Abstract

This research aims to examine how Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste imprisonment was portrayed in both the Australian and the Egyptian media. In light of the framing theory and Gatekeeping Theory, a quantitative content analysis was conducted to examine a total number of 69 news articles of the most visited news websites in each country. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was utilized to select 35 Australian news stories from news.com.au, and 34 Egyptian news articles from each of Egypt Independent and Ahram Online websites. The duration under study is a seven-month period that witnessed the journalist’s sentencing to seven years of prison on June 23rd, 2014, until reporting his release on February 2nd, 2015. Through analyzing these articles, the research concluded that both countries’ media were similar in: the overall portrayal of Greste through reporting on the case, the portrayal of the unfair processing of the case, and the portrayal of the consequences of this case on restricting media freedom in Egypt. However, Egyptian media showed some partiality in reporting on the evidence, portraying the criticism of the Egyptian authorities –whether the President or the judiciary- and portraying the violations against human rights in Egypt. Therefore, the framing of Greste’s case in Egyptian, versus Australian news articles, confirms that the media in Egypt are relatively restricted.

Department

Journalism & Mass Communication Department

Degree Name

MA in Journalism & Mass Communication

Graduation Date

6-1-2016

Submission Date

May 2016

First Advisor

Ismail, Amani

Committee Member 1

El Baradei, Laila

Committee Member 2

Close, Ronnie

Extent

124 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

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