BBC news and CNN coverage of Manchester Stadium bombing attack
The case study compares and analyses BBC news and CNN coverage of Manchester Stadium bombing attack in the UK which happened on 22 May 2017. Five items of each media coverage reported during a week in May 2017 are selected as samples in the following study. Comparison and discussion focus on following main questions. What similarities and differences are between the media frames of the terrorist attacks reported by the mainstream media in Britain and the American through two international media. How the comparison of reports' number, the interviewee, the choice of the reporting angles.
Firstly, the news of the Manchester attack by BBC news and CNN present plenty of similar aspects. Both of them paid much attention to this international event. During the first week, the number of news reporting by BBC news and CNN is 33 and 26. Both of BBC news and CNN show news stories of acts of kindness that a lot of people voluntarily participate in the rescue. According to the coverage reported by BBC news on the day after the attack happened, locals provide spare rooms for victims on social media. Meanwhile, the drivers offer free rides after the concert. BBC news used 'glue' to describe the true spirit of people stick together when facing this 'devastating tragedy'(1). CNN also shows the positive activities in the face of terrorism that drivers offer free rides, free food provided by the restaurants. Moreover, CNN emphasized to describe the emotions of the victims themselves, like 'My first thought was that I would never see my parents again' said by a 15-year-old interviewer (2). According to citizen journalism, crisis coverage plays the role of 'collaborative product' which report to the public the objective facts and collect much more expression of emotion (Sambrook, 2009).
Both reminder the catastrophic of the terrorist attack by reporting young victims. CNN informed this terror incident was the deadliest attack in England since the London bombings attack. The coverage aimed to highlight children were the victims of terrorism. 'This particular attack was aimed at the most vulnerable in our society, young people, children at a concert' said by Home Secretary Amber Rudd (3). CNN emphasized the main target victim of murderer during this terrorist attack were children and young people, in terms of raising the public's dislike of bombings and terrorists. It is also another way to spread anti-terrorist ideas. In contrast, BBC news high frequency to interview relatives rather than report victims to protect children from secondary traumatization. BBC news using 'positive' and 'staying strong' to describe the relatives were devastated in facing the attack. The coverage claimed that children were being treated in hospital for serious injuries (4). Both CNN and BBC news reported the catastrophic nature of the terrorist attack through reporting the site conditions.
Both of CNN and BBC news portray the British government voice and the attitude of international high-ranking individuals, like US President Trump. The coverage focused on the interviewees and the investigation process for the identity of the perpetrators. Meanwhile, it shows their determination to combat terrorism. The BBC news show Trump emphasized that terrorism was a 'barbaric' and 'vicious' attack that these extremists must be finding, exposing and removing from their societies. It also published the investigation of the attacker, his sister said 'He wanted revenge when he saw the explosives the United States drops on children in Syria.' The BBC mentioned that "the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber" and it was an unknowable acute counter-terrorism investigation for the British police and MI5 (5). The interviewee of CNN focused on government officials, especially the counter-terrorism officials' reporting for over six times. According to the Greater Manchester Police, the attacker alleged connected with terror groups. CNN reported that US military officials involved in overseas US Africa Command in Libya to investigate the attacker's tendency (6). Both further instructions: first, counter-terrorism is a global cause which the attack also as a warning to remind the US. Secondly, it highlights the fact that the United States, of course, is called the world's policeman.
From the comparison, there are some notable differences between the coverage of CNN and BBC news. The main theme of BBC news was focusing on the rosier side of the rescue operation to encourage people. Whereas CNN paid more attention to the mourning and memory rituals which also influence peace operations (Strobel, 1997). As the local media, BBC offered an important boost of morale at this critical moment. Specifically, this US singer Ariana Grande organized the Manchester benefit concert 'The One Love Manchester' which will raise money for the victims and also offered free tickets to victim fans. The coverage also mentioned that the police say 'making a good progress' during the investigation of the attack (7). Simultaneously, BBC news reported, the government has raised the UK terrorism level from "severe" to "critical" for the first time since 2007 for extra security to protect the public (8). In comparison, CNN argued that 'the breakdown of trust' between the two countries caused because of the leaks as 'deeply troubling' (10). Trump also challenged that the UK war on terror "is simply not working" (9). Meanwhile, CNN used the tone of sarcasm to criticize Trump's challenge of British anti-terrorism security's low performance to indicate the political stance of CNN.
In conclusion, the case study found there are great similarities for these two media in high concern about the voice of attention to positive reports, prompting catastrophic of terror attacks by children. And there are certain differences in local and foreign media coverage, use of videos, choice of reporting angles, and whether there are obvious political party biases. Like CNN Effect as the debated notion that mainstream news media in general (Bahador, 2007). Thus, both of them should not discriminate between different races in the report and should avoid position issues.