jazeera). The study found that CNN and Al-Jazeera relied heavily on episodic coverage. Also, the conflict frame dominated CNN coverage while Al-Jazeera used more responsibility and economic-consequences framing. Regarding sources, the study found that CNN cited more U.S. officials while Al-Jazeera relied more on other media.