Citation

Salwen MB, Lee JS. Terrorism 1988; 11(4): 323-328.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988)

DOI

10.1080/10576108808435721

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study compared U.S. and South Korean newspaper coverage of the November 1987 crash of Korean Airlines (KAL) flight 858 over the Thai‐Burma border. Comparisons were made before and after evidence of North Korean terrorist involvement in the crash was uncovered. The findings did not suggest evidence supporting the notion that the press plays up or sensationalizes reports of terrorism with little or no evidence. Even though the U.S. and South Korean press were aware of rumors of North Korean terrorist involvement in the crash before evidence of North Korean involvement was available, the press of both nations did not stress the terrorist angle or North Korean involvement until after evidence supporting North Korean terrorism was uncovered. It was also found that South Korean public officials exercised at least a degree of "agenda control" in directing press coverage to stress North Korean involvement in the crash.

Language: en