Visual Framing and the Construction of Terror: Photojournalistic Coverage in Print Media

Abstract

This study investigated the visual framing of the Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 21, 2013. It assessed how photojournalists framed this incident in the Daily Nation, Standard, and New York Times by examining the types of frames used, compositional elements, and the framing's effect on public perception of the attack. The study employed a qualitative descriptive research method, using descriptive content analysis with MaxQDA software to assess photographs for patterns, themes, and visual framing. A sample of fifty (50) photographs from the first three pages of the Daily Nation, The Standard, and The New York Times published on September 21-24, 2013, was analysed. Purposive sampling was used to select nine (9) media professionals for interviews. Semiology was utilised to derive meanings from the images using Rodriguez and Dimitrova's four-tiered model, and the focus was on denotative, stylistic-semiotic, connotative, and ideological representations. The findings revealed that media frequently prioritises sensational images to boost viewership, and this influences audience perceptions through fear and inspiration. The study contributes to the communication field by promoting visual literacy and empowering audiences to critically analyse media content and become discerning consumers of news.