WilkiLeaks: Will The Public Remember?
WikiLeaks: Will the Public Remember?
Steven Navarro, Chris Jenkins, Michele Kuzila, Robert Zaremba
Crystal Muthleb, Ryan Helms, and Michaelena Creamer
Eastern Michigan University
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology
April 13, 2011
Authors’ Note
This "media-ography" is submitted as part of a graduate research group project for Dr. Gregg Barak’s CRM 650: Crime, Media and Justice.
Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Data Analysis and Summary
Discussions
Conclusion
References
A Final Reflection on Doing this Group Project
Appendix A
Web-Based Internet Sites: The Washington Post, American Civil Liberties Union, LawFare
Appendix B
Liberal and Conservative Blogs
Appendix C
Cable Television: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC
Appendix D
News Magazines: Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report
Appendix E
Newspaper: Wall Street Journal
Appendix F
Newspapers: New York Times and New York Post
Appendix G
Newspapers: Chicago Tribune & LA Times
Tables and Figures
Table 1: Overall Data by Media Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Table 2: Old and New Media – Social Actors and Tones
Table 3: Old Media by Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Table 4: New Media by Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Figure 1: Old and New Media
Figure 2: Tone
Figure 3: Tone: New Media by Affiliation
Abstract
The WikLeaks saga is perhaps one of the more interesting subjects in present day studies of crime, media and justice. However, research on this topic and within this discipline is limited, if not non-existent. The purpose of this research was to examine the content of various forms of media with the ongoing WikiLeaks story. We seek to identify the type of social actor frames used to present the story to the public and explore the differences in content and frames between “old” or established media sources (newspapers, magazines, etc.) and “new” media sources (blogs, more recent television sources). As a secondary concern, we ask if this content is framed in a manner consistent enough to result in the creation of a moral panic according to Cohen’s 1972 model. A quasi-content analysis of 360 media sources reveals that 77.2% did not represent WikiLeaks as a folk devil, although nearly half of the content examined depicted WikiLeaks and/or Julian Assange in a negative manner. As such, an assumption is made that a moral panic is not present, nor was there a media-wide attempt at the creation of one.
Introduction
In the study of the intersection of crime & media studies, there is perhaps a no more fascinating subject than that of the ongoing WikiLeaks saga. WikiLeaks, a non-profit online publisher of leaked documents from anonymous whistleblowers, has found itself in the center of a highly divisive international debate about transparency in business and government versus corporate and government’s right to keep secrets. The controversy stems primarily from two highly controversial raw document caches published on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. One, a string of military intelligence reports from US troops in Afghanistan dubbed the “Afghan War Diary”, and the other, a series of highly sensitive diplomatic cables from various government embassies around the world. Fundamentally, WikiLeaks serves as an innovative, secure, and anonymous process for sources to leak information to the public. Its founder, Julian Assange, has said that WikiLeaks "creates a better society for all people ... [producing] reduced corruption and stronger democracies in all society’s institutions, including government, corporations and other organizations.” (WikiLeaks, 2011) The affected governments have predictably taken the opposite position, saying that the leaked documents have harmed international relations and compromised undercover agents. It is notable that Assange, shortly after the dust-up of the leaked cables, found himself facing charges of sexual assault and possible extradition from the U.K. to Switzerland to stand trial.
Currently, WikiLeaks is among the most preeminent issue in media studies. Its continued existence or eventual demise has the potential to change the landscape of media and internet publishing, the use of confidential sources, and the treatment of whistleblowers (and their facilitators) internationally. As a social issue, the case of WikiLeaks is complex with issues of moral ambiguity and individual perception of events, and is subject to ideological and political leanings. Therefore, a content analysis of WikiLeaks’ media coverage during this time of large-scale interest and coverage may reveal some of the reporting tendencies of media sources in regard to framing and tone, as well as ideological underpinnings. By examining the content of various forms of media with the ongoing WikiLeaks story, we seek to identify the type of frames used to present the story to the public. As a secondary concern, we ask if this content is framed in a manner consistent enough to result in the creation of a moral panic.
In analyzing the coverage of WikiLeaks, we wanted to explore the differences in content and frames between “old” or established media sources (newspapers, magazines, etc.) and “new” media sources (blogs, more recent television sources). As an expansion of the established media apparatus, new media sources are gaining credibility and viewership. By 2014, it is estimated that 150 million Americans, 60% of the U.S. internet population, will read blogs on a monthly basis (eMarketer, 2010). How these new media sources differ in their framing and coverage of the WikiLeaks story is of particular concern for this paper.
Central to our research question is the concept of news framing introduced by Tuchman (1978) to allude to media sources and the production of news stories. “Framing refers to the way an issue is presented to the public. Framing involves calling attention to certain aspects of an issue while ignoring or obscuring other elements” (Bonn, 2010: 23). Colloquially known as spin, framing can have a demonstrable effect on the contextual understanding of the exact same event, depending on which frames are placed within the story. In the case of Julian Assange, his sexual assault proceedings can be presented either as the man who leaked government secrets also turning out to be a sick, sexual deviant, or as the whistleblower transformed into a political target, resulting in trumped up charges at the behest of irate international leaders. The tone of the stories is of particular importance as well. Tone refers to the ideological leaning of a story’s coverage: in other words if the frame or presentation of the story is pro-WikiLeaks, anti-WikiLeaks, or is simply neutral. We are specifically concerned with identifying, counting, and analyzing the different frames of these stories to compare them between media sources for frequency and overall trend.
The media has the ability to shape public discourse through their coverage of particular news stories. Bonn (2010) argued that media outlets are core mechanisms in setting the agenda for public discourse. Specifically, they are able to transfer the salience of an issue from the press to the public based upon their coverage, or lack of coverage. Furthermore, Bonn wrote of a second level of agenda setting. This level refers to the influence of news media’s coverage of actors or issues and the public’s perception of these issues or individuals. It is these concepts that make the argument for the importance of a news content analysis, and the framing of that coverage. Singular news framing can shape or sway public opinion, and to a large degree create ideological consensus.
Framing can furthermore play a major role in the creation of what Cohen (1972) calls a moral panic. Moral panic can be defined as a "condition or situation in which public fears and state interventions greatly exceed the objective threat posed to society by a particular group that is claimed to be responsible for the condition” (Bonn, 2010, 5). In sum, an individual or group becomes socially defined as being responsible for creating a threat to society. This scapegoating is also known as manifesting a “folk devil” and is integral in the creation of moral panic. A folk devil is “stripped of all favorable characteristics and imparted with exclusively negative ones” (Goode & Ben-Yehuda, 1994, 28). The threat posed by the folk devil is greatly exaggerated or distorted by other actors, including the news media, to serve as the object of public scorn for the moral panic. Because moral panics cannot exist without a folk devil, it is, it is imperative that the WikiLeaks organization and/or Julian Assange be subjected to that role. This study will include an examination of news stories that vilify the WikiLeaks founder or the organization itself. Because of the powerful forces involved in the WikiLeaks saga, this research fits best into the context of the elite-engineered model of moral panic. An elite-engineered moral panic occurs when an elite group deliberately undertakes a campaign to generate and sustain concern or fear on the part of the public over an issue that is not as intensely threatening as it is presented (Bonn, 2010). Given that the goals of WikiLeaks are largely antithetical to those in power, and that its continued existence is a threat to secretive states, we feel it is worthwhile to explore this moral panic model. Through our analysis of the Wikileaks coverage, we aim to discover whether the framing of these stories is such that it is aimed at, or apt to, create moral panic amongst the public.
As an aside, there is a branch to the WikiLeaks story in the fate of Private First Class Bradley Manning, allegedly the leaker of the Afghan War Diary documents. In selecting articles for this analysis we chose not to include stories or articles primarily concerned with Manning. Since they most often did not concern WikiLeaks as an entity, we found them largely irrelevant to this study.
Methods
A content analysis was conducted to provide an overview of the media coverage of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. From November 2010 to February 2011, three hundred sixty articles/editorials, blogs, newsletters, and news videos were collected and analyzed from various media outlets. These media outlets included: New York Times, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Newsweek, US News and World Report, Washington Post, Liberal Blogs, Conservative Blogs, MSNBC, FOX, CNN, ACLU Online, and Lawfare Blog. The media collected was then separated into five categories based on the dominant social actor portrayed. The five social actors used were first identified by Cohen (1972) as:
1) Folk devils: those individuals who are socially defined or alleged to be responsible for creating a threat to society.
2) Rule or law enforcers: the police, the prosecutors and the military
3) The media: news media coverage, specifically those which exaggerate the threat of folk devils/ attempt to create a moral panic
4) Politicians: those who operate within the public sphere and act as the protectors of moral high ground
5) The public: public agitation, concern, and outrage over the actions of folk devils
(Bonn, 2010)
When multiple social actors were present, the most dominant actor was used for categorization. In addition to categorizing media by the dominant social actor, the media was also classified as having a Positive, Negative, or Neutral tone. Positive toned media took a pro-WikiLeaks and/or pro-Assange stance; negative, an anti-WikiLeaks and/or anti-Assange stance; and neutral, an informational, unbiased position.
Data Analysis and Summary
As previously discussed, the data was collected by applying a quasi-content analysis coding procedure. Overall, 16 media channels were examined for articles/editorials, blogs, newsletters, and news video with a relationship to WikiLeaks and/or Julian Assange. The data sources (N=360) represent a broad range of web-based media providers, such as newspapers, magazines, blogs, and cable news. Even though the majority of the media channels are American based; it is appropriate to consider the world-wide range and popularity of these outlets since the source material is web-based. The newspaper and cable news organizations were considered for their readership volume and geographic location, such that spatial influences could be reflected upon as well. Liberal and conservative cable news outlets and blogs were identified and analyzed as well. Additionally, the sources were categorized as old media (N=198) and new media (N=162) to determine if one form of media appeared more influential in promoting a moral panic and/or designating WikiLeaks/Julian Assange as a folk devil.
Tables 1 – 4 provide an overall interpretation of the collected data (respectively – overall group; new and old media; old media only; and new media only). The overall data reveals the media depicting WikiLeaks/Assange as a folk devil in 32.8% of the sources as well as framing him negatively in 48.3% of the sources. An assumption can be made that these two variables are related. Sources with neutral or positive tones do not present the information in such a way that would result in the folk devil label which characterizes the folk devil label as a dependent variable contingent on the use of frames. Only 14.2% of this body of media had ‘politician’ as a dominant social actor which diminishes the relevance of the ‘elite-engineered” model of moral panic to WikiLeaks.
