Media (Non)Conformity to Executive Framing: The Conditions Under Which Media Transmit the President's Framing of Foreign Policy Crises

52 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2009 Last revised: 30 Sep 2009

See all articles by Amber E. Boydstun

Amber E. Boydstun

University of California, Davis

Rebecca A. Glazier

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Date Written: August 23, 2009

Abstract

Presidents have strong incentives to control how foreign policy issues are framed by the media and understood by the public. Yet the White House has little control over whether media pick up the President’s frame. In this paper, we examine the conditions under which the media adhere (and do not adhere) to executive framing of foreign policy crises in the case of the war on terror. We argue that the propensity for media outlets to broadcast the President’s portrayal of a crisis issue varies as a function of four key variables: 1) the type of frame the President uses, 2) real-world cues, 3) public opinion, and 4) time.

We test our hypotheses using data collected by content analyzing presidential papers, New York Times articles, and Wall Street Journal abstracts pertinent to the war (2001-2006) and then use time series and duration analyses to model media framing.

One thing we find is that, as time moves on, dominant media frames become increasingly susceptible to overhaul. Unless the President reframes the issue, the media will find new ways of framing it — often at the President’s expense. We believe these dynamics have important implications for the making, and selling, of foreign policy.

Suggested Citation

Boydstun, Amber E. and Glazier, Rebecca A., Media (Non)Conformity to Executive Framing: The Conditions Under Which Media Transmit the President's Framing of Foreign Policy Crises (August 23, 2009). APSA 2009 Toronto Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1451384

Amber E. Boydstun (Contact Author)

University of California, Davis ( email )

One Shields Avenue
Apt 153
Davis, CA 95616
United States

Rebecca A. Glazier

University of Arkansas at Little Rock ( email )

Little Rock, AR 72201
United States

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