Media Representations of White Supremacy Groups: a Content Analysis of Two Ontario Newspapers, 1977 to 1992
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MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS OF WHITE SUPREMACY GROUPS: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF TWO ONTARIO NEWSPAPERS, 1