The data analysis for old and new media provided interesting statistical trends (Table 2). Old media provided 55% of the data, in which 37.8% of the data sources categorized WikiLeaks/Julian Assange as a folk devil. Conversely, 26.5% of new media placed WikiLeaks/Julian Assange in the folk devil category. The most prevalent category for new media
Table 1: Overall Data by Media Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Media Outlet | Social Actor | Tone | ||||||||||||||||||
| Folk Devil | Politician | Rule/Law Enforcer | Media | Public | Totals | Positive | Negative | Neutral | Total | ||||||||||
Old Media | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) | (N) | (%) |
NY Times | 11 | 14.7% | 8 | 26.7% | 2 | 8.3% | 4 | 7.4% | 2 | 13.3% | 27 | 13.6% | 1 | 5.6% | 24 | 22.6% | 2 | 2.7% | 27 | 13.6% |
NY Post | 29 | 38.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 30 | 15.2% | 1 | 5.6% | 29 | 27.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 30 | 15.2% |
LA Times | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 6.7% | 2 | 8.3% | 8 | 14.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 12 | 6.1% | 3 | 16.7% | 3 | 2.8% | 6 | 8.1% | 12 | 6.1% |
Chicago Tribune | 3 | 4.0% | 3 | 10.0% | 2 | 8.3% | 8 | 14.8% | 2 | 13.3% | 18 | 9.1% | 2 | 11.1% | 8 | 7.5% | 8 | 10.8% | 18 | 9.1% |
Wall Street Journal | 18 | 24.0% | 7 | 23.3% | 6 | 25.0% | 15 | 27.8% | 2 | 13.3% | 48 | 24.2% | 1 | 5.6% | 16 | 15.1% | 31 | 41.9% | 48 | 24.2% |
Time | 2 | 2.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 8.3% | 2 | 3.7% | 1 | 6.7% | 7 | 3.5% | 2 | 11.1% | 1 | 0.9% | 4 | 5.4% | 7 | 3.5% |
Newsweek | 3 | 4.0% | 2 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 9 | 16.7% | 4 | 26.7% | 18 | 9.1% | 5 | 27.8% | 5 | 4.7% | 8 | 10.8% | 18 | 9.1% |
US News and World Report | 6 | 8.0% | 5 | 16.7% | 3 | 12.5% | 8 | 14.8% | 3 | 20.0% | 25 | 12.6% | 2 | 11.1% | 14 | 13.2% | 9 | 12.2% | 25 | 12.6% |
The Washington Post | 3 | 4.0% | 3 | 10.0% | 7 | 29.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 13 | 6.6% | 1 | 5.6% | 6 | 5.7% | 6 | 8.1% | 13 | 6.6% |
Total | 75 | 37.9% | 30 | 15.2% | 24 | 12.1% | 54 | 27.3% | 15 | 7.6% | 198 | 100.0% | 18 | 9.1% | 106 | 53.5% | 74 | 37.4% | 198 | 100.0% |
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New Media | Folk Devil | Politician | Rule/Law Enforcer | Media | Public | Totals | Positive | Negative | Neutral | Total | ||||||||||
Liberal Blogs | 1 | 2.3% | 11 | 52.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 10 | 15.6% | 17 | 63.0% | 39 | 24.1% | 16 | 37.2% | 10 | 14.7% | 13 | 25.5% | 39 | 24.1% |
Conservative Blogs | 18 | 41.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 3.1% | 6 | 22.2% | 26 | 16.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 23 | 33.8% | 3 | 5.9% | 26 | 16.0% |
MSNBC | 3 | 7.0% | 5 | 23.8% | 1 | 14.3% | 20 | 31.3% | 1 | 3.7% | 30 | 18.5% | 15 | 34.9% | 6 | 8.8% | 9 | 17.6% | 30 | 18.5% |
FOX | 15 | 34.9% | 1 | 4.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 14 | 21.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 30 | 18.5% | 1 | 2.3% | 20 | 29.4% | 9 | 17.6% | 30 | 18.5% |
CNN | 6 | 14.0% | 3 | 14.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 18 | 28.1% | 3 | 11.1% | 30 | 18.5% | 4 | 9.3% | 9 | 13.2% | 17 | 33.3% | 30 | 18.5% |
ACLU Website | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 42.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 1.9% | 3 | 7.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 1.9% |
Lawfare Blog | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 4.8% | 3 | 42.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 2.5% | 4 | 9.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 2.5% |
Total | 43 | 26.5% | 21 | 13.0% | 7 | 4.3% | 64 | 39.5% | 27 | 16.7% | 162 | 100.0% | 43 | 26.5% | 68 | 42.0% | 51 | 31.5% | 162 | 100.0% |
Old & New Media Total | 118 | 32.8% | 51 | 14.2% | 31 | 8.6% | 118 | 32.8% | 42 | 11.7% | 360 | 100.0% | 61 | 16.9% | 174 | 48.3% | 125 | 34.7% | 360 | 100.0% |
Table 2: Old and New Media – Social Actors and Tones
Media Outlet | Social Actor | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Folk Devil | Politician | Rule/Law Enforcer | Media | Public | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Old & New Media Totals | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | ||||||||||||
Old Media | 75 | 63.6% | 30 | 58.8% | 24 | 77.4% | 54 | 27.3% | 15 | 35.7% | 198 | 55.0% | ||||||||||||
New Media | 43 | 36.4% | 21 | 41.2% | 7 | 22.6% | 64 | 39.5% | 27 | 64.3% | 162 | 45.0% | ||||||||||||
Total | 118 | 32.8% | 51 | 14.2% | 31 | 8.6% | 118 | 33.4% | 42 | 11.7% | 360 | 100.0% | ||||||||||||
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| Positive | Negative | Neutral | Total |
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Old & New Media Totals | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) | M (N) | M2 (%) |
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Old Media | 18 | 29.5% | 106 | 60.9% | 74 | 59.2% | 198 | 55.0% |
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New Media | 43 | 70.5% | 68 | 39.1% | 51 | 40.8% | 162 | 45.0% |
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Total | 61 | 16.9% | 174 | 48.3% | 125 | 34.7% | 360 | 100.0% |
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M = Media type |
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M2 (%) = M (N) / Total (unweighted) |
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M2 (%) Total = M (N) Total / 360 |
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Table 3: Old Media by Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Media Outlet | Social Actor | ||||||||||||||
| Folk Devil | Politician | Rule/Law Enforcer | Media | Public | Total | |||||||||
Old Media | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S2 (%) | |||
NY Times | 11 | 40.7% | 8 | 29.6% | 2 | 7.4% | 4 | 14.8% | 2 | 7.4% | 27 | 13.6% | |||
NY Post | 29 | 96.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 3.3% | 30 | 15.2% | |||
LA Times | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 16.7% | 2 | 16.7% | 8 | 66.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 12 | 6.1% | |||
Chicago Tribune | 3 | 16.7% | 3 | 16.7% | 2 | 11.1% | 8 | 44.4% | 2 | 11.1% | 18 | 9.1% | |||
Wall Street Journal | 18 | 37.5% | 7 | 14.6% | 6 | 12.5% | 15 | 31.3% | 2 | 4.2% | 48 | 24.2% | |||
Time | 2 | 28.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 28.6% | 2 | 28.6% | 1 | 14.3% | 7 | 3.5% | |||
Newsweek | 3 | 16.7% | 2 | 11.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 9 | 50.0% | 4 | 22.2% | 18 | 9.1% | |||
US News and World Report | 6 | 24.0% | 5 | 20.0% | 3 | 12.0% | 8 | 32.0% | 3 | 12.0% | 25 | 12.6% | |||
The Washington Post | 3 | 23.1% | 3 | 23.1% | 7 | 53.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 13 | 6.6% | |||
Total | 75 | 37.9% | 30 | 15.2% | 24 | 12.1% | 54 | 27.3% | 15 | 7.6% | 198 | 100.0% | |||
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Media Source | Tone |
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| Positive | Negative | Neutral | Total |
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Old Media | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 %) | S (N) | S2 (%) |
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NY Times | 1 | 3.7% | 24 | 88.9% | 2 | 7.4% | 27 | 13.6% |
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NY Post | 1 | 3.3% | 29 | 96.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 30 | 15.2% |
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LA Times | 3 | 25.0% | 3 | 25.0% | 6 | 50.0% | 12 | 6.1% |
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Chicago Tribune | 2 | 11.1% | 8 | 44.4% | 8 | 44.4% | 18 | 9.1% |
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Wall Street Journal | 1 | 2.1% | 16 | 33.3% | 31 | 64.6% | 48 | 24.2% | S = Source, Article, or Blog S1 (%) = S (N) / S (N) Total (for individual media source) S2 (%) = S (N) Total (by individual media source) / 198 |
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Time | 2 | 28.6% | 1 | 14.3% | 4 | 57.1% | 7 | 3.5% |
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Newsweek | 5 | 27.8% | 5 | 27.8% | 8 | 44.4% | 18 | 9.1% |
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US News and World Report | 2 | 8.0% | 14 | 56.0% | 9 | 36.0% | 25 | 12.6% |
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The Washington Post | 1 | 7.7% | 6 | 46.2% | 6 | 46.2% | 13 | 6.6% |
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Total | 18 | 9.1% | 106 | 53.5% | 74 | 37.4% | 198 | 100.0% |
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Table 4: New Media by Outlet, Social Actor and Tone
Media Outlet | Social Actor | |||||||||||||
| Folk Devil | Politician | Rule/Law Enforcer | Media | Public | Total | ||||||||
New Media | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | (N) | S2 (%) | ||
Liberal Blogs | 1 | 2.6% | 11 | 28.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 10 | 25.6% | 17 | 43.6% | 39 | 24.1% | ||
Conservative Blogs | 18 | 69.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 7.7% | 6 | 23.1% | 26 | 16.0% | ||
MSNBC | 3 | 10.0% | 5 | 16.7% | 1 | 3.3% | 20 | 66.7% | 1 | 3.3% | 30 | 18.5% | ||
FOX | 15 | 50.0% | 1 | 3.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 14 | 46.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 30 | 18.5% | ||
CNN | 6 | 20.0% | 3 | 10.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 18 | 60.0% | 3 | 10.0% | 30 | 18.5% | ||
ACLU Website | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 1.9% | ||
Lawfare Blog | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 25.0% | 3 | 75.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 2.5% | ||
Total | 43 | 26.5% | 21 | 13.0% | 7 | 4.3% | 64 | 39.5% | 27 | 16.7% | 162 | 100.0% | ||
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| Positive | Negative | Neutral | Total |
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New Media | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S1 (%) | S (N) | S2 (%) |
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Liberal Blogs | 16 | 41.0% | 10 | 25.6% | 13 | 33.3% | 39 | 24.1% |
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Conservative Blogs | 0 | 0.0% | 23 | 88.5% | 3 | 11.5% | 26 | 16.0% |
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MSNBC | 15 | 50.0% | 6 | 20.0% | 9 | 30.0% | 30 | 18.5% |
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FOX | 1 | 3.3% | 20 | 66.7% | 9 | 30.0% | 30 | 18.5% |
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CNN | 4 | 13.3% | 9 | 30.0% | 17 | 56.7% | 30 | 18.5% |
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ACLU Website | 3 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 1.9% |
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Lawfare Blog | 4 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 2.5% |
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Total | 43 | 26.5% | 68 | 42.0% | 51 | 31.5% | 162 | 100.0% |
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S = Source, Article, or Blog |
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S1 (%) = (N) / S (N) Total for individual media source |
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S2 (%) = S (N)Ttotal (by individual media source) / N=162 |
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was the media category at just less than 40%. The cable news organizations dominated the media category with 57.8% of the source data within this category.
Interestingly, when old and new media were combined, the folk devil category and media category were balanced at 118 sources each (Figure 1), or 32.8%. Several assumptions can be made about this observation. With the concepts of agenda setting in mind, it could be argued that the reason the folk devil category and the media category are equalized is because the media played a significant role in framing and constructing the social reality of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange as a folk devil. Perhaps this argument could be further supported by exploring public opinion polls on WikiLeaks and Assange. Furthermore, WikiLeaks might be seen as an effort by older media outlets to preserve their own survival against the perceived threat posed by the new media.
This leads into the analysis of the tone expressed by the various media sources and social actors towards WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. Overall, nearly half of the 360 data sources examined relayed a negative tone towards WikiLeaks and/or Assange (Figure 2). Seventeen percent had a positive tone and the remainder was neutral. Not surprisingly, the tone of the new media outlets reflected their conservative or liberal affiliation (Figure 3). Specifically, the liberal sources reflected a pro-WikiLeaks and/or Assange framing through the application of First and Fourth Amendment rights, what counts as journalism, and/ or how we recognize the costs and benefits of the end of more customary models of journalistic self-regulation in the age of the networked public sphere. The conservative sources generally portrayed WikiLeaks with negative frames associated with terrorism, anti-Americanism, and threatening to national security. These frames, often support the position of the government applying laws and legislative measures, such as the Espionage Act of 1917, that criminalize the WikiLeaks organization and Julian Assange. Similarly, Assange has been depicted as a treasonous, hubristic or an arrogant individual. The difference in the specific negative frames between liberal and conservative sources is consistent with the differences in the depiction of WikiLeaks as a folk devil.
Figures 1 through 3 are available upon request to greggbarak@yahoo.com
Figure 1: Old and New Media
Figure 2: Tones
Figure 3: Tone: New Media by Affiliation
Liberal = Liberal Blogs, MSNBC, ACLU Online & Lawfare Blog; N=76
Conservative = Conservative blogs & Fox News; N=56
Neither = CNN; N=30
Discussions
The goals of the content analysis were to determine:
· If this body had depicted WikiLeaks as a folk devil,
· If the framing was consistent enough to result in the creation of a moral panic,
· To identify the kinds of frames and tones used to present the WikiLeaks story to the public
In view of the fact that a majority of the media content, 77.2%, did not represent WikiLeaks as a folk devil, it would be safe to assume that a moral panic is not present, nor was there a media-wide attempt at the creation of one. On the other hand, a few media outlets stood out in their almost completely negative depiction of WikiLeaks. Further analysis could be done in the future to study these outlets as well as other political motivations in the media.
This declaration only represents the limited information used in this research, and is dependent on the hypotheses and assumptions that have been made. A more complete understanding of the media requires more information and better methods of research. As a result of the limitations of our study, we emphasize the following improvements and critiques that could improve the validity of our study as well as future research:
1) Developing consistent data sampling methods
§ Is it representative of all media?
§ Right vs. Left discrepancies?
§ What media have we left out?
2) Examining the media sources’ influence over public opinion
§ For example: how many people read a certain article or watched a specific television program? If the public doesn’t watch it, they are not influenced; therefore, definitional dictated, moral panic is impossible. On the other hand, if the volume of viewers a program receives greatly exceeds other similar programs, the influence it has on the general public would be substantially heightened.
3) Comparing the coverage of WikiLeaks to other issues and topics
§ Our study may be composed of 360 different media sources, but how does that compare to other topics of interest? The influence a topic has on the public positively correlates with the amount of coverage it receives, otherwise, the theoretical foundations that a moral panic is built on crumble.
4) Identifying the dominate social actor
§ Who is depicting WikiLeaks as a social actor?
§ Where are the media sources getting their information?
§ Each article has potential to represent an aspect of every social actor. For example, MSNBC (Media) cites Joe Biden (Vice President - Politician) who claims WikiLeaks is a threat to the safety of our country (Folk Devil). As a result, Biden states that they are weighing the prospects criminal action. This is followed up with an interview of a prosecutor (Law Enforcer) who is questioned on the validity of criminalizing WikiLeaks for leaking the cables while a million people (public) watched the program. All of the social actors are present in this illustration, and they all need to be taken into account.
5) Lacking consistency with specific frames
§ Specific frames range from rapist to sexual deviant and treason to criminal. Inconsistency has required us to leave these specific frames out of the statistical analysis.
§ Setting these frames before an analysis is conducted is a key to success, just as Bonn examined how often Bush used certain phrases in Mass Deception Moral Panic and the U.S. War on Iraq (2010).
6) Analyzing content differently
§ Six people analyzed the various media sources’ content (See Appendix). Inter-rater reliability was not verified and would have been complicated by the number researchers interpreting the content. Thus, developing a specific data coding instrument and utilizing fewer content analysts would add reliability to the empirical data.
Conclusion
Due to the power and collaboration that politicians and the media share, a truthful discussion about the content of WikiLeaks’ war logs and cables is restricted as this topic has been subjected to constant reframing. The WikiLeaks debate spawned into many interconnected but separate issues. Was there collusion between the elite to portray WikiLeaks as an inherent evil, a cause to a future disaster, or more? Could it have been systematic or structural forces that led different media outlets to take such contradicting positions, or could the media actually just be voicing their legitimate opinions? These questions, that could be seen to arise from the content analysis, validate the further study and investigation of WikiLeaks and the media, and give valuable direction as to where further research could lead.
