Portrayal of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region in U.S. Newspapers: 2000-2010

Abstract

Abstract The Iraqi Kurdistan region claims that it is a close ally of the United States and supports its agenda in the Middle East. Therefore, to know what issues, events and sources the U.S. mainstream newspapers use to portray the region is essential. It's important for the Kurdish people to know whether the coverage of the U.S. newspapers about the Kurdistan region is positive or negative. It's also important for the American academic field to know if the U.S. newspapers' coverage of Kurdistan mirrors the U.S. foreign policies. A content analysis of three U.S. newspapers from 2000 to 2010 was conducted. The study found that the coverage reflected the U.S. agenda, concerns over ethnic and political strife and policies in Iraq. Results also show that the U.S. newspapers frequently cover events, not issues and rely heavily on powerful sources, not ordinary citizens.