Publication
Title
Reporting demonstrations : on episodic and thematic coverage of protest events in Belgian television news
Author
Abstract
Media attention is a crucial political resource for protest groups. This study examines the description of protests in Belgian television news. Specifically, it analyzes the degree to which the coverage of protests is episodic (event- or exemplar-oriented) or thematic (issue-oriented) and looks into the factors that drive these coverage types. Protest event data from police archives (Brussels; 20032010) are combined with detailed measures of television news content (public and private broadcasting) to analyze media description (N = 564). The results show that the coverage of protest is primarily thematic. Episodic coverage is dominated by coverage about the details of the event; exemplars are rarely used. Protests that are disruptive, staged by organizations with low media standing, and covered by the commercial station are more event-oriented. Reports of large demonstrations and reports with follow-up items contain more episodic-exemplar coverage. Results are discussed in light of the conditionality of the protest paradigm.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Political communication. - London, 1992, currens
Publication
London : 2015
ISSN
1058-4609 [print]
1091-7675 [online]
DOI
10.1080/10584609.2014.958257
Volume/pages
32 :3 (2015) , p. 475-496
ISI
000357735400008
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Law 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 18.08.2015
Last edited 02.10.2024
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