HOW COLIN POWELL'S UN SPEECH ON IRAQ SET THE NEWS AGENDA FOR AMERICAN AND ...

163 Pages·2013·1.89 MB·English

by  Chris Shlemon

ABSTRACT

Title of thesis: FRAMED:
HOW COLIN POWELL’S U.N.
SPEECH ON IRAQ SET THE NEWS
AGENDA FOR AMERICAN AND BRITISH
TELEVISON NEWS

Christopher Shlemon
Master of Arts
Spring, 2013

Directed by: Dr. Christopher Hanson
Associate Professor
Phillip Merrill College Of Journalism
University Of Maryland

Numerous scholars and press critics have asserted that American news coverage of
the run-up to the Iraq war was less skeptical than British coverage. This thesis
explores the validity of that claim in the television news coverage of one key event:
Colin Powell’s February 5, 2003 address to the United Nations in which he made the
case for war. How effective was the Bush administration in using Powell’s
presentation to set the news agenda in America and Great Britain? Contrary to
expectations, a qualitative content analysis found British network ITV framed the
event in much the same way as did American networks ABC, CBS, and NBC.
FRAMED:

HOW COLIN POWELL’S U.N. SPEECH ON IRAQ
SET THE NEWS AGENDA FOR
AMERICAN AND BRITISH
TELEVISON NEWS

by
Christopher Shlemon

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the
University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
2013

Advisory Committee:
Dr. Christopher Hanson, Chair
Dr. Kalyani Chadha
Dr. Mark Feldstein
© Copyright by
Christopher Shlemon
2013
Preface
I joined Independent Television News of London (ITN) as a member of its
Washington Bureau staff on January 28, 1986...the same day Space Shuttle
Challenger exploded over Florida after liftoff. That unforgettable event set the tone
for what has been a fascinating journalistic journey. For over a quarter of a century
I've had the privilege of covering a great many of the major political events, breaking
news stories, natural disasters and cultural trends which have affected not only the
United States--but the entire world.
I found myself working for Independent Television News of London (ITN) having
already gained valuable experience editing and producing news stories for local
television stations in Tampa, Phoenix and Dallas before joining NBC News in
Washington, D.C. The opportunity to work for television news organizations on both
sides of “the pond” has afforded me a rare vantage point from which I have been able
to closely observe the unique approach taken by journalists in each nation as they
crafted their stories and produced their nightly newscasts.
In culture and values, Britain is comparable in many ways to the United States but in
just as many ways it could hardly be more different. In interviews I conducted for this
thesis, several of my British colleagues expressed their perception of a gulf between
Americans and Britons that applies to the journalists in both countries. The
Americans tend to be optimistic and believe in the ideals of the Republic while their
British counterparts are more jaded and skeptical. British reporters are less inclined
to report in a patriotic mode than American journalists.
The British were America’s staunchest ally when the invasion of Iraq was launched in
2003. I work with many of the journalists who were assigned to cover that conflict.
Some were embedded with U.S. and British military units. Some reported from
Washington, London, Baghdad and other capitals of the nations involved.
ii
Some were not assigned to specific military units and roamed unilaterally throughout
the war zone. One, ITN’s John Irvine, was stationed in Iraq's capital and became the
first television correspondent to greet U.S. troops as they rolled into Baghdad for the
first time.
As I listened to accounts of their experiences on the front lines, I was always
fascinated by the differences in which my colleagues from Great Britain viewed the
war in comparison to my American colleagues. It intrigued me that while these
colleagues were all covering the same conflict, it seemed at times as though they
were reporting about an entirely different war.
My purpose in writing this thesis was to investigate whether British and American
reporting were as different as my first impressions suggested and if so, what was the
best explanation for those differences.

iii
Acknowledgements

This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of
several individuals who in one way or another contributed their valuable assistance in
the preparation and completion of this study.
First and foremost, my utmost gratitude to Dr. Christopher Hanson, whose
knowledge, advice, guidance, encouragement and sense of humor enabled me to
complete this research work.
Secondly, to all the producers, editors and correspondents I have had the privilege
and honor of working with at ITN over the last quarter of a century. They remain the
best in the television news business.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface...........................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgements......................................................................................iv
Table of Contents..........................................................................................v
List of Tables................................................................................................vii
Chapter 1: The Key Moment of Public Salesmanship
On the Path to War....................................................................1
Television, the Most Influential Medium.................................................2
The Bush Administration Frames the News Agenda.............................5
The Purpose of This Study...................................................................10

Chapter 2: Literature Review.......................................................................11
The “Rally Round the Flag” Effect .......................................................12
The Relationship Between the Military and the Media.........................14
Television Goes to War........................................................................17
Literature Written on Iraq War Television Coverage..............................23
Literature Written on Colin Powell’s U.N. Presentation and WMD.......31
Literature Review Summary.................................................................34

Chapter 3: Hypothesis and Research Questions......................................36
Hypothesis...........................................................................................37
Research Questions............................................................................38
Research Methods...............................................................................38
Why These Networks Were Chosen For Study...................................40
Limitations of this Research.................................................................43
Future Research..................................................................................44

Chapter 4: Powell’s Presentation, The Key Moment of Public
Salesmanship for the War......................................................45
Evaluating the News Coverage............................................................48
The Bush Administration’s News Agenda............................................50
Identifying the Bush Administration’s Frames......................................51
v
The Origins of These Frames....................................................................53
#1: Colin Powell is highly trustworthy, thoroughly prepared,
effective and credible................................................................53
#2: Colin Powell will present/presented strong evidence that
Iraq had or was acquiring WMD................................................54
#3: Colin Powell will present/presented evidence of a link
between the Iraqi government and Al Qaeda............................55
.
Chapter 5: Findings
Analysis of the Network Transcripts.....................................................56
Evaluating News Coverage of the Frames...........................................59
Summary of Framing Analysis ............................................................71

Answers the Research Questions........................................................75
Avenues for Further Study...................................................................81
Script Approval..........................................................................81
Deference to Authority...............................................................83

Conclusion...........................................................................................85

Appendices....................................................................................................90
Interview Transcripts
Ted Koppel................................................................................90
Tom Brokaw..............................................................................95
Bill Neely....................................................................................98
Lindsey Hilsum........................................................................100
John Irvine................................................................................102
David Smith..............................................................................103
Matt Frei....................................................................................107

Sentences Used For Framing Analysis.........................................................108

United Nations News Center
Summary of Powell Presentation.....................................................145

Bibliography..................................................................................................147
vi
List of Tables

Table 1: Colin Powell is Highly Trustworthy, Thoroughly Prepared,
Effective and Credible.............................................................62

Table 2: Colin Powell will present/presented strong evidence that
Iraq had or was Acquiring WMDs............................................67

Table 3: Colin Powell will Present/Presented Evidence of a Link
Between the Iraqi Government and Al Qaeda.........................70

Table 4: Percentage Totals of all Sentence References
to All 3 Frames.........................................................................73

Table 5: Total Number of "Sentences" and Their
Assigned Frames.....................................................................74

vii
Chapter 1: The Key Moment of Public Salesmanship on the Path to War
It was the day the Bush administration played its ultimate trump card. An event tailor
made for television. The cameras captured Colin Powell’s every move as he entered
the United Nations Security Council chamber at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February
5th, 2003, and quickly worked the crowd. Powell was smiling, winking, shaking hands
and gently slapping the backs of the representatives of the world community
assembling to hear what had been skillfully promoted in advance by the Bush
administration as its “most compelling case for war made by arguably their most
credible spokesman.” 1 At the request of President George W. Bush, Powell arrived
at the Security Council equipped with secretly recorded audio tapes, satellite images
and a simulated vial of anthrax to argue that Iraq possessed and was concealing
weapons of mass destruction. This high stakes spectacle was intended to convince
skeptical allies and reluctant Arab regimes that disarming Saddam Hussein --- by
force if necessary --- was essential. Powell’s performance was to be the pivotal
moment in America’s run up to war with Iraq. “We've really got to make the case
against Hussein”, President George W. Bush told Powell in an Oval Office meeting in
late January, 2003, "and I want you to make it." Bush added, "Maybe they'll believe
you,” because only Powell had “the credibility to do this". 2
Vice President Cheney weighed in as well. After a discussion of the upcoming U.N.
address Cheney is said to have jocularly poked Powell in the chest saying, “You've
got high poll ratings, you can afford to lose a few points.” 3
"With war hanging in the balance, and the power and prestige of the United States on
full display, it was a moment of high drama that owed as much to the player as to the
play.” 4 Opinion polls taken at the time clearly demonstrated that in the eyes of many

1 Miller, Greg, “Flaws Cited in Powell’s U.N. Speech on Iraq”, Los Angeles Times, (July 15, 2004)
2 De Young, Karen, “Falling on His Sword”, Washington Post, (October 1, 2006)
3 De Young, Karen, “Falling on His Sword”
4 De Young, Karen, “Falling on His Sword”

1