As for the strengths presented in this research, the inconclusive results, at least, give us a fairly good idea of the media and their stance towards WikiLeaks. A moral panic includes more than the just media, but it specifically takes into account the public’s levels of concern and fear. The combination of the concept of framing and the institution of the media assessed in this study are one step toward a full illustration of the WikiLeaks narrative. There is guidance for future research of the media that can be derived from the different trends available in this study that promote the expansion of media studies, the understanding of frames, and the extent of the relationships between the media and other social actors.
Since the Afghanistan War Diary was first started in 2007, WikiLeaks may not have “cracked the world open,” (WikiLeaks, 2011) in the way the organization had wished, but it has had an immense impact on the global community and the inter-related study of criminology and the media. In a time and place where investigative journalism has almost vanished WikiLeaks has reenergized the trend. WikiLeaks has brought into question if the press is free and open. What’s needed is much more vigorous conversation of how the Internet can become a truly free public space and a global village where everybody can articulate their ideas and opinions. To be more clear-cut, we must transition to an Internet whose core design is really free of government or corporate power, as decentralized and uncontainable as life itself (Sifry, 2011).
References
Bonn, S. A. (2010). Mass Deception: Moral Panic and the U.S. War on Iraq. Rutgers
University Press: New Jersey.
Cohen, S. (1972). Folk devils and moral panics: The creation of the mods and rockers.
MacGibbon & Kee: London.
Goode, E., & Ben-Yehuda, N. (1994).Moral panics: the social construction of deviance.
Blackwell: Cambridge, MA.
Philips, L. E. (2009). US Internet Users.eMarketer. Retrieved April 10, 2011 from
http://www.emarketer.com/Reports/All/Emarketer_2000561.aspx
Sifry, M. L. (2011). In the Age of WikiLeaks, the End of Secrecy?.The Nation. Retrieved April
10, 2011 from http://www.thenation.com/article/158988/age-wikileaks-end-secrecy?
Tuchman, G. (1978). Making news: A study in the social construction of reality. Free Press: New
York.
WikiLeaks. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.wikileaks.ch/About.html
A Final Reflection on Doing this Group Project
As globalization pushes us towards a more integrated criminology, this project provided us the opportunity to incorporate the different backgrounds and experiences of all the group members. While all of us are students of criminology, we bring different specialties to the table including, but not limited to: sociology, psychology, political science, economics, history, and both theoretical criminological and practical applications. Working on this project allowed us to gain knowledge and perspective of areas we otherwise would not have incorporated into our individual work. It is this importance of interaction and collaboration that fuels globalization and integrated criminology alike.
Appendix A
Web-Based Internet Sites: The Washington Post, American Civil Liberties Union, LawFare
Overview
During the latter months of year 2010 and continuing into present day, the WikiLeaks
organization, Julian Assange and Private First Class Bradley Manning have spawned extensive
media coverage. This summary provides an overview of three web-based media and/or legal
internet sites: 1) The Washington Post, 2) The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and 3)
Lawfare. A content analysis was performed on the articles, news releases, editorials, opinion-
editorials and/or blogs associated with these websites.
The summation format includes the title, author, date published, website address, date accessed, media section or type, tone assessment of the narrative, the frame or type of social actor, and a brief summary. In particular, Stanley Cohen’s Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972) identified five social actors involved in a moral panic; those being – folk devils, rule or law enforcers, media, politicians and the public. Although several of the articles could be classified into more than one frame, the dominant frame was the only one considered in this analysis. Finally, the dominant tone assessment was considered as well. Logically, many articles which were found to be anti-Assange/WikiLeaks, inherently were pro-American law or government. Similarly, if the tone was a dominant government, then anti-Assange/WikiLeaks was being implied.
The Washington Post
1. Prosecute Wikileaks, then reform our espionage laws
By Jeffery H. Smith
November 30, 2010
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112904326.html
Date Accessed: 2/9/2011
Media Section: Opinion-Editorial
Tone: Anti-Assange/WikiLeaks
Frame: Folk Devil (Assange/WikiLeaks)
Summary:
Assange’s release of sensitive United States diplomatic cables violates the law and Assange
should be punished. Assange’s actions were reckless, callous, irrational and harmful to American
lives. Furthermore, the current Espionage Law should be modernized to mirror the technology
advancements of today’s society.
2. WikiLeaks off-limits to federal workers without clearance, memo says
By Ed O’Keefe
December 5, 2010
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/05/AR2010120504266.html
Date Accessed: February 9, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Dominant government/Anti-WikiLeaks
Frame: Politician
Summary:
Federal workers and contractors were cautioned by the Obama administration officials to “steer
clear of WikiLeaks.” Officials warned, “Classified information, whether or not already posted on
public Web sites or disclosed to the media, remains classified, and must be treated as such by
federal employees and contractors, until it is declassified by an appropriate U.S. government
authority.” Employees with access to classified information networks have been restricted in the
use of removable media such as flash drives and CD’s.
3. Don’t charge WikiLeaks
December 11, 2010
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121102564.html
Date Accessed: 3/1/2011
Media Section: Editorial
Tone: Pro-WikiLeaks; Anti-PFC Bradley Manning
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
Julian Assange may have released national security documents irresponsibly, but he is not a spy
and he is not legally bound to keep secrets. Therefore, he should not be indicted. Before
prosecuting Assange and WikiLeaks, the Espionage law should either be scrapped or reformed.
In terms of charges against PFC Bradley Manning, the administration has properly charged him
since he had sworn to protect secrets.
4. Arming a dictator
By Michael Gerson
January 7, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010606057.html?nav=emailpage
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media Section: Opinion-Editorial
Tone: Anti-Assange
Frame: Folk Devil (Assange/WikiLeaks)
Summary:
WikiLeaks cables exposed the name of a Zimbabwe ruling party member, Tsvangirai, as
supporting imposed economic sanctions to pressure against Robert Mugabe, the country’s leader.
Mugabe’s party is now hunting down traitors and considering charges against Tsvangirai for
collusion with local Zimbabweans and the United States. Gerson writes, “Assange has chosen
the side of Mugabe, apparently without regret. He has provided ammunition to a tyrant as surely
as if he were an arms dealer.”
5. WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange: ‘Anarchist,’ ‘agitator,’ ‘arrogant’ and a journalist
By Adam L. Penenberg
January 28, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012803042.html
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media Section: Opinion-Editorial
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
Even though Assange has been referred to as an anarchist, agitator, arrogant and anti-American,
Assange claims the work he is doing is journalism. For instance, the WikiLeaks webpage uses
words such as journalism, journalist, not-for-profit media organization on their “About” page. In
the past, American shield laws have protected journalists and journalism which has no clear
definition. The questions become how can prosecutors go after WikiLeaks while sparing the
New York Times, as well as the Guardian in Britain, Germany's Der Spiegel, Le Monde in
France and El Pais in Spain, all of which published articles based on the cache of State
Department cables that WikiLeaks provided? What constitutes “legitimate newsgathering
activities? How do you differentiate between what WikiLeaks does and what the New York
Times does?
6. Julian Assange’s battles threaten to overshadow WikiLeaks work
By Anthony Faiola
February 6, 2011
Date Accessed: February 9, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Anti-Assange
Frame: Folk Devil (Assange)
Summary:
This article dichotomizes Assange’s sexual assault legal matter and the WikiLeaks organization.
Faiola reports that Assange’s combative and increasingly stormy relationship with the media
over his personal legal matters and Daniel Domscheit-Berg, Assange’s second in command
WikiLeak’s partner, book release is at risk of overshadowing the organization’s work.
Recent interviews with Assange have captured him as a cold, callous, single minded individual.
Specifically, during a BBC interview with Assange about the assault allegations, Assange said
the women “found out that they were mutual lovers of mine and they had unprotected sex and
the got into a tizzy about whether there was a possibility of sexually transmitted diseases.”
Assange arrogantly and dismissively said that the women going to the police was “a ridiculous
thing.”
Assange’s callous, unsympathetic character is captured when he comments about why he refused
to redact Afghan war informant names from the Wikleaks cables. Assange states, “Well, they’re
informants. So, if they get killed, they’ve got it coming to them. They deserve it.”
7. WikiLeaks founder could be charged under Espionage Act
By Ellen Nakashima and Jerry Markon
February 9, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112905973.html
Date Accessed: March 6, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
Federal authorities are exploring the possibility of charging Julian Assange with violating the
United States’ Espionage Law. Difficulty exists because the 1917 Espionage Act preceded
Supreme Court cases that expanded the First Amendment protections. Furthermore, the United
States would need to convince another country to surrender Assange to American officials.
Attorney General Eric Holder states, “To the extent there are gaps in our laws, we will move to
close those gaps, which is not to say . . . that anybody at this point, because of their citizenship or
their residence, is not a target or a subject of an investigation that's ongoing."
According to former federal prosecutor Baruch Weiss more difficulties arise because proving a
particular cable was dangerous to national security requires the prosecution to disclose more
classified information to explain to a jury the damage the WikiLeaks cable caused.
8. WikiLeaks, free speech and Twitter come together in Va. court case
By Dana Hedgpeth
February 16, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/15/AR2011021506483.html?hpid=topnews
Date Accessed: March 6, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
This article details the opening arguments in the federal case in which the United States is
attempting to get personal information from the Twitter accounts of Julian Assange; Bradley
Manning; Birgitta Jonsdottir, a former WikiLeaks activits and member of Iceland’s Parliament;
Rop Gonggrijp, a Dutch computer programmer; and Jacob Appelbaum, an American computer
programmer. Their lawyers argued that the data - screen names, mailing addresses, telephone
numbers, credit card and bank account information, and Internet protocol addresses - are
protected by the First Amendment. Prosecutors said the request is a routine part of their criminal
probe.
9. Australia asks Sweden to give Assange a fair hearing
By Louise Nordstrom, The Associated Press
February 18, 2011
Source: no longer available on The Washington Post
Date Accessed: March 6, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
Australia wants to ensure Julian Assange, Australian native, receives a fair hearing if he’s
extradited from Britian to Sweden on charges of sexual assault/misconduct. A letter by
Australian ambassador Paul Stephens conveys the Australian government’s expectations that
Assange be accorded due process and extended all applicable European and international laws,
including relevant human rights norms.
10. Julian Assange, WikiLeaks’ founder, must be extradited to Sweden, British judge rules
By Karla Adam
February 24, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022401154.html?wprss=rss_world
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Anit-Assange (Egoist)
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
A British judge ruled Assange is to be extradited to Sweden to answer the sexual assault
allegations. Judge Howard Riddle said the Swedish extradition order was proper and does not
violate Assange’s human rights. In response to the court ruling, a defiant Assange said the ruling
was a "result of a European arrest warrant system run amok" and vowed to appeal. Assange told
reporters, “Why is it that I am subject, a nonprofit free-speech activist, to a $360,000 bail? Why
is it that I am kept under electronic house arrest when I have not even been charged in any
country?”
11. Cable: Moammar Gaddafi offered to help U.S. fight against terrorism
By Douglas Birch, The Associated Press
February 25, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022504256.html
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Politician
Summary:
A secret United States diplomatic document detailed Moammar Gaddafi’s offer to assist the
United States with a counterterrorism operation in Africa. This proposal followed the removal of
Libya from the United States list of terrorism sponsors. “The State Department message depicts
the Libyan leader as a shrewd and self-serving autocrat, who tried to build a closer relationship
with Washington even as he sought to discourage U.S. military bases and operations in Africa.
At one point, Gadhafi cautioned the U.S. against trusting Arab leaders and suggested he might
play an undefined role in the Mideast, if the U.S. asked.”
12. U.S. ratchets up pressure on Gaddafi
By Karen DeYoung and Colum Lynch
February 26, 2011
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022506944.html?wprss=rss_print
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Neutral
Frame: Politician
Summary:
This article hints to the United States attempt to save-face from previous agreements between the
United States and Libya. The recent uprising of violence in Libya by Gaddafi’s regime has
caused President Obama to order a block on all fund transfers or withdrawals which apply to the
Libyan government, Gaddafi and all of his children. WikiLeaks had released a cable which
indicates the United States banks manage as much as half-billion dollars in Libyan assets.
13. Army charges WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning with ‘aiding enemy’
By Robert Burns, The Associated Press
March 3, 2011
Source: no longer available on The Washington Post website
Date Accessed: March 6, 2011
Media Section: Articles
Tone: Anti - PFC Bradley Manning/Anti-WikiLeaks
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
This article reports that Army private Bradley Manning was charged with aiding the enemy, a
capital offense. Even though a capital offense is punishable by death, the Army prosecution will
not seek this level of punishment. United States officials say Manning put countless lives at risk
by revealing the identities of people working secretly with the United States. Furthermore, some
of the cables revealed embarrassing descriptions and assessments of foreign leaders which could
have damaged U.S. relations with allies.
American Civil Liberties Union
14. ACLU Says Third-Party Publishers Entitled to First Amendment Protection
December 16, 2010
Source: http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-says-third-party-publishers-entitled-first-amendment-protection
Date Accessed: March 15, 2011
Media type: News release
Tone: Dominant government/Pro-WikiLeaks
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
The American Civil Liberties Union submitted testimony to Congress saying prosecuting
WikiLeaks under the Espionage Act would possibly constitute a violation of First Amendment
rights. Furthermore, broadening the Espionage Act would exacerbate the First Amendment
deficiencies that already exist in the Act and create a negative effect on journalism.
A copy of the ACLU’s testimony can be found at: www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-statement-house-judiciary-committee-hearing-wikileaks-and-espionage-act
15. First Amendment Groups Urge Protections in Aftermath of WikiLeaks Document Release
December 22, 2010
Date Accessed: March 15, 2011
Media type: News release
Tone: Dominant government/Pro-WikiLeaks
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
The American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of free speech organizations sent an open
letter to public officials cautioning against the prosecution of third party publishers for
publishing leaked government documents and efforts to limit the rights of individuals to view the
documents. According to the letter, “[t]hese actions have created an atmosphere of fear and
uncertainty among the general public.”
