NCJ Number
122513
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (1988) Pages: 323-328
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
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 to address the issue of media sensationalization of a politically sensitive event before concrete evidence was presented to the public.
Abstract
Stories written both before and after evidence of North Korean terrorist involvement in the incident was examined. Contrary to popular belief, the findings indicate that neither press sensationalized reports of terrorism. Despite early rumors of North Korean involvement, both the U.S. and South Korean press did not stress the terrorist issue nor North Korean angles until substantive evidence of terrorism had been uncovered. However, South Korean public officials did exercise some measure of "agenda control" in directing media coverage to emphasize North Korean involvement in the crash. 1 table, 3 references. (Author abstract modified)