Media coverage of right-wing violence: a comparative study

This study seeks to understand how media coverage of right-wing extremism and right-wing terrorism compares to the more general coverage of terrorism that appears in major US newspapers. A qualitative content analysis was completed of 936 articles published by the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. The primary findings include that right-wing ideology is explicitly explained; the terrorism label is used mainly for bombings committed by right-wing perpetrators and not for other violent events, such as shootings; and counterterrorism is a major topic in terrorism reporting in general but it is nearly nonexistent in the coverage of right-wing violence. The results showcased that the news media is not consistent in its coverage of right-wing violence and terrorism in a way that dampens the significance of right-wing violence in America.