Selected Elite Newspapers and Coverage of the Persian Gulf War: A content Analysis and Study of the Influence of the New York Times and Los Angeles Times on Public Opinion

This study traces the coverage of Operation DESERT SHIELDDESERT STORM in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times to determine the amount and tone of coverage given various aspects of the conflict. Further, it examines the assertion that coverage by major media organs had an impact on popular support for U.S. military intervention in the Persian Gulf area. The study focuses on five topics of concern relative amount of coverage pertaining to selected topics of public interest percentage of stories coded as favorable, neutral, or unfavorable regarding Presidential policymilitary intervention in the region relationship between the amount and tone of coverage and the level of popular support as reflected in public opinion polls identification of variables in public policy or events appeared to influence public opinion regarding military involvement in the Persian Gulf and, differences in the amount and tone of coverage between the two media. This study concludes that the newspaper coverage studied was highly balanced and fair during the Persian Conflict and that the coverage tended to reflect events rather than tertiary issues, and that media had a limited role in directly influencing public opinion.