The full text of the letter is available online at: www.aclu.org/free-speech-national-security/open-letter-public-officials-about-wikileaks
16. Court Rules Against Privacy in Battle over Twitter Records
March 11, 2011
Source: http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/court-rules-against-privacy-battle-over-twitter-records
Date Accessed: March 15, 2011
Media type: News release
Tone: Dominant government/Pro-WikiLeaks
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
A federal magistrate judge in Virginia ruled that the government can collect the private records
of three Twitter users as part of its investigation related to WikiLeaks, and that those users and
the public can be prevented from seeing some of the documents that the government submitted to
the court to justify obtaining their records. This ruling will allow the government to amass
private information related to individuals’ internet communications, as well as block the
individual from ever knowing companies were ordered to turn over the information. In other
words, the government will be able to track our every move without us knowing about it.
Lawfare
17. Seven Thoughts on WikiLeaks
By Jack Goldsmith
December 10, 2010
Source: http://www.lawfareblog.com/2010/12/seven-thoughts-on-wikileaks/
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media type: Blog
Tone: Pro-Assange; anti-government due to double standard
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
Goldsmith believes Assange is being unduly vilified. He believes that the responsibility to
maintain secret documents lies with the institution empowered to keep them secret: the
Executive branch. Laissez-faire policies allowed PFC Manning to have access to sensitive
information. How would the public and administration have reacted if Manning had turned the
documents over to the New York Times, instead of WikiLeaks? In 2005-2006, the New York
Times published sensitive information about the government’s surveillance programs. How is
this different? The best thing to do is ignore Assange and fix the secrecy systems so this does not
happen again.
18. The Washington Post on WikiLeaks
By Benjamin Wittes
December 12, 2010
Source: http://www.lawfareblog.com/2010/12/the-washington-post-on-wikileaks/
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media type: Blog
Tone: Pro-Assange
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
The blanket proposition that the government has no business prosecuting someone not obligated
to protect secrets for disclosing protected material overstates an important idea. The important
idea is that the United States has never had an Official Secrets Act, a generalized prohibition
against private sector publication of state secrets.
19. Tuesday Morning Quarterback on WikiLeaks
By Jack Goldsmith
December 23, 2010
Source: http://www.lawfareblog.com/2010/12/tuesday-morning-quarterback-on-wikileaks/
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media type: Blog
Tone: Pro-Assange
Frame: Politician
Summary:
Maybe the WikiLeaks idea is indeed wrong. But compared to White House and Pentagon
officials who leak to the media when it suits them, isn’t Assange – who uses his name rather than
hiding behind anonymity – the honest one? Scrutiny of the double standard will weaken press
freedoms as the government condemns as criminal the everyday practices of national security
reporters (and other reporters) in soliciting and facilitating leaks of classified information.
20. No Evidence that Assange Induced Manning to Leak
By Jack Goldsmith
February 9, 2011
Source: http://www.lawfareblog.com/2011/02/no-evidence-that-assange-induced-manning-to-leak/
Date Accessed: March 1, 2011
Media type: Blog
Tone: Pro-Assange and media rights
Frame: Rule/Law Enforcers
Summary:
The Department of Justice’s expectation to find evidence that Assange induced PFC Manning to
leak sensitive documents has failed to mature. The federal prosecutors will have a difficult time
charging, not to mention prove, Assange possessed, distributed and published classified
documents. This will be a success for the traditional American press freedoms.
Appendix B
Liberal and Conservative Blogs
The following sections of this appendix analyze a new media, internet blogs, that have recently been gaining popularity, and by 2014, it is estimated that 150 million Americans, 60% of the US internet population, will read blogs monthly (EMarket 2010). Old media sources, television, radio, and newspapers, have been an important factor in influencing public opinion, and with the rise of this new media, understanding it is imperative to media studies and to the understanding of moral panics.
Methods
The first step in understanding and analyzing a moral panic is to examine the actors involved. A content analysis will be employed to assess the prevalence of multiple internet blogs' depiction of Wikileaks as a folk devil. This analysis can then be used to determine if this body of media has over exaggerated or distorted the threats posed by Wikileaks, and if Wikileaks has been characterized or depicted as folk devils. This content analysis will only look to determine if Wikileaks have been labeled as folk devils, but options to further this analysis are available.
There are currently over 159 million identified blogs on the internet (Blogpulse 2010). These blogs are created and maintained by a diverse set of individuals that range from prominent political figures to the average citizen. The internet blogs used in this study will be labeled as "grassroots” blogs as very few are represented in Wikio's Top Blogs - Politics, The Conservative 100, or The Progressive Liberal 100 which track dynamic links and other factors in determining their rankings. The use of these less "popular" blogs or more “general public” blogs allows for a content analysis to assess an array of variables. The variable examined in this study involves the use of frames by these “grassroots blogs”. Because of the representation of the general public that these blogs represent, an analysis could also evaluate the influence of mainstream media, politicians, and law enforcers on the general public.
The blogs chosen were selected from a database of political blogs that were organized by political orientation. To keep a fairly unbiased sample, both liberal and conservative databases were chosen. 80 liberal blogs and 54 conservative blogs were examined by searching each website using the term Wikileaks. Only relevant articles were chosen to appear in this study, and if an article only mentioned Wikileaks in passing, it was left out. Articles that revolved around Assange are included as Wikileaks and Assange are virtually synonymous in context to this research. Private Manning is obviously strongly linked to Wikileaks, but is considered a completely separate issue for the purpose of this study and was thus left out1. The first five relevant Wikileaks articles were chosen if a website had more than five2. Since time was a factor, assessing 133 blogs and every article with the word Wikileaks was not viable, and by limiting the articles to five per blog, it greatly reduces any outlier effects.
The articles were analyzed to look at the framing of these blogs towards Wikileaks. The general frames were characterized as positive, negative, or neutral in their depiction of Wikileaks. Within the general frames, the study reveals more specific frames used in these blogs that emphasize a specific representation. The specific frames were organized into nine different themes and categorized under the positive and negative frames. The negatively framed articles were evaluated to determine if they depicted Wikileaks as a folk devil. The specific negative frames as well as the overall tone of the article were taken into account as well. Finally, the analysis examines the social actors that are cited in each article.
Summary
One of the few generalizations that can be made when assessing the data, as shown below in Table 1, resulting from the content analysis is that only 22.43% of the articles were neutral in their reporting on Wikileaks which was fairly consistent across between the two categories. The lack of neutrally framed articles and low percentages of citations can be used to understand the characteristics of blogging and its opinionated nature. This assumption is also complemented by the use of blogs as online journals and online diaries.
The content analysis revealed a major difference between the liberal blogs and conservative blogs in their depictions of Wikileaks and Assange. The liberal blogs had a fairly even mixture of positive, negative, and neutral articles ranging from 25.64% to 41.02%. On the other hand, the conservative blogs portrayed Wikileaks in a negative frame in almost 9 out of 10 articles. The difference is quite staggering and can also be seen in the rate that Wikileaks is depicted as a folk devil. The conservative blogs depicted him as a folk devil in 69.23% of their articles, while the liberal blogs only depicted him as a folk devil in one article.
Another difference in the negative frames between the two categories can be seen with the way these articles depict Wikileaks and Assange. The negatively framed liberal blogs consisted of issues regarding rape survivors and irresponsibility rather than the conservative’s focus on national security, treason, espionage, and criminal behavior. The variations in the specific negative frames between the two are consistent with the differences in the depiction of Wikileaks as a folk devil.
Discussion and Conclusion
The goal of the content analysis of “grassroots” blogs was to determine if this body of media had depicted Wikileaks as a folk devil or attempted to, and that goal is almost unobtainable given the information that is provided here. The abundance of liberal blogs within this study is fairly representative of the database that provided the links to all political blogs, and assuming that information is representative of the blogosphere in general, an attempt at a moral panic by the blogging community was not present. As only 35.89% depict Wikileaks as a folk devil, it would be safe to assume that there wasn’t a “collective” attempt to represent Wikileaks as an “embodiment of evil” (Bonn 2010:7), although this could be a topic of debate and further analysis in comparison to other topics that have been labeled as a moral panic.
On the other hand, it could be perceived that the conservative blogging had attempted to create a moral panic as almost 90% of the articles had a negative tone, and 69.23% of them met the standards of labeling WikiLeaks a folk devil. This trend in data could be further studied with the use of more in-depth research methods.
These statements only represent the limited information used in this study, and are contingent on the assumptions that have been made. Because of the limited information this study represents, a better, more precise understanding of the media requires more information and better methods of research that could include:
1: The number of active political blogs
2: A representative sample of political blogs
3: The amount of traffic each blog receives
4: Who finances, maintains, and contributes to each blog
5: A better understanding of what constitutes the depiction of a folk devil
6: A solid understanding of where each blog receives their information
These examples only represent a portion of the ways that this research could be improved. Another avenue of study that can be taken is to look “grassroots” blogs as a representation of the general public. If these blogs represent the general public, it could be safe to assume that the requirements for a moral panic have not been met.
As discussed earlier, media is changing, and media studies should focus on pursuing an understanding of the new media that is emerging and gaining popularity. The use of media is a valuable tool for society, and knowledge involving it should be pursued immediately for the betterment of society.
All Websites/Blogs Examined
Format:
Blog URL Blog Title
Total Blog Websites: 134
-Liberal Blog Sites: 80 Total
1. http://fidlerten.com/ Fidler's Politics
2. http://www.fauxnewsnetwork.com/ Faux News Network
3. http://codebluepolitics.com/ Code Blue Politics
4. http://garlinggauge.com/ Faux News Network
5. http://dadinleftfield.com/ Dad in Left Field
6. http://garlinggauge.com/ Garling Gauge
7. http://bgoon.blogspot.com/ Today's World
8. http://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/ Conservatives Are America's Real Terrorists
9. http://openscandal.com/ Open Scandal
10. http://teacherman04.blogspot.com/ Americans for reason and truth
11. http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com/ Brown Man Thinking Hard
12. http://28thamendment.wordpress.com/ The 28th Amendment
13. http://brainspank.org/ Brainspank
14. http://swimmingfreestyle.typepad.com/ Swimming Freestyle
15. http://velvelonnationalaffairs.blogspot.com/ Velvel on National Affairs
16. http://sisterstalk.net/blog/ SistersTalk
17. http://tooseriousmatter.blogspot.com/ Too Serious A Matter
18. http://heatherannastasia.blogspot.com/ Heather Annastasia Siladi's Blogspot
19. http://politicalsalon.blogspot.com/ Political Salon
20. http://le-enfant-terrible.blogspot.com/ l'enfant terrible
21. http://lionboi.blogspot.com/ Lionboi Blues & News
22. http://www.lostnation.tv/ Lost Nation.tv
23. http://www.americansdebate.com/blog/ AmericansDebate.com Blog
24. http://www.watchingpolitics.com/ WatchingPolitics
25. http://altara.blogspot.com/ altara
26. http://www.thehueandcry.com/ The Hue and Cry
27. http://www.topofmyhead.info/ Top of My Head
28. http://freshsalad.blogspot.com/ Fresh Salad
29. http://consumedwithrage.blogs.com/ Chronically Pissed
30. http://www.rockthrower.blogs.com/ RockThrower
31. http://www.blah3.com/ Blah3
32. http://bloggerradio.com/ BloggerRadio.com
33. http://agitprop.typepad.com/ Agitprop
34. http://www.skipperstyle.com/ SkipperStyle
35. http://pbd.blogspot.com/ Progressive Blog Digest
36. http://www.justtotheleft.com/ Just To The Left
37. http://zenreports.blogspot.com/ zenophobia: enlightened fear
38. http://directory.etalkinghead.com/www.sheanc.blogspot.com Constantly Amazed, Yet Never Surprised
39. http://walkerw.blogspot.com/ Delivering Hope
40. http://abetternation.blogspot.com/ A Better Nation
41. http://www.moxiegrrrl.com/ MoxieGrrrl
42. http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/ Shakesville
43. http://sustainablog.blogspot.com/ sustainablog
44. http://dissentchannel.blogspot.com/ Dissent Channel
45. http://snunes.blogspot.com/ Random Thoughts: Unfair and Unbalanced
46. http://jdeeth.blogspot.com/ John Deeth Blog
47. http://digitaljay.blogspot.com/ Disconnected Rumblings
48. http://praguewriter.typepad.com/praguewriter/ Prague Writer
49. http://aboutpolitics.blogspot.com/ About Politics
50. http://iddybud.blogspot.com/ iddybud
51. http://hellofromparis.blogspot.com/ The Frog Blog
52. http://nathancallahan.com/ NathanCallahan.com
53. http://www.jpandre.blogspot.com/ That's Going Too Far!
