The Release Of U.s. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl - 1793 Words

In 2014, the release of U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban forces in Afghanistan made headline news across the world. Initial reports were celebratory but were short lived in the United States, as controversy exploded with Republican officials vocally challenging the narrative and worthiness of President Obama’s executive order in facilitating Bergdahl’s release in exchange for five senior Taliban officials being held at Guantanamo. Bergdahl’s character was called into question as both he and President Obama were vilified in the shifting chorus of media coverage, with many news outlets playing up the â€Å"controversy† of the President’s action and Bergdahl’s supposed ignoble character. Given the media coverage of this event and†¦show more content†¦For Israel, Shalit was a national cause. Conversely, Bergdahl was anything but a national cause. After initial news reports of his, his name faded into obscurity. Between June 30th, 2009, the date of his capture, and May 31st, 2014, the date of his release from Taliban forces, mention of Bergdahl in news media can be traced back to 10 events: five video releases by the Taliban with Bergdahl, three statements issued by the U.S., and two statements issued by his parents regarding his captivity. While of course there were more news stories regarding Bergdahl captivity over this time period, most news coverage corresponded with these 10 events. Hardly a national cause. What this paper seeks to address are the differences and underlying reasons in media coverage and national perceptions, as demonstrated by the case of Bergdahl and Shalit. Despite the remarkable similarities between the two stories of their captivity and release, why did each play out so differently in their countries’ respective media outlets? These two cases can help us understand what role the media plays in delivering the news and how certain news is framed and for what purpose. It also demonstrates the role that partisan coverage plays in the current media environment and how those narratives define perceptions of the event and essentially tell the viewer what to believe, instead of giving them information to make their opinions. Mass Media in the United States