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By operationalizing visual frames in terms of the human-interest vs technical frame and the anti-war vs the pro-war frame, and exploring the use of two sets of framing devices: graphic portrayal and emphasis, this framing analysis of 1387 photographs examined contrasting visual narratives employed by English- and Arabic-language transnational press in covering the 9/11 attack and the Afghan War. For the English-language newspaper, the International Herald Tribune, the frames emphasized the human suffering of 9/11 and de-emphasized the civilian casualties and moral guilt of implementing military force in Afghanistan by focusing more on a pro-war frame that showed the complex military high-tech operations and patriotic pictures. For the Arabic-language newspaper, Al-Hayat, the frames focused less on the victims and more on the material destruction of 9/11 and humanized the victims of the Afghan War. Furthermore, it focused on an anti-war frame by running visuals of anti-war protests and emphasizing graphic visuals portraying the humanitarian crisis in the Muslim country of Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article investigates the shifting discourse on Islam and Muslims in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. It seeks to investigate and compare the visual and verbal frames used to describe Islam within and outside America, which aspects of the religion were emphasized or omitted and how closely the frames of Islam concurred with the ideology of officials. Through this case study of American network news coverage post-9/11, the article argues that objective coverage of Islam is a myth, not just in America, but across the world. The author supports the problematic but necessary remedial action of urging reporters to acknowledge their subjectivity and find ways to increase their transparency regarding the choices they make in constructing their frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]