The US Military in the News Media
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Abstract
This study is positioned at the crossroads of Cultural Studies and Media Studies within the broader context of American Studies. Utilizing the framework of framing theory, it aims to explore how the portrayal of the US military is presented in US news media and how these media narratives align with constructions in media texts. A more extensive objective is to establish a foundation for an international assessment and comparison of the integration of patriotic education within societies. The analysis reveals the presence of various frames in the examined texts, in both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ news, despite the fact that the news stories showcase diverse viewpoints. The implicit portrayal of the US military as a symbol of national allegiance and identity is evident in the news coverage, actively fostering a culture of honour within the US Armed Forces. Nonetheless, the Army faces insufficient personnel resources concerning the scope (and novelty) of its national defence responsibilities. Overall, the representation of the US military in the news media corresponds with the depiction prevalent in the recruitment literature across the three branches of the armed forces.
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Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium
Grant numbers TKP2021-NVA-10
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