Framing the 2013 Westgate Mall attack: A comparative study of Kenyan and US media perspectives

Abstract

This article explores the diverse media framing of the 2013 Westgate Mall attack presented by Kenyan and US newspapers. The author reveals how national contexts and cultural values shape news narratives by analyzing 242 articles from Kenya’s Daily Nation and Standard and the US’s New York Times and Washington Post. The findings show that Kenyan and US newspapers predominantly employed episodic frames, with Kenyan newspapers utilizing them in 69.7 percent of articles compared to US newspapers in 64 percent of articles. This episodic focus highlights individual experiences and immediate events consistent with broader media trends. However, the study uncovers significant differences in micro-level framing: Kenyan media emphasized human-interest narratives (69.1%), focusing on personal stories and emotional impact, while US media prioritized the conflict frame (49%), framing the attack within broader geopolitical conflicts. This contrast illustrates how Kenyan media fostered national unity and empathy, albeit at the expense of critically examining systemic issues. In contrast, US media reinforced conflict-driven geopolitical narratives and potentially oversimplified the complexities of the attack and its context. The study underscores how media narratives shape public perception and policy discourse, reflecting broader national interests and cultural contexts. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding diverse media frames to grasp the full implications of global events. It suggests further research incorporating various media formats and broader sample sizes to deepen insights into media framing effects.