Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, or Pro-Politics?: Framing Strategies of Fox News and MSNBC News in the Coverage of the Arizona Abortion Ban Case

Sammanfattning

In a constantly evolving politically polarized landscape, news coverage has become more and more prone to present underlying media bias in order to persuade audiences to certain views and opinions. This study conducts a framing analysis of Fox News and MSNBC’s news coverage of the Arizona abortion case during the month of April, 2024. The aim is to explore how these politically different news outlets frame and portray the issue by using theoretical frameworks including framing theory, selection of sources, as well as media bias. Previously, it has been found that news media follow certain biases, frames and ideologies in their reports. In the case of abortion, there are clear distinctions between political ideologies and what stance news outlets have depending on it. Pro-choice content is more often found in left-winged news coverage, whilst pro-life standpoint is more dominant in right-winged news outlets. These previous results are found through use of sources, statements and what story is covered. This study analyzed 22 articles through the framing theory and found similar results. Even though Fox News and MSNBC News are opposites on the political scale, there are similarities found in framing patterns. Most dominant frames that were used were (political) conflict frames, politics as game and strategy, joint with some instances of responsibility frame and politics as scandal. The news coverage from both channels focused heavily on the political battle between the Democratic and Republican parties, where emphasis lied on strategic statements and what impact the Arizonan 1864 law may have on the upcoming presidential election. Results also found that the sources used in the articles were only official sources, associates to organizations or political connections, thus a bias towards news shapers over news makers were found and also further showcases the predominant political aspect of the Arizona abortion case rather than including personalized stories. Whilst a few other frames were found once or twice within the articles, there is no question that these articles published by Fox News and MSNBC News highlight the role of media in shaping public opinion by way of framing the news coverage, selection of sources and media bias with a political view present.