Norway and the USA: The Norwegian Media's Coverage of September 11, 2001

The terrorist attack in the USA on September 11, 2001, is perhaps the most significant event in recent American history. This thesis is a study of how the Norwegian media covered the most important crisis in the contiguous USA in modern time, the terrorist attacks in Washington and New York on September 11, 2001. It is also a study of the relationship between Norway and the USA; a relationship that influenced the manner in which the media covered the events of September 11 and its aftermath. The news coverage of September 11 has been studied through examining the three Norwegian national newspapers Aftenposten, Dagbladet and VG, along with selected TV newscasts from TV2 and NRK 1. The examination of the material suggests that the sentiments of sympathy and aversion which were plainly reflected in the early media coverage were to some extent replaced by articles and newscasts that framed the USA as an aggressor and as being a hazard to the world and world peace.The relationship between Norway and the United States has been traced through time, and that examination has revealed a relationship subjected to swings and shifts in attitude toward each other