Embedding Journalists in Military Combat Units: Impact on Newspaper Story Frames and Tone

Abstract

This investigation probed whether embedded journalist coverage of the first days of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq produced print news coverage that was either more decontextualized inform or more favorable in tone. Embedded news coverage of the first days of Operation “Iraqi Freedom” was compared to nonembedded, so-called “unilateral” coverage; and print coverage of “Iraqi Freedom” was compared with the first days of U.S. ground operations in Operations “Enduring Freedom” and “Desert Storm.” The results indicated that embedded journalists in Operation “Iraqi Freedom” produced news stories that featured more episodic frames, compared to both nonembedded reporters in “Iraqi Freedom” and overall coverage of Operation “Enduring Freedom.” The results also revealed that, compared to nonembedded reporting, embedded print coverage of “Iraqi Freedom” was more favorable in overall tone toward the military and in depiction of individual troops, but this bias did not produce more positive overall coverage compared to recent conflicts.