ABSTRACT

The article illustrates the Pak-US relations in the context of the killing of Osama Bin Laden (OBL), covered in four leading newspapers of England and US; “The Telegraph”, “The Guardian”, “The New York Times” and “The Washington Post”, from the period of three months i.e. April-June, 2011. The study is conducted based on Operation Neptune Spear. The research study is theoretically linked with the propaganda model of Herman and Chomsky, and the Shoemaker and Reeve‘s theory of the content effect, particularly the impact of foreign policy, which is a driving tool, influencing the nature and treatment of reporting on Pak-US relations. The relations between Pakistan and USA are of great importance, with reference to OBL. The Pak-US relations were quite aggravated and hostile in pre-OBL period but post-OBL period worsened these relations. Interestingly, the policies of these newspapers were dependent on the foreign policy of their countries. It was explored that the news coverage was found favourable as and when the relations between Pakistan and the USA were cordial and smooth. Similarly, these relations turned into negative and unfavourable positions, when the relations were strained and deteriorating and endorsed various studies that the Western mainstream media tried to be more nationalistic in projecting official stance while covering foreign coverage, instead of adhering to universal cannon of journalism i.e. objectivity, fairness and neutrality etc. Overall 219 news items of these four selected newspapers regarding Pak-US relations in the context of pre-OBL and post-OBL’s killing operation were undertaken for analysis. The negative slant was found higher as compared to the positive and neutral. Besides, the ratio of news items, with unfavourable frames was found higher in post-OBL operation in comparison of pre-era of the coverage related to Pak-US relations in the leading British and American newspapers. Key words: Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan-USA Relations and Operation Neptune Spear

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2018/February/1517462534MS IJBPAS 2018 4374.pdf

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