Editorializing September 11: A news discourse analysis of the Asahi Shimbun, the new Straits Times and the New York times

Abstract

<P>THIS STUDY ANALYZES THE INTERPRETATION OF SEPTEMBER 11 IN THE EDITORIALS OF THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, THE NEW STRAITS TIMES AND THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR A TWO-MONTH PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 12 TO NOVEMBER 12, 2001. NEWS DISCOURSE ANALYSIS METHOD IS APPLIED TO EXAMINE TEXTUAL STRUCTURES FOR TOPICS OR THEMES BEYOND SENTENCES WITHIN THE EDITORIALS. THIS STUDY SEEKS TO ANALYZE OVERALL CHARACTERIZATION OF SEPTEMBER 11, THE CONTEXTUALIZATION CAUSES OF THE EVENT, AND THE PERCEIVED CONSEQUENCES AND RECOMMENDED RESPONSE BY THE NEWSPAPERS.</P><P> THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE NEWSPAPERS HAVE LIMITED NEWS FRAMES IN THEIR CONTEXTUALIZATION OF SEPTEMBER 11. THE ASAHI SHIMBUN AND THE NEW STRAITS TIMES LOOK AT IT FROM THE ANGLE OF A CRIME AND FOCUS ON THE ROOT CAUSES. THE NEW YORK TIMES USES THE NOTION OF A??WARA?? TO DESCRIBE IT. IT STRESSES MORE ON THE ISSUE OF PERPETRATOR RATHER THAN THE A??GLOBALA?? AND A??STRUCTURALA?? CAUSES OF THE A??WAR.A?? </P>