Let’s not put a label on it

Right-wing terrorism in the news

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12919316
AutoresVanja Zdjelar (0000-0001-7827-5889, Simon Fraser University, autor correspondente), Garth Davies (0009-0003-7830-7985, Simon Fraser University)
Ano2021
Volume14
Fascículo3
Páginas291-311
Data de publicação2021-06-22
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCritical Studies on Terrorism (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1753-9161 • E-ISSN: 1753-9153
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17539153.2021.1932298
OpenAlexW3175340456
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas35

Media portrayals of terrorism, particularly right-wing terrorism, have been understudied. In response, this study focuses on understanding how right-wing terrorism is portrayed by the New York Times and the Washington Post. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on five cases. Framing theory and thematic analysis were used to inform the research methods. Four main themes emerge: “officially, we cannot be sure this was terrorism”; “just a man – the obfuscation of motive”; “on normalisation and humanisation”; and “eventually we have to talk about gun policy.” The results show that the news providers did not label these cases as terrorism, and that the ideology of the attackers was minimised as a motive. By searching so extensively for “other reasons” for the violence, the threat of right-wing violence was minimised. As a result of these incomplete or misleading portrayals, the threat from these individuals goes unchecked

Counter terrorism · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Right wing · Sociology · Terrorism · Law · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence