Images of Nations in the News:

The Image of Greece in the U.S. Press

Images of Nations in the News:

The Image of Greece in the U.S. Press

An analytic perspective

by Thimios Zaharopoulos

Park University

An analytic perspective

by Thimios Zaharopoulos

Park University

Definition of NewsDefinition of News

• Newsworthiness =– Timeliness– Proximity– Prominence– Conflict– Impact– Oddity

• Newsworthiness =– Timeliness– Proximity– Prominence– Conflict– Impact– Oddity

Characteristics of the U.S. News Media

Characteristics of the U.S. News Media

• Gatekeepers• Objectivity (conflicting truth claims)• Focus on Events (not processes)• It is a business (in a consumer

society)

• Gatekeepers• Objectivity (conflicting truth claims)• Focus on Events (not processes)• It is a business (in a consumer

society)

Characteristics of International News Coverage

Characteristics of International News Coverage

• Limited in amount• Conflict-oriented• Ethnocentric• Elite nations are primarily

covered

• Limited in amount• Conflict-oriented• Ethnocentric• Elite nations are primarily

covered

Determinants of International News Coverage

Determinants of International News Coverage• Gross Domestic Product• Trade• Relations with the United States• Population• Area• Political system• Distance from the United States

• Gross Domestic Product• Trade• Relations with the United States• Population• Area• Political system• Distance from the United States

Diminishing News HoleDiminishing News Hole

• Fewer foreign bureaus• More dependence on wire services• Less international news• US news media “do not cover the

world, they cover US interests abroad”

• Fewer foreign bureaus• More dependence on wire services• Less international news• US news media “do not cover the

world, they cover US interests abroad”

Media FramingMedia Framing• News coverage parallels U.S. foreign policy• Other countries are framed in the context of U.S.

national interests • The U.S. government influences media content (One

way is through media dependence on official sources)• National economic interests affect news coverage• When U.S. interests are insignificant, the coverage is

negative; dependence on wire services and short articles

• Media’s bias and stereotypes (i.e., toward Muslims)• Negative coverage if the U.S. is in war with that

nation

• News coverage parallels U.S. foreign policy• Other countries are framed in the context of U.S.

national interests • The U.S. government influences media content (One

way is through media dependence on official sources)• National economic interests affect news coverage• When U.S. interests are insignificant, the coverage is

negative; dependence on wire services and short articles

• Media’s bias and stereotypes (i.e., toward Muslims)• Negative coverage if the U.S. is in war with that

nation

– Yes, especially if people do not have much personal experience with that nation

– Yes, framing affects recall– Yes, when the issue is not as important– Yes, if framing deals with degrees of democracy– Yes, if information is limited– Generalization takes place about group of nations– Even educated perceptions are affected

– Yes, especially if people do not have much personal experience with that nation

– Yes, framing affects recall– Yes, when the issue is not as important– Yes, if framing deals with degrees of democracy– Yes, if information is limited– Generalization takes place about group of nations– Even educated perceptions are affected

Does news coverage affect people’s image of a nation?

Does the image of a nation affect US foreign policy toward that nation?

Does the image of a nation affect US foreign policy toward that nation?

• Images could impose a strong label on a nation (terrorist, free, ally, etc)

• A event can be interpreted differently depending on the image

• An negative image of the opponent will likely develop negative evaluative attitudes

• those who perceive an opponent as culturally different seem to develop more negative attitudes toward them.

• Images could impose a strong label on a nation (terrorist, free, ally, etc)

• A event can be interpreted differently depending on the image

• An negative image of the opponent will likely develop negative evaluative attitudes

• those who perceive an opponent as culturally different seem to develop more negative attitudes toward them.

Image of GreeceImage of Greece• 1970s—Very little coverage

– Cyprus issue – Return of Democracy– Soft news related to Greek cuisine and

tourism

• 1979 UNESCO study– Fewer stories than average– Longer stories and more Photographs– Primarily in print media– Primarily feature stories, not hard news

• 1970s—Very little coverage – Cyprus issue – Return of Democracy– Soft news related to Greek cuisine and

tourism

• 1979 UNESCO study– Fewer stories than average– Longer stories and more Photographs– Primarily in print media– Primarily feature stories, not hard news

Image of GreeceImage of Greece

• 1980s - major U.S. newspapers– Very little coverage– Mostly about Greek-US relations

(negotiations over the US military bases)– Eleni by Nicholas Gage– Melina Mercouri and Parthenon Marbles– Very little “bad news”– No relationship between amount and

Greek population in city of publication

• 1980s - major U.S. newspapers– Very little coverage– Mostly about Greek-US relations

(negotiations over the US military bases)– Eleni by Nicholas Gage– Melina Mercouri and Parthenon Marbles– Very little “bad news”– No relationship between amount and

Greek population in city of publication

Image of GreeceImage of Greece

• Coverage of A. Papandreou

– More neutral than non-neutral– More negative than positive– Very little depth– “Coups and Earthquakes”

coverage and parallel to State Department positions

• Coverage of A. Papandreou

– More neutral than non-neutral– More negative than positive– Very little depth– “Coups and Earthquakes”

coverage and parallel to State Department positions

Image of GreeceImage of Greece

• “November 17” (1983-2003)– Limited coverage– Favorable to neutral coverage of Greece

(more favorable when members arrested)– When US citizens were victims, major

label used was “terrorists”– When non-US citizens were victims, major

label used was “officials”– Extensive dependence on official sources

• “November 17” (1983-2003)– Limited coverage– Favorable to neutral coverage of Greece

(more favorable when members arrested)– When US citizens were victims, major

label used was “terrorists”– When non-US citizens were victims, major

label used was “officials”– Extensive dependence on official sources

Framing of the 2004 OlympicsFraming of the 2004 Olympics

• Terrorism threats• Readiness of facilities• Otherwise mostly neutral, followed

by positive (especially during the Games)

• Much of the coverage was conflict-oriented

• Terrorism threats• Readiness of facilities• Otherwise mostly neutral, followed

by positive (especially during the Games)

• Much of the coverage was conflict-oriented

Characterization of Coverage of GreeceCharacterization of Coverage of Greece

• Limited in quantity• Not terribly focused on “bad news”• More features than hard news

relative to other nations• Predictable: conflict, relevance

personalization, balance, deviance, impact, proximity

• Limited in quantity• Not terribly focused on “bad news”• More features than hard news

relative to other nations• Predictable: conflict, relevance

personalization, balance, deviance, impact, proximity

2008 Media Coverage2008 Media Coverage• Greek Americans 13.2%• Athens Riots 8.0%• Greek Company News 7.5%• Economic News 6.3%• Olympics and Olympic Flame Relay 5.7%• Greek Orthodox Church 5.7%• Archaeology/Museums 4.6%• Sports 4.6%• Strikes 4.0%• Independence Day Commemoration 3.4%• Kosovo Recognition 3.4%• Earthquakes/Weather/Accidents/Fires 3.4%• Pension Law passes 2.9%• FYROM issue 2.9%• Travel & Tourism 2.9%• Greek Society 1.7%• Energy Issues 1.7%• Jules Dasin’s death 1.7%• Odd News 1.7%• U.S.-Greek Relations 1.7%

• Greek Americans 13.2%• Athens Riots 8.0%• Greek Company News 7.5%• Economic News 6.3%• Olympics and Olympic Flame Relay 5.7%• Greek Orthodox Church 5.7%• Archaeology/Museums 4.6%• Sports 4.6%• Strikes 4.0%• Independence Day Commemoration 3.4%• Kosovo Recognition 3.4%• Earthquakes/Weather/Accidents/Fires 3.4%• Pension Law passes 2.9%• FYROM issue 2.9%• Travel & Tourism 2.9%• Greek Society 1.7%• Energy Issues 1.7%• Jules Dasin’s death 1.7%• Odd News 1.7%• U.S.-Greek Relations 1.7%

Image of GreeceImage of Greece• Americans have a positive image • Press coverage of Greek Americans is

positive• Greece is not an important nation• Greece is presented more in historical

and cultural contexts• Greece has its share of conflicts and

bad news but not as much as others• Greece is more exotic than elite

• Americans have a positive image • Press coverage of Greek Americans is

positive• Greece is not an important nation• Greece is presented more in historical

and cultural contexts• Greece has its share of conflicts and

bad news but not as much as others• Greece is more exotic than elite

Conclusion & SuggestionsConclusion & Suggestions

• All media coverage is limited• Is the image of Greece accurately

negative?• History of Greece and Greek-Americans

possibly serve to filter and inoculate against negative perceptions

• The Olympics helped• Image must be re-framed to reflect

more contemporary issues

• All media coverage is limited• Is the image of Greece accurately

negative?• History of Greece and Greek-Americans

possibly serve to filter and inoculate against negative perceptions

• The Olympics helped• Image must be re-framed to reflect

more contemporary issues

SuggestionsSuggestions• Must target different audiences with

appropriately different messages• Have a long-term communication

strategy• Use new media (PR Wire, Blogs,

websites, virtual communities)• Use the Diaspora• Make sure Greek-Americans do not

accept a negative image of Greece--they will communicate it to Americans

• Continue research and monitoring

• Must target different audiences with appropriately different messages

• Have a long-term communication strategy

• Use new media (PR Wire, Blogs, websites, virtual communities)

• Use the Diaspora• Make sure Greek-Americans do not

accept a negative image of Greece--they will communicate it to Americans

• Continue research and monitoring