FRAMING ANALYSIS OF ISRAELI- PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IN ANDERSON COOPER 360, CNN AND HANNITY WITH SEAN PATRICK HANNITY, FOX NEWS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Television has always had a crucial influence in framing the most critical events and conflicts. Public opinion throughout the world is directly influenced by this style of media coverage of events and conflicts because the viewer is taken to the very centre. In this way, framing effects shape the public's perception of a given situation. This research examined how CNN and Fox News depicted the recent Israeli- Palestinian conflict through their news programmes from April 1 to May 31, 2021, in light of the recent conflict. The data was gathered from news programme during the primetime at 8.00 PM from CNN, and at 9.00 PM from Fox News. The framing theory is selected to explore how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was presented to the public by American media such as CNN and Fox News, and to identify their framing about the recent conflict. The recent Israel-Palestine conflict is rarely seen in research literature. Most of the previous literature discussed Israel-Palestine conflict in context of news items published or news reports broadcasted in news bulletin. However, this study made a significant contribution by adding to the growing body of knowledge about the framing and perception of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the renowned American media. Likewise, this study contributed to the analysis of news content, framing, and sources during the coverage of the conflict by Anderson Cooper 360 from CNN and Hannity from Fox News. NVivo 12 was used to analyse the data that had been transcribed from audio and video. It was found after coding, that overall, the conflict was framed in eleven different frames for two months. The most repeatedly frame used was terrorism against Israel followed by Israel’s right to attack, violation of human rights, anti-Semitism, humanitarian crisis, cease funding, religious sentiments, Cease fire, Israeli aggression, concerns over US foreign policy, and anti- Israel protests. This study found that Fox News was more biased towards Israel whereas CNN took a neutral stance and opted a balance approach. CNN relied on the information from the White House and right from the battlefield. Fox News largely relied on the analysts. This study included some limitations and valuable recommendations for future researchers.