News Frames of Gaza Blockade in the Websites of the American Newspapers

Abstract

This Study aims at identifying the news reporting frameworks for Gaza blockade in the websites of U.S. newspapers. This is in addition to identifying their degree of interest in this cause as well as identifying the key figures, framework of reasons of blockade. Moreover the study also aims at identifying the mechanisms of employing news reporting framework. The study adopted descriptive approach using the content analysis method, and the method of mutual relations, which using the systematic comparison method, using two tools: the first is content analysis, which is based on the news frames theory, the second was the interview. The researchers also have selected the websites of The New York Times and The Washington Post, from June 14th, 2007, to July 3rd, 2013, 215 news articles of Gaza blockade was analyzed. The study revealed that the reporter was the main source of Gaza blockade in the websites with 82.3%, then the news agencies, and the websites used mainly the blockade results as the main frame with 31.3%, then the solutions frame, then the responsibility frame, the Israeli and international key figures have outnumbered the Palestinian key figures in the websites of the study and this shows the weakness of the Palestinian presence in this vital cause.