54. http://www.frederickclarkson.com/ Frederick Clarkson
55. http://forewarned.blogspot.com/ Forewarned is Forearmed
56. http://wynterstoner.blogspot.com/ An Englishman in New York
57. http://interestingtimes.typepad.com/ Interesting Times
58. http://farleft.blogspot.com/ Far Left
59. http://www.estropundit.blogspot.com/ Estropundit
60. http://www.hotflashreport.com/ Hot Flash Report
61. http://blog.dennisfox.net/ Dennis Fox's Weblog
62. http://barkingdingo.blogspot.com/ Barking Dingo
63. http://doubter.blogspot.com/ Freethought
64. http://beastsbelly.blogspot.com/ Belly of the Beast
65. http://tom_thinks.blogspot.com/ tom_thinks
66. http://www.johnband.org/blog/ Banditry
67. http://www.deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/ Abolish the Death Penalty
68. http://lowrentrat.blogdrive.com/ Low Rent Rat
69. http://www.myleftbrain.com/ My Left Brain
70. http://www.tinylittledots.com/ tiny little dots
71. http://displib.blogspot.com/ Dispassionate Liberal
72. http://strangedoctrines.blogspot.com/ Strange Doctrines
73. http://lawdork.net/ Law Dork
74. http://demagogue.blogspot.com/ Demagogue
75. http://www.mstabile.blogspot.com/ Left is Right
76. http://www.madkane.com/madness/ Mad Kane's Notables
77. http://www.talkleft.com/ TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime
78. http://www.xnerg.blogspot.com/ skippy the bush kangaroo
79. http://dimmykarras.blogspot.com/ Dimmy Karras
80. http://www.samefacts.com/ Mark A.R. Kleiman
-Conservative Blog Sites: 54 Total
1. http://political-conservatives.blogspot.com/ Conservative Musings
2. http://allthingspoliticaltoday.com/ All Things Political Today
3. http://thinktownusa-thinktownusa.blogspot.com/ Thinktown USA Report
4. http://www.republicanguru.com/ The Republican Guru
5. http://newliberaldemocrat.blogspot.com/ New Liberal Democrat
6. http://www.truglobalist.com/ TruGlobalist
7. http://www.commentsonnationalamnesia.com/ Comments on National Amnesia
8. http://capitolcommentary.com/ Capitol Commentary
9. http://www.constitutionalfreedom.org/ Constitutional Freedom
10. http://standupforamerica.wordpress.com/ Stand Up for America
11. http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com/ The Political Commentator
12. http://www.mccainsloneranger.blogspot.com/ McCain's Lone Ranger
13. http://michaeljohnsonfreedomandprosperity.blogspot.com/ Michael Johns
14. http://www.classicalvalues.com/ Classical Values
15. http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com/ A Good Choice
16. http://www.flagstuff.com/blog The American Standard Bearer
17. http://www.clearcommentary.com/ Clear Commentary
18. http://dakotawarcollege.com/ South Dakota War College
19. http://www.capecodporcupine.blogspot.com/ Peter Porcupine
20. http://therealthing.blogs.com/ There is No Second Place
21. http://govchz.blogspot.com/ Government Cheese
22. http://bittersweetme.net/blog/ Bittersweet
23. http://politicspost.blogspot.com/ The Politics Post
24. http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/ American Conservative Daily
25. http://abercrombieview.blogspot.com/ The Abercrombie View
26. http://www.mattjohnston.blogspot.com/ Going to the Mat
27. http://gotdesign.blogspot.com/ GotDesign
28. http://theurbangrind.blogspot.com/ The Urban Grind
29. http://dsshubris.blogspot.com/ DSS Hubris
30. http://c-pol.blogspot.com/ C-Pol: Constitutionalist, Conservative Politics
31. http://new84rules.blogspot.com/ 84rules
32. http://www.hipublican.com/ Hipublican Dot Com
33. http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/ Confederate Yankee
34. http://apologiesdemanded.blogspot.com/ APOLOGIES DEMANDED
35. http://truthprobe.blogspot.com/ Truthprobe
36. http://www.blogsagainsthillary.com/ Blogs Against Hillary
37. http://gullyborg.typepad.com/ Resistance is futile!
38. http://bloghogger.blogspot.com/ Blog Hogger
39. http://juntoboys.blogspot.com/ Junto Boys
40. http://coffee.ondragonswing.com/ Coffee with CrankyBeach
41. http://crankybastard.blogspot.com/ Cranky Bastard
42. http://www.all-encompassingly.com/ all-encompassingly
43. http://www.nykola.com/home.html Nykola
44. http://www.cybermenace.blogspot.com/ The Cyber Menace
45. http://charlesking.blogspot.com/ A Pax American and other fun stuff
46. http://myechochamber.blogspot.com/ My Echo Chamber
47. http://www.iainlindley.co.uk/ Iain's Council Blog
48. http://www.erickohn.com/ EricKohn.com
49. http://www.keithy1028.bravejournal.com/ Keiths Political Journal
50. http://rncnyc2004.blogspot.com/ Republican National Convention Blog
51. http://discerningtexan.blogspot.com/ The Discerning Texan
52. http://www.blogtalker.logonnewzine.com/ BlogTalker
53. http://alarmingnews.com/ Alarming News
54. http://redmindbluestate.blogspot.com/ A Red Mind in a Blue State
Sources | Frames | Label | Social Actors
Format:
Article Title
Author – Date Posted
Frames: General Frame – Specific Frame
Folk Devil: Yes/No
Social Actors: Lists of Social Actors Included in the article
Article URL
Liberal Blog Sources
Valerie Plame, YES! Wikileaks, NO!
David R. Hoffman - March 12, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/03-12-2010/116041-valerie_plame_wikileaks-0/
Wikileaks Prove that U. S. Officials are Doing a Superb Job and that Julian Ass-ange is a World-Class Ass-Hole
Leslie H. Gelb - December 1, 2010
Frames: Positive - Irresponsible/Unnecessary, Criminal/Espionage
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/2010/12/wikileaks-prove-u-s-officials-are-doing.html
BULLETIN – REVISED STATISTICS CONCERNING OBAMA’S WAR
Sidney Gendin - October 23, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician
http://watchingpolitics.com/?p=7137
The Geek Tact Filter and Johnny Paycheck in the Age of Wikileaks
Monday, November 29, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://jdeeth.blogspot.com/2010/11/geek-tact-filter-and-johnny-paycheck-in.html
The WikiLeaks video; business as usual
Jay McDonough - April 6, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
And More WikiLeaks
Melissa McEwan - December 06, 2010
Frames: Negative -Rape/Attempted Rape Charges, National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician, Main Stream Media, Law Enforcer
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/and-more-wikileaks.html
Latest Assange Rape Apologist: Julian Assange
Melissa McEwan - December 17, 2010
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/latest-assange-rape-apologist-julian.html
Michael Moore Doubles Down on Rape Apologia
Melissa McEwan - December 15, 2010
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/michael-moore-doubles-down-on-rape.html
More WikiLeaks
Melissa McEwan - December 06, 2010
Frames: Negative - Irresponsible/Unnecessary, National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-wikileaks.html
Statistics for rape apologists
Eastsidekate - December 16, 2010
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/statistics-for-rape-apologists.html
Today's WikiLeaks Round-Up
Melissa McEwan - November 30, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media, Politician
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/11/todays-wikileaks-round-up.html
WikiLeaks Open Thread
Melissa McEwan - November 29, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media, Politician
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/11/wikileaks-open-thread.html
Yikes
Melissa McEwan - December 14, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/12/yikes_14.html
Dipshit of the Day
Melissa McEwan - October 29, 2010
Frames: Positive
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/10/dipshit-of-day_29.html
Today in Not News: The Afghanistan War Blows
Melissa McEwan - July 26, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media, Politician
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/07/today-in-not-news-afghanistan-war-blows.html
When You Have a War, There Will Be War Crimes
Melissa McEwan - April 06, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency, Promoting Truth in Journalism
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-you-have-war-there-will-be-war.html
WikiLeaks Owner Rape Allegations
M. Young - August 24th, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://openscandal.com/2010/08/24/wikileaks-rape-allegations/
WikiLeaks, A Different View of Afghanistan
Admin - July 26th, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician
http://openscandal.com/2010/07/26/wikileaks-a-different-view-of-afghanistan/
WikiLeaks and Sarah Palin
M. Young - December 2, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician
http://openscandal.com/2010/12/02/wikileaks-and-sarah-palin/
WikiLeaks, Shooting the Messenger
M. Young - December 11, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency, Patriotic
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politian
http://openscandal.com/2010/12/11/wikileaks-shooting-the-messenger/
HURRICANE WIKILEAKS HEADING TOWARD BANK OF AMERICA?
Interesting Times - January 3, 2011
Frames - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Politician, Main Stream Media
REPUTATIONS OF ALLEGED BANK CHEATERS THE WORLD OVER IN THE HANDS OF WIKILEAKS
Interesting Times - January 17, 2011
Frames: Positive - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FRANTICALLY PEDALING TO NAIL ASSANGE
Interesting Times - October 16, 2011
Frames: Positive
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
WHAT A CAN OF WORMS WIKELEAKS HAS OPENED
Interesting Times - October 3, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency, Promoting Truth in Journalism
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://www.i-times.org/interesting_times/2010/12/what-a-can-of-worms-wikeleaks-has-opened.html
WIKILEAKS UNDER SIEGE, ASSANGE ARRESTED, BACKLASH GROWING
Interesting Times - December 12, 2010
Frames: Positive - Transparency
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
British Judge Approves Julian Assange Extradition to Sweden
Jeralyn - February 24, 2011
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/2/24/135926/571
Witness Says Julian Assange is Being Framed
Jeralyn - February 07, 2011
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/2/7/224331/5058
The Media's Continuing War On Wikileaks
Big Tent Democrat - January 13, 2011
Frames: Positive
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/1/13/113627/677
The Ethos Of The New "Journamalism"
Big Tent Democrat - January 4, 2011
Frames: Positive - Promoting Truth in Journalism
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/1/4/11143/56244
Biden Refers to Potential Conspiracy Charge Against Julian Assange
Jeralyn - December 19, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media, Politician
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2010/12/19/13419/455
all your tweets are belong to us
Cookie Jill - January 08, 2011
Frames: Positive - Transparency, Promoting Truth in Journalism
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://xnerg.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
wikiseizure
Cookie Jill - January 01, 2011
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://xnerg.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
environmental news stories sunday
Cookie Jill - December 19, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://xnerg.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
the world wide smear campaign
Cookie Jill - December 03, 2010
Frames: Positive
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://xnerg.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
the media = lapdogs to authority
Cookie Jill - November 29, 2010
Frames: Positive - Promoting Truth in Journalism
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://xnerg.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
How Secret Diplomatic Communication Laid the Groundwork for Peace in Ireland
Keith Humphreys - November 29th, 2010
Frames - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
Of WikiLeaks and the Pentagon Papers
Mark Kleiman - November 29th, 2010
Frames: Negative - Irresponsible/Unnecessary
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.samefacts.com/2010/11/uncategorized/of-wikileaks-and-the-pentagon-papers/
The Wikileaker should serve some time
Harold Pollack - November 28th, 2010
Frames: Negative - Irresponsible/Unnecessary, National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.samefacts.com/2010/11/secrecy-in-government/the-wikileaker-should-serve-some-time/
Should WikiLeaks be closed down?
Harold Pollack - July 30th, 2010
Frames: Negative - Irresponsible/Unnecessary
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://www.samefacts.com/2010/07/secrecy-in-government/should-wikileaks-be-closed-down/
Conservative Blog Sources
The WikiLeaks Fiasco
No Author - February 7, 2011
Frames: Negative - Criminal/Espionage, Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://allthingspoliticaltoday.com/?p=142
Boycott Berkeley
The Guru - December 19, 2010
Frames: Negative
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.republicanguru.com/?p=495
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Burt Prelutsky - August 30, 2010
Frames: Negative - Traitor/Treason
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://www.commentsonnationalamnesia.com/2010/08/30/crimes-and-misdemeanors/
Micheal Moore To Finances Wikileaks Traitor’s Defense
William McCullough - August 21, 2010
Frames: Negative - Traitor/Treason, Aided American Enemies
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
Obama Aiding And Abetting Treason And Treachery?
William McCullough - July 29, 2010
Frames: Negative - Traitor/Treason, National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://www.commentsonnationalamnesia.com/2010/07/29/obama-aiding-and-abetting-treason-and-treachery/
WikiLeaks: Cowards in the Open
Harrison - July 30, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://capitolcommentary.com/2010/07/30/wikileaks-cowards-in-the-open/
The Problem with WikiLeaks
Harrison - December 1, 2010
Frames: Negative
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://capitolcommentary.com/2010/12/01/the-problem-with-wikileaks/
Aftermath of Arizona Shooting: Media Only Discredit Themselves
Harrison - January 18 2011
Frames: Negative
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
WikiLeaks is Simply Bad for Everone
USWeapon - December 6, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://standupforamerica.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/wikileaks-is-simply-bad-for-everone/
THE LYING TRUTH, THE LEAKY TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH-TRUTH!
Eric - December 09, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: Politician
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2010/12/the_lying_truth.html
IN WHICH I PART FROM THE RIGHT
Dave - November 30, 2010
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2010/11/in_which_i_part.html
WIKI WAR
Dave - October 24, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2010/10/wiki_war.html
A Different Take on Julian Assange
Matt - December 30, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
‘Collateral Murder’ Veterans Apologize to Iraqi Families
Eric - April 29, 2010
Frames: Neutral
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
UPDATES: Assange, Gore, Multiculturalism
Gene Lalor - February 12, 2011
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2011/02/updates-assange-gore-multiculturalism/
Wikileaks War: No More Secrets
David Huntwork - December 23, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives, Aided American Enemies
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2010/12/wikileaks-war-no-more-secrets/
The Long And Short Of The Wikileaks and Julian Assange Saga
J.J. Jackson - December 11, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
Where is the US Indictment of Julian Assange?
J.D. Longstreet - December 8, 2010
Frames: Negative - Criminal/Espionage
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: Main Stream Media, Politician, Law Enforcer
http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2010/12/where-is-the-us-indictment-of-julian-assange/
Whistleblower? More Like An Executioner!
Skip MacLure - December 2, 2010
Frames: Negative - Criminal/Espionage, Traitor/Treason
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2010/12/whistleblower-more-like-an-executioner/
Wikileaks: Enemy of the United States
Matt Johnston - November 29, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://mattjohnston.blogspot.com/search?q=wikileaks
Quick Takes
Mike M. - February 10, 2011
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/311897.php
WikiLeaks? A Whole Lot of Nothing Going On
Bob Owens - July 27, 2010
Frames: Negative
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: Main Stream Media
http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/304034.php
"WikiSleeps" Offers Little News in Latest Document Dump
Confederate Yankee - November 29, 2010
Frames: Negative - Rape/Attempted Rape Charges, Criminal/Espionage
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/308810.php
WikiLeaks is Now A Terrorist Organization
Confederate Yankee - December 5, 2010
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives, Aided American Enemies
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: None
http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/309022.php
Tangos Down: WikiLeaks Misrepresents Apache Assault on Medhi Army Militia
Confederate Yankee - April 5, 2010
Frames: Negative
Folk Devil: No
Social Actors: None
http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/300258.php
Peter King Calls on Treasury Secretary Geithner to Act to Disrupt WikiLeaks
SOOKIETEX - January 13, 2011
Frames: Negative - National Security/Endangering Human Lives
Folk Devil: Yes
Social Actors: Politician
http://rncnyc2004.blogspot.com/2011/01/peter-king-calls-on-treasury-secretary.html
Table 1
Comparison of Liberal Blog Articles and Conservative Blog Articles for General Frames, Positive and Negative Frames, Labels, and Social Actors
Appendix C
Cable Television: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC
CNN
This is the breakdown of WikiLeaks coverage on CNN News (30 picked randomly) between spring 2010 till April 2011. The title is first followed by the date of the coverage, then the frames (tone) - common frames used, followed by the label (folk devil if it applied), social actors, then the web site where the video can be seen, and a small review and/or comments by viewers of the coverage. The media collected was then separated into five categories based on the dominant social actor portrayed but when coverage could be put in more than one frame or by more than one social actor I put it in the dominate frame or social actor, which is listed first. I gave more prevalence to folk devil category when politicians or the media would label them negatively as evil (terrorist, treasonous) and a threat to Americans and American ideals. The five social actors used were first identified by Cohen (1972) as: 1) folk devils; 2) rule or law enforcers; 3) the media; 4) politicians; and 5) the public. Cohen (1972) described moral panic as the power of emotion expressed in a population about an issue that appears to threaten the social order. A moral panic occurs when "a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests." The elites start the panic when they fear a threat to existing social or cultural values are identified by as "moral entrepreneurs", while people who allegedly threaten the social order have been described as "folk devils”. Final combined results for tone and frames come after the breakdown of CNN News coverage on WikiLeaks.
1. Hundreds protest treatment of alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower
Date - March 21, 2011 11:08 a.m.
Frames - Tone (Positive), Common Frames – (Transparency, Whistle Blower, Hero)
Label - None
Social Actor - Public, Media
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/21/wikileaks.protest/index.html?iref=allsearch
People are finally standing up and saluting Private Manning for informing America and people are demanding Obama to release Manning or at least stop torturing him, and claiming Manning is a hero, a patriot and a whistle blower. Protesters gathered outside the gates of Quantico Marine Base in Virginia to protest the in humane treatment of Bradley Manning. Manning, a 23-year-old Army private, is accused of giving WikiLeaks classified military and State Department information.
2. Did Army Ignore WikiLeaks Warning
Date - Added on March 14, 2011
Frames - Tone (Neutral), Common Frames (National Security, Endangering Lives)
Labels – None
Social Actor - Public, Media
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/02/05/lawrence.wikileaks.manning.cnn?iref=videosearch
Chris Lawrence reports on information that the Army deployed Private Bradley Manning despite concerns that he wasn’t fit to go to war in Iraq, David House is a friend of Manning and is interviewed about his treatment and tells of the power of social media and educated people.
3. WikiLeaks founder to CNN you should be ashamed, Larry you actually should be ashamed, as well."
Date - Uploaded on Oct 26, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Rapist, Transparency)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXTYGV9oSfg
Larry King interviewing Assange, mostly bringing up rape charges and ignoring WikiLeaks information that the government is covering up illegal activities, calling his latest document dump "the most extraordinary history of a war to have ever been released in our civilization," Assange dismissed the questions on his personal life as "tabloid journalism." He further insisted that "it is not right to bring in sensational and, in fact, false claims relatively trivial matter, compared to the deaths of 109,000 people. CNN should be ashamed of doing that. And you, Larry, you actually should be ashamed, as well."
4. CNN.com WikiLeaks How does it work
Date - Uploaded on Dec 1, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frame (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOGuEaTeMs
Bringing up the issue of secrecy vs. transparency is discussed and how important is Assange to WikiLeaks. The cables show the extent of US spying on its allies and the UN; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in "client states"; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; lobbying for US corporations; and the measures US diplomats take to advance those who have access to them. This document release shows the contradictions between what top US officials say out in the open and what it they say behind closed doors.
5. WikiLeaks founder walks out of interview
Date - Uploaded on Oct 25, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Transparency, Rapist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdbOyWA22jQ
In October, WikiLeaks creator Julian Assange walks out of a meeting on his organization and personal issues which stem from rape charges. Assange asked if he should leave WikiLeaks because he’s damaging to the organization and is questioned about a disgruntled employee who believes Assange is damaging to the work of WikiLeaks. The legal situation of Assange is continuing to be brought up even though the investigation of that is underway and no lawyer is present for Assange.
6. CNN: Is WikiLeaks founder a journalist?
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Release: Dec 13, 2010
Frames – Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency, Journalism)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2AM3Br8CIo
CNN's Don Lemon talks to an ex-CIA analyst on whether Julian Assange is a journalist or an enemy. Lemon explains that Assange should be covered by freedom of the press because he’s informing the public. Lemon explains to those listening that Thomas Jefferson said “if he had a choice between a government or a free press he’d choose the free press” and he doesn’t accept the negative labels (terrorist) that most media and the government is giving to Assange and WikiLeaks.
7. In the Arena CNN: WikiLeaks dump: Leak or attack?
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Release: Dec 6, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Unpatriotic, Rapist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Law Enforcer, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpAjJj8jAWA
Previous Ambassador Joe Wilson says an unfriendly intelligence service could be behind the new WikiLeaks dump. Wilson believes that Manning and Assange may have ulterior motives for dumping information that should be classified. Wilson calls Manning a social misfit, a hostile intelligence service, an embarrassment and a disgruntled soldier. It's typical that main stream news organizations and politicians would focus on the leaks that they think "caused damage" to the U.S. Eliot Spitzer directs the interview and Wilson is asked about his problems with the Bush administration concerning his wife and the war in Iraq.
8. Rep. Peter King on CNN on WikiLeaks
Date - Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Terrorist, Traitor, Rapist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Politician,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOB50MIf1Zw
Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Representative Peter King, on CNN "The Situation Room" talking about the WikiLeaks release of classified documents says WikiLeaks and Assange have blood on their hands. King says WikiLeaks gives “invitation to murder” and WikiLeaks and Assange are enemy combatants and terrorist’s organizations and anybody that helps them is the same.
9. CNN's Shameful Journalism - Glenn Greenwald vs. CNN - WikiLeaks Debate
Date - Uploaded on12-28-2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Terrorist, Traitor, Unpatriotic, Rapist, Journalism)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJgnJ_W_5zU
CNN's Jessica Yellin and Glenn Greenwald got into a heated debate about journalism and whether WikiLeaks can be placed in the same category as media outlets such as the Washington Post, and CNN. Yellin says Assange and WikiLeaks goal is to embarrass the United States Government. Assange writing a book to support WikiLeaks financially Greenwald claims that Assange is journalist and Yellin not having it and quotes Joe Biden as saying Assange is a “terrorist, and endangers American lives”.
10. Anderson Cooper 360°: CNN: Sen. Lieberman on WikiLeaks' Assange
Date - Uploaded by CNN: Dec 7, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitors, Unpatriotic, Terrorists, Journalism)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ilky_TiLfY
Sen. Lieberman on if news organizations that publish WikiLeaks will find themselves in legal trouble and that Assange, WikiLeaks and Manning should face charges that influence terrorism, and other media outlets that reprint this “stolen material” should be held libel even though the free press is important Lieberman thinks we should amend the law. Cooper was extremely passive in the interview not even stressing the importance of a free press or even the importance of the lies that WikiLeaks unveiled in the document dumping by the government and elected officials.
11. CNN: WikiLeaks boss defends document release
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Jul 26, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency,)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAqzpENa91w
WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange sticks up for the website's choice to reveal to the public more than 90,000 military documents. King presses Assange about leaking causing deaths to Americans and fact checking of WikiLeaks sources.
12. CNN-Report: WikiLeaks posted 9/11-Messages
Date - Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010
Frames -Tone (Neutral) - Common Frame (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc57_r0gKfg
WikiLeaks releases and says they verified 9-11- messages and that their source was vetted and that after eight years the public can deal with the truth.
13. In the Arena: CNN's Fareed Zakaria: Silver lining in WikiLeaks
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Release: Nov 29, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Hurts Diplomatic Relations)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLsQFqUoVgM
CNN's Ed Spizter is joined by Fareed Zakaria who says there is a ‘silver lining from the huge dump of classified documents by WikiLeaks’. Hilary Clinton speech highlighted and condemns WikiLeaks and tries to repair alliances abroad. The video highlights things revealed by leaks that were said about other nation’s leaders.
14. WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsson Spokesperson on CNN
Date - Uploaded on Nov 29, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Traitor/Rapist/So on)
Labels - Folk Devil (if the article depicts Assange/Wikileaks as one)
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b70kkUmg2g
Talks concerned around leaks that question leaders around the world and comparing them to unfavorable and unfriendly terms. WikiLeaks member Kristinn Hrafnsson talks on CNN about why WikiLeaks is releasing 250,000 Secret US Embassy cables. "The Public has a right to know".
15. WikiLeaks CNN attacks PayPal VISA MasterCard
Date - Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Hurts Diplomatic Relations, Hacker)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPIUPSftTvw
Cyber attacks on PayPal, VISA and Master Card some claim it’s directly from WikiLeaks others say it’s done by ordinary citizens who support WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks losing tons of money because these services won’t have anything financial that deals with WikiLeaks.
16. WikiLeaks - Ron Paul Attacks on WikiLeaks are attempts to 'close down' the Internet CNN
Date - Uploaded on Dec 16, 2010
Frames - Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Hero, Whistle Blower)
Labels – None
Social Actor – Politician, Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjcajGzziE
Ron Paul agrees with Michael Moore that the government lies is more dangerous than WikiLeaks. The news anchor disagrees and gets into a heated debate with Ron Paul and who cuts the interview short when Paul claims that the government doesn’t always tell the truth to the people as in the case with most wars and as in the case of the government shutting down the WikiLeaks site.
17. Ron Paul Maligned by CNN Analysts re WikiLeaks (call him "Nut" and "Martian")
Date - Uploaded on Dec 3, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitors, Unpatriotic)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Politician,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV_Q8WFB9Bw
This appeared on John King, USA show in which Assange, WikiLeaks and Ron Paul are ridiculed and made into the evil other by not only conservatives but liberals as well. Paul criticized by CNN analysts Roland Martin and Erick Erickson, regarding Paul's comments about WikiLeaks. Some people can’t believe a true Texan could feel this way towards WikiLeaks.
18. Larry King Live: CNN: Bob Woodward reacts to WikiLeaks
Date - Uploaded on: Nov 29, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Journalism, Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlO7PQni00
WikiLeaks documents reactions on CNN News Larry King and Bob Woodward of the Washington Post gives their perception on the WikiLeaks dump. They take a moderate position and believe most of the material leaked is not new information that hasn’t already been in the media.
19. CNN: WikiLeaks the new 'Pentagon Papers'
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Jul 26, 2010
Frames -Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Whistle Blower,)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkETbKCwQQ
Larry King talks to Assange and the founder of WikiLeaks and Ellsberg the man who leaked the "Pentagon Papers" during the Vietnam War and questions the responsibility of WikiLeaks about putting American lives in danger. Ellsberg claims that there should have been leaks of information on the illegal Iraq war; he believes WikiLeaks is a media organization while King questions the danger of the leaked material.
20. CNN News- Hillary answer to WikiLeaks Documents [www.correct-worlds-info.blogspot.com]
Date - Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames - (Unpatriotic, Hurts Diplomatic Relations)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKWyJvardhs
Clinton calls the document dumping endangering American lives and damaging vital world relations that American security depends upon. She calls the dumping ‘illegal’ and calls the material ‘stolen’. The WikiLeaks documents have claimed many things including that Hillary Clinton herself has been involved in espionage. Clinton calls the dumping an attack on ‘economic prosperity and the world’.
21. Newest WikiLeaks Release 7/25/2010 [CNN News Coverage Clip 1 of 4]
Date - Uploaded on Jul 26, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Corruption)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRrBd0C0nbw
John King hosts interview with Dennis Kucinich and congressman Rogers who disagree about the WikiLeaks dumping of information. Kucinich believes that this information further proves that the wars cost too much money, and that corruption runs wild in the wars. Rogers says we must stay the course and that we have to fight the enemies trying to kill American soldiers. Rodgers thinks that WikiLeaks dumping is criminal and illegal Kucinich believes “the truth shall set us free”.
22. 'Red alert' for WikiLeaks founder - CNN - Truveo Video Search.mp4
Date - Uploaded on Dec 3, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frame (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Law Makers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xikMQZEuD8
This video clip is on the release of documents by WikiLeaks; King highlights the State Department vs. The Pentagon in the blame game concerning the WikiLeaks document dumping. The departments play down this theory and claim that Manning and Assange have committed crimes, and the departments will make steps to make sure this never happens again.
23. WikiLeaks now storing files in 'James_Bond' bunker - CNN Video
Date - Uploaded on Dec 4, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Security, Hackers)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMUey7Zt2u0
WikiLeaks now storing files in bomb safe ‘James Bond' bunker with conference room and backup power trying to solve data security breaches. WikiLeaks storing files in 'James Bond' bunker to protect its rights of free speech and hackers from stealing information.
24. CNN: WikiLeaks 'Anonymous' hackers: 'We will fight'
Date - Uploaded on Dec 11, 2010
Frames - Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency, Political Target, Hackers)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVq7N54wIqs
The talk centers on if WikiLeaks is a journalistic organization and why other media outlets are leaving WikiLeaks out to dry. The conversation goes to supporters of Wikileaks fighting back at corporations that won’t conduct business with WikiLeaks. The news anchor seems extremely sympathetic towards Visa, Pay Pal and Amazon but not necessarily towards the freedom of the press or the thought of hacking against corporations who want to hide the truth.
25. CNN: WikiLeaks doc. reveals a lack of trust between the Middle East and Iran
Date - Uploaded on November 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Hurts Diplomatic Relations, Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcr0Vg-0dUM
Brian Todd reports on the documents released by WikiLeaks that show a lack of trust between the Middle East and Iran. Countries in the Middle East don’t trust Iran and encourage America to not believe anything that comes from Iran and encourage a United States attack on Iran.
26. CNN Newsroom: CNN: New leaks in 'public's interest'
Date - Uploaded on Release: Nov 28, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Freedom of Press)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQrivI74ONU
The editor of the Guardian in England explains why the newspaper published WikiLeaks documents and tells why they removed names from the documents they released and that they only published things that they vetted that would shed light on the truth.
27. WikiLeaks Collateral Murder Wolf Reports CNN
Date - Uploaded on Apr 25, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Law Enforcers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEz1ElGKTKs
Wolf Blitzer reports on WikiLeaks video that shows death of journalist and his driver in Iraq and asking for permission to engage in military action. The Pentagon sent a spokesperson but this video was cut short by CNN and many people are claiming this further gives credit to what WikiLeaks is claiming and that is that the American government is not telling the truth to the American people “shame on them for not showing the entire video, or for showing it at all? Journalism is about transparency and information”.
28. CNN: Vets view of WikiLeaks docs
Date - Uploaded by CNN on Jul 30, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Security)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BXLi8YzimE
CNN's Atika Shubert talks to soldiers to get their view on the WikiLeaks release of Afghan war documents. Most claim that the documents were not big secrets that many people knew this information however whoever did this leaking knew they were doing wrong and should be held responsible however troops on the ground won’t be affected at all from the WikiLeaks dumping.
29. Deanna Zandt speaks about WikiLeaks
Date - Uploaded on Dec 15, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames - (Transparency, Constitutional)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCrX6KKg1rA
Media consultant Deanna Zandt on CNN International talks about WikiLeaks relation to the free press and freedom of speech. She comments on the affects that Assange is having on WikiLeaks as an organization and the internet being protected under freedom of speech and corporations running a public space.
30. Larry King Live: CNN: Should secret documents be made public?
Date - Uploaded on Nov 29, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Foreign Policy, Killing Americans)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vsUsr1cWg
Officials disagree on WikiLeaks' release of thousands of leaked documents Larry King moderates the conversation that centers around the freedom of the press, leaks damaging U.S. foreign policy, lives and credibility.
Final Results
1) Media: 18
2) Folk Devils: 6
3) Public: 3
4) Politicians: 3
5) Law Makers: 0
Tone
Positive – 4, Neutral – 17, Negative – 9
The majority of the coverage I classified into the Media category (18) because I found them to be articulating on WikiLeaks pertaining whether the internet was part of the media, the freedom of press, transparency, endangering lives, legal aspects and diplomatic relations. Second was the Folk Devil category (6) because of labeling WikiLeaks, Manning and Assange as terrorists and as a threat to American lives and society. The Politician category and the Public category were tied (3) I found that they weigh in on the situation but had different views towards WikiLeaks that lead to different frames. I found none to fit into the law maker category because they normally fit better in a different category. Overall CNN coverage mainly took a neutral stance and tone towards the coverage on WikiLeaks. Analyzing the data pertaining to the tone, folk devil category, social actor’s category and frames within frames I believe that the coverage of WikiLeaks by CNN didn’t provide what could constitute a moral panic.
Positively Framed Articles included frames within frames and consisted of:
- Transparency - Leaks ensure transparent dealings between governments.
- Hurts American Enemies- Leak of diplomatic cables hurts North Korea, Iran.
- Freedom of the Press and Speech.
Negatively Framed Articles included frames within frames and consisted of:
-Hubris/Ego - Assange and subordinates do it to make themselves look important.
-Unpatriotic- Un-American - Damages national security, American way of life and culture.
-Rapist/Sexual Deviant - Focuses on seedy details of allegations against Assange
-Hacker - Characterizes WikiLeaks as hacker organization.
- Hurts America, Americans and its Allies.
Study Limitations:
Because of the limited information this study represents, a better, more precise understanding of the media requires more information and better methods of research that could include:
1: The number of active clips available.
2: The amount of traffic and volume each clip receives.
3: Who finances, maintains, and controls to the media station.
4: A better understanding of what constitutes the depiction of a folk devil.
5: Looking further into the frames within the frames.
6: Checking better for inconsistency in data sampling.
Is it representative of all media?
Right vs. Left discrepancies?
What media have we left out?
7: How much influence does each media source have over public opinion?
For example, how many people read a certain article or watched a specific television program? If the public doesn’t watch it, they are not influenced; therefore, definitional dictated, moral panic is impossible. On the other hand, if the volume of viewers a program receives greatly exceeds other similar programs, the influence it has on the general public would be substantially heightened.
8. How does the coverage of WikiLeaks compare to other issues and topics?
How does that WikiLeaks coverage compare to other topics of interest? The influence a topic has on the public positively correlates with the amount of coverage it receives, otherwise, the theoretical foundations that a moral panic is built on crumble.
9. Only listing the Dominant Social Actor
Who is depicting WikiLeaks as a social actor?
Where are the media sources getting their information?
Each article has potential to represent an aspect of every social actor. For example, CNN (Media) cites Joe Biden (Vice President - Politician) who claims WikiLeaks is a threat to the safety of our country (Folk Devil). As a result, Biden states that they are weighing the prospects criminal action. This is followed up with an interview of a prosecutor (Law Enforcer) who is questioned on the validity of criminalizing WikiLeaks for leaking the cables while a million people (public) watched the program. All of the social actors are present in this illustration, and they all could be taken into account.
References
Bonn, Scott A. (2010). Mass Deception: Moral Panic and the U.S. War on Iraq. Rutgers University Press: New Jersey.
Cohen, S. (1972). Folk devils and moral panics: The creation of the mods and rockers. MacGibbon & Kee: London.
Fox News
This is the breakdown of WikiLeaks coverage on Fox News (30 picked randomly) between spring 2010 till April 2011. The title is first followed by the date of the coverage, then the frames (tone) - common frames used, followed by the label (folk devil if it applied), social actors, then the web site where the video can be seen, and a small review and/or comments by viewers of the coverage. The media collected was then separated into five categories based on the dominant social actor portrayed but when coverage could be put in more than one frame or by more than one social actor I put it in the dominate frame or social actor which is listed first. I gave more prevalence to folk devil category when politicians or the media would label them negatively as evil (terrorist, treasonous) and a threat to Americans and American ideals. 1. WikiLeaks Exposes Fox News White House Connection?
Date - July-26-2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Endangering Lives)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snKK420MYsI
The main media starts wondering what the white House knew and when concerning the dumping of information by WikiLeaks. White House and Military says WikiLeaks puts American soldiers in danger. Assange says some leaks prove war crimes have been committed by America. WikiLeaks Exposes how Fox News is Reporting the WikiLeaks Afghan Story (Did they follow Obama's request on how to report it)? Biggest release of classified information far more then Danny Esinburg, Assange says there have been war crimes discovered by leaks documents cover change strategy in Afghanistan.
2. FOX news kisses WikiLeaks Julian Assange
Date - 12-08-2010
Frames -Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Traitor, Transparency, Political Target)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZseDPPrz9w
Assange claims his only agenda is the truth and he’s not a cybercriminal but a seeker of truth and that he and WikiLeaks are part of the media, comparing himself to Daniel Ellsburg (pentagon papers) others say he’s running from sex crimes.
3. WikiLeaks Founder a Terrorist Fox News Video Fox News com
Date - 12 - 2 - 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Rapist, Terrorist, Unpatriotic)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn-MOfUyAGo
Hannity speaks about what should happen to WikiLeaks and Assange and does his usual ranted and raven over WikiLeaks. Hannity and Ann Coulter talking bad about WikiLeaks Social Actor Sara Palin as saying “we should go after Assange like Al Queda and the Taliban leaders”. Coulter claims “America is helpless pitiful giant with Democrats in the White House” and claims WikiLeaks is harming national security committing crimes say America under democrats is helpless pitiful giant. They talk bad about Private Manning being poster boy for don’t ask don’t tell.
4. WikiLeaks Founder in contact with Obama admin. Before leaks
Date - Uploaded on Jul 28, 2010
Frames -Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Traitor, Transparency, Political Target)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_0fU7SYqoI
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks talk with Judge Napolitano of Fox News about how the leaks may lead to civilian and American deaths. The judge asks Assange if he’s responsible for causing American soldiers getting killed. Assange replied that he was in contact with the White House before the leaks were posted and asked them to review it. Subsequently Fox News discovered that Assange tried to reach the W.H. through the New York Times, but the message never got through the Judge runs through the legal aspects of the case.
5. GetUp! - WikiLeaks on O'Reilly Factor - 7.30 Reports
Date - 12-14- 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist, Transparency)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKnw-V5fjBI
One on panel says Assange should be treated fairly he’s an Australian citizen, however rest of Fox panel thinks WikiLeaks has no right to publish information he should be killed, executed, assassinated jailed says he’s a cyber terrorist, sabotage, espionage and terrorist.
6. Hannity Only Interested In How WikiLeaks Could Damage Obama
Date - November - 29 - 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor – Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97mzTKBabe0
Panel says Assange should be stopped however the White House and Eric Holder are weak enforcing their authority and that they stop WikiLeaks and not out trying to lobby for the World Cup coming to America in 2020. When Democrat Bob Beckel tries to discuss the substance of the WikiLeaks documents Sean Hannity tells him he's "missing the point." The only point of the three-conservatives-to-one-liberal discussion was to use the issue to attack Obama.
7. Senator McCain on The Hannity Show - FOX News_July 27
Date - July-27- 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Treason, National Security)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Politician,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcZbam9Nh2Y
Senator McCain appeared on The Hannity Show on FOX News to discuss the Wikileaks scandal and Arizona Immigration news. WikiLeaks is an act of treason says Rep King, Senator McCain says WikiLeaks is ultra, left and is a breach of national security and prosecutable on several grounds thinks WikiLeaks is awful and dangerous.
8. Hannity Interview on WikiLeaks11/29/10
Date - 11- 29- 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Transparency, Hurts Diplomatic Relations)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mskg-4uI-Kw
WikiLeaks claims in latest dump of information that top government officials reported that that “Karzi is delusional and extremely weak,” and that Kim Jong-il, is labeled “a flabby old chap,” and that Iran leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is like “Hitler”. WikiLeaks and Assange damaging national security, and are demonized plus Obama administration does nothing.
9. Glenn Beck Show (November 29, 2010): WikiLeaks Questions
Date – 11- 29 - 2010
Frames – Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Terrorism)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfXu3LJ_MEU
Government and WikiLeaks is lying to you secrets are being reveled whose really involved, Beck hints that WikiLeaks is part of a bigger story and connected to terrorism. Beck doesn’t like what WikiLeaks is doing but compares himself with organization because the governments out to screw them both.
10. Fox News Glenn Beck WikiLeaks Assange Tree Of Liberty Control of Media 1 of 5 Dec 7, 2010
Date - 12 - 7 - 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Rapist, Transparency, Political Target)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWYmYIx_kKE
Fox News Glenn Beck explains the smell test of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's story, the friends of Assange, the Tree of Liberty, and Control of Media. Glenn talks about sexual offences (sex by surprise) and wealthy donors trying to “spring him out of jail”. Beck doesn’t support WikiLeaks or Assange but they do same thing he tries to do which is “exposing that governments all around the world have been lying to us. However he doesn’t believe the charges against him have any credibility and maintains a neutral tone towards WikiLeaks and Assange.
11. Rage against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks (Tom Flanagan, Bill O'Reilly, Megyn Kelly)
Date - 12-3-2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist, Unpatriotic)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media, Public
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Bc6p1ZjGk&feature=related
Professor Tom Flanagan called for the assassination of Julian Assange; Bill O'Reilly (Fox News TV host) called for his arrest on charges of Spying (and demanded execution or life imprisonment for whistleblower Bradley Manning - a Wikileaks source). O’Reilly refers to Assange and Private Manning as traitors and sleaze balls and are Professor Tom Flanagan, a hard-line right-winger and a political campaign organizer (for the Canadian prime minister)... said that Obama should put a contract out on Assange's life or send out a drone (unmanned aircraft) to kill him.
12. Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck Discuss WikiLeaks
Date - Uploaded 12-1-2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Unpatriotic, Terrorist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aTmde7KHA4&feature=related
The panel believes WikiLeaks and George Soros is helping Assange they believe that people that read The Nation “the 4 people” believes these readers and WikiLeaks are communist like and hate capitalism these two think they do true informing.
13. Bill O'Reilly: Why Is Obama Silent On WikiLeaks?
Date - Uploaded on Dec 2, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Terrorist, Anti-American)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lT3CcVA2gw
Bill getting worked up over WikiLeaks and the President’s actions or non-actions, President Obama won’t take a stand on WikiLeaks he’s staying silent on the topic claims that the USA can’t protect its secrets. Majority of people want Assange arrested on espionage charges, he’s a terrorist” Assange’s image painted as anti –American.
14. Ann Coulter: America Is a Helpless Pitiful Giant Because Democrats Are in White House
Date - Uploaded 11-30-2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist)
Labels - Folk Devil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_C_xEoSn4w
Ann Coulter described what will happen to criminal WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for leaking the 250,000 US security documents. She says nothing because democrats are in the White House and is weak and inefficient she uses negative labels for Assange, WikiLeaks and Private Manning sounding extremely one sided and full of herself.
15. Pentagon: WikiLeaks Should Turn Over Remaining Documents - 08/05/10
Date - 08-05-2010-
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Security)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvu4Sx5EP80
Shepard Smith leads discussion concerning if WikiLeaks should turn over remaining Afghanistan documents, furthermore the soldiers should be protected from any data dumping, however he may be safe under freedom of press.
16. FOX news kisses WikiLeaks Julian Assange
Date - Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010
Frames – Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Journalism)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZseDPPrz9w
This piece of news the media didn’t go out of their way to frame the news story positive or negatively which was surprising and refreshing. Respondents to this video wrote “NO opinions, NO ranting (O'Reilly must be back at the clinic or on his medication once more). Is Assange a journalist?
17. Shut down WikiLeaks - Liz Cheney to Obama
Date - Uploaded on Aug 2, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhNQiJPN1W8&feature=related
Following the release of 92,000 war files, Liz Cheney is calling for WikiLeaks to be shut down and says that the founder has "blood on his hands." WikiLeaks organization is getting painted as terror network against American Values."I would point out that although you've got the news about the WikiLeaks documents that that came out this week and clearly Julian Assange's effort was to change course for the US policy in Afghanistan," Cheney told Fox News' Chris Wallace Sunday. Cheney went off the deep end for me when she claimed America should attack Iceland if they didn’t agree with her position on WikiLeaks "I would really like to see President Obama to move to ask the government of Iceland to shut that website down. I would like to see him move to shut it down ourselves if Iceland won't do it. I would like to see them move aggressively to prosecute Mr. Assange and certainly ensure that he never again gets a visa to enter the United States," said Cheney. Liz seems to me to be the pot calling the kettle black, did she forget the illegal war her dad and Bush lied to America about? Is blood on her hands for supporting policies that puts American soldier’s life at risk in illegal wars that was meant to help corporations like Black Water and her dads company Halliburton?
18. Karl Rove Wants WikiLeaks 'Criminal' Julian Assange 'Hunted Down And Grabbed And Put On Trial'
Date - Uploaded on Aug 7, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Anti-American)
Labels – Folk Devil
Social Actor - Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp8a8EWiWls&feature=related
On Fox News Business Channel, Karl Rove says he wants the 'criminal' WikiLeaks owner 'Hunted down and Grabbed and Put On Trial' for endangering American, and Afghans lives. He constantly uses negative labels for WikiLeaks, Assange and encourages violence against them by the American government. Rove thinks the Obama administration should better handle the WikiLeaks mess and Assange should be captured.
19. WikiLeaks: Saudi Arabia royal families held "wild parties" - FoxNews 101208
Date - Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010-
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qk7PyR_SQE
WikiLeaks is more than Assange; it’s a well- oiled leaking machine. Royal family had big party with liquor, and hookers which is illegal in Saudi Arabia and the Saudis asked the United States to attack Iran.
20. Was Bush Right? - WikiLeaks Supports WMD Myth
Date - Uploaded on Jan 7, 2011
Frames - Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e25cIc9PXfk
News anchor’s still claiming that George Bush was right about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction and WMD’s and that WikiLeaks proves this with their latest document dump. What's Wrong With WikiLeaks? Is WikiLeaks safe under The Freedom of the Press As one viewer said, "It's hard to finger a ghost but easy to smell a rat." Don’t know if this is damage control for Bush still, or re-writing history by any means necessary.
21. Graham Discusses WikiLeaks and Detainee Policy
Date - Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010 -
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Terrorist, Traitor)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Politician, Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PTfZ77OnG8&feature=related
Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren to discuss the most recent release of confidential information on the WikiLeaks site and he believes Assange has “blood on his hands” and he doesn’t approve of the leaks or endangering lives of Americans.
22. Newt Gingrich Says the Whole WikiLeaks Thing Is "Stupid
Date - Uploaded on Dec 5, 2010 -
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB-dS2STR6s
Gingrich negatively labels Assange and says Julian Assange should be treated as a terrorist, an enemy combatant. Furthermore, “how do you have a system so stupid?" That the system doesn’t account for times when millions of classified information is downloaded.
23. Outrage over WikiLeaks: "Kill Julian Assange!"
Date - Uploaded on Dec 12, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist, Rapist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Politicians, Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FGEDJ0Mxbk&feature=related
Bill O'Reilly, Mitch McConell, Newt Gingrich, Bob Beckel outraged over WikiLeaks and Julian Assange all take turns trying to frame WikiLeaks and Assange as anti- American and they promote a military attack on Assange.
O'Reilly: I'd like to see a little drone hit Julian Assange. I think he is a bad man. If he lived in Britain 007 would take care of him.
McConell: I think the man is a terrorist and needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and if this becomes a problem you need to change the law.
Gingrich: Julian Assange is engaged in terrorism. He should be treated as an enemy combatant. WikiLeaks should be closed down permanently and decisively.
Beckel: I am not for the death penalty and if I am not for the death penalty, how do I want to do it? Illegally shoot the son of a bitch.
24. Julian Assange Could Get The Death Penalty! Former U.S. Attorney General
Date - December 11, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Terrorist)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Law Enforcement, Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SECvdsCfa1E&feature=related
Assange trying to get framed as Anti-American and dangerous to the values America holds sacred. The government should be looking into Espionage Act 1917; however it’s never been used against a publisher.
25. Christine O'Donnell - WikiLeaks' Assange An Enemy Of The State, A Virtual WMD
Date - December 01, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor, Anti - American)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWuA9EQaBss
Former Senate candidate rates president's proposal she says it breach of security, “Assange is an ego maniac, a treasonous and is threatening American lives and way of Life”. O’Donnell doesn’t feel WikiLeaks is protected as media agent and brings life to the camera as she always does getting her views across no matter what.
25. Fox News WikiLeaks Distraction of the Day: Hillary Clinton Chapter
Date - Uploaded on Dec 1, 2010
Frames - Tone (Neutral) - Common Frames (Transparency, Legal)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEDQFV9Wsqc
Panel discusses Hillary Clinton and how she’s spinning WikiLeaks information to her advantage. You know a right-wing accusation has to be off the wall when Sean Hannity sounds skeptical. That's what happened when Dick Morris theorized that the WikiLeaks documents suggest Hillary Clinton was trying to blackmail foreign diplomats and heads of state. Clinton using her old methods can't teach an old dog new trick, she doing same as what she did with the lady’s that fooled around with her husband when he was President. Does WikiLeaks safe under freedom of the press?
26. Deneen Borelli of Project 21 on WikiLeaks, Obama's Struggling
Date - Uploaded on Aug 9, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (National Security)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQLkHAQwu5M
Deneen Borelli talks about the national security implications of the posting of sensitive military files on the WikiLeaks web site and the criminal charges that could be facing site owner Julian Assange. The Panel seems to all be convinced that Assange is a terrorist and don’t care about the truth of the WikiLeaks files being shared. Switching topics, Deneen comments on President Obama once again trying to blame the problems of his policies on the long-gone Bush Administration — noting that the only cards Obama seems to have left are the "Bush card" and the "race card." Deneen is joined by pollster Doug Schoen, National Review editor Rich Lowry and guest host Liz Cheney on the 8/6/10 edition of the Fox News Channel's "Hannity." ‘Assange a terrorist, throw the book at him, we’re at war with Assange he should be convicted of treason’.
27. WikiLeaks Simplified
Date - Uploaded on Dec 13, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Traitor/Rapist/So on)
Labels - None
Social Actor -Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpjV--1gN10
Director of International Operations Jordan Sekulow recently appeared on Fox News' America's News HQ to discuss WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange current predicament. The panel wastes no time spinning the debate over WikiLeaks as criminal, dangerous and anti-American. Arrested in United Kingdom, wanted in Sweden for sexual charges and the United States, will Assange receive justice? What and who else may bring charges against him? What charges (conspiracy, espionage, declare him an enemy of state)?
28. Erica Payne on FNC's Geraldo at Large re: WikiLeaks 11-28-2010
Date - 11-28-2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Anti-American, Hurts Diplomatic Relations)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNCoKxiDR6o
Erica Payne discussing WikiLeaks releasing classified documents threatens Americans and their honor and that Assange is threatening American society and lives.
29. CMDR Lippold interviewed about WikiLeaks
Date - Monday, November 29, 2010 -
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Endangering Lives and Diplomatic Relations)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Law Enforcement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urAmRhuNgeM
Commander Kirk Lippold appears on 'Your World with Neil Cavuto' on Fox News. WikiLeaks endangering Americans, New York Times no journalistic integrity.
30. WikiLeaks Julian Assange "If You Love Freedom Close Your Bank Of America Accounts"
Date - Uploaded on Dec 19, 2010
Frames - Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GczCf1SxpEw
Bank of America, Visa, Pay Pal and others won’t conduct business with WikiLeaks, due to WikiLeaks sharing information on the Bank of America, who should be arrested and why? Controversy continues as the banks that heisted America calls WikiLeaks the criminals!
Overall Results
1) Folk Devils: 15
2) Law Makers: 0
3) Media: 14
4) Politicians: 1
5) Public: 0
Tone – Positive 1, Neutral 9, Negative 20
The majority of the articles I classified into the folk devil category because I found that the social actors were pushing a negative label on to WikiLeaks as I found that many people wanting to paint Assange as a terrorist, a danger to American values and lives, and as a rapist. The media came in close behind due to them articulating on WikiLeaks pertaining whether the internet was part of the media, the freedom of press, transparency, endangering lives and diplomatic relations. The Politicians category was third because as more than three politicians weighed in on the subject but they fell under the folk devil category much better because they painted Assange as a threat to American ideals more than anything else. I found zero to fit into the Public category or in the Law Maker category as there was always an aspect of the public, but the coverage normally fit better in a different category. Overall the majority of the social actors were framing WikiLeaks/ Assange with a negative tone 20 out of 30 (one positive, nine neutral, and twenty against). Analyzing the data pertaining to the tone, folk devil category, social actor’s category and frames within frames I believe that the coverage of WikiLeaks by Fox didn’t provide what could constitute a moral panic although half of the data was labeled in the folk devil category, half wasn’t.
MSNBC
This is the breakdown of WikiLeaks coverage for MSNBC News (30 picked randomly) between spring 2010 till April 2011. The title is first followed by the date of the coverage, then the frames (tone) - common frames used, followed by the label (folk devil if it applied), social actors, then the web site where the video can be seen, and a small review and/or comments by viewers of the coverage. The media collected was then separated into five categories based on the dominant social actor portrayed but when coverage could be put in more than one frame or by more than one social actor I put it in the dominate frame or social actor which is listed first. I gave more prevalence to folk devil category when politicians or the media would label them negatively as evil (terrorist, treasonous) and a threat to Americans and American ideals.
1. WikiLeaks & War with Iran - MSNBC w/ Cenk –
Date - 11-29-1010
Frames -Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnC-bnOMBVw-
Cenk questions if our friends in the Middle East has Americas best interest in mind. White House says leaks are reckless and dangerous. Saudi King quote “cut the head off the snake” wants USA to attack Iran. Cenk’s (media) vibe seems to be un-trust worthy of Saudi Arabia because they harbor and fund the most terrorism, begs us to strike Iran (in leaks) behind their backs, but not out in the open.
2. STATE RUN TV (MSNBC) - Could WikiLeaks endanger U.S. diplomacy. (Andrea Mitchell)
Date - Dec 1, 2010
Frames – Tone (Negative) - Common Frames (Hurts Diplomatic Relations, Endangers Lives)
Labels - Folk Devil
Social Actor – Media, Politician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqYowqzwSJs
Andrea Mitchell takes her stance on WikiLeaks as a regular viewer probably knows she’s super pro- Israel and believes these leaks can and will endanger diplomacy in the Middle East. Furthermore leaks are an attack on the international community, and the United States should use espionage act against Assange, calls private Manning a disgruntled serviceman, damaging diplomacy, Congresswomen Jane Harmanmakes an appearance as well.
3. WikiLeaks Targeting Big Banks - MSNBC w/ Cen
Date - Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010
Frames – Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQI-BfZiKr8
Cenk looks into why WikiLeaks and the big banks are feuding, could it be that the banks robbed America? WikiLeaks going after Wall Street as ecosystem of corruption of unethical practices, Wall Street beware, leaks on pharmacy companies, and on BP. Wikileaks makes capitalism free and ethical Ice land being called the Switzerland for
4. Jimmy Carter: "Nothing Damaging To American Security in Wikileaks
Date - Uploaded on Nov 29, 2010
Frames -Tone (Positive) - Common Frames (Transparency)
Labels - None
Social Actor - Politician, Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFLHb42zF7o
Jimmy Carter opening up to the public like only he can will there be retractions for these statements? "I don't know that anything serious has happened that would be damaging to America's policies around the world and so forth," Jimmy Carter told MSNBC Monday night. Vibe was neutral from both. Interview with Lawrence O’Donnell.
5. MSNBC Julian Assange WikiLeaks is kind of like the police protecting the innocent.mov
Date - Uploaded July 28 2010