Examining Journalistic Discourses of Asian Americans in the News : A Qualitative Critical Discourse Analysis of News Coverage of the Atlanta Massage Parlor Shootings

Abstract: This thesis examines the effects of discourses by journalists from six major media outlets in the United States covering the Atlanta massage parlor shootings. Through conducting critical discourse analysis, this research investigates the journalist's use of language, content selection, and positioning to understand journalistic reporting's role in influencing and promoting xenophobia towards Asian Americans and furthering the polarization of political ideologies. This research sampled news articles from various news outlets along a political spectrum, including the New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal. This analysis is conducted through analyzing observations and patterns found in 42 news articles by the selected news outlets, alongside a framework of communication theories including gatekeeping, framing, agenda-setting, and the representation of Asian Americans in media. This thesis is relevant to current events because there is an increase in anti-Asian sentiments due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.  Overall, this study found that most journalists reporting the Atlanta massage parlor shootings utilized forms of framing and gatekeeping in the sampled articles. Observations found that the journalists practiced framing and gatekeeping, which displayed patterns of biases in their journalistic reporting. Additionally, this study found that the news media tended to use language that potentially dictates public discourse through agenda-setting practices. This thesis found that these biases attract specific audiences, which ultimately promote xenophobia and polarization. Journalists debated if a racial motive influenced the shooting. This debate between journalists was a crucial observation in identifying how framing and agenda-setting influenced furthered polarization of political ideologies. This thesis found patterns of language supporting a white racial frame that ultimately perpetuate a white hegemony.  Moreover, patterns of journalistic reporting showed how representation, or lack of it, can contribute to xenophobic tendencies and increased anti-Asian sentiments. The results of this thesis signify the importance of language selection by journalists in reporting racially sensitive issues. This thesis displays the necessity for further research on how to promote journalistic language that minimizes biases.