The Press as Agents of Nationalism in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee: How British Newspapers Celebrated a Media Event

The press coverage in anticipation of and during Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in Britain in June of 2002 illustrates Dayan and Katz’s (1992) theory that the media frequently adopt a “priestly” role when it comes to media events. The unexpected popularity of the Jubilee events caused the press to proclaim the Jubilee’s success as evidence of the nation’s continued strength, suggesting that their previous obsession with potential Jubilee failure was borne out of a sense of national insecurity. The coverage of the Jubilee as a whole points to the press’ role in promoting and celebrating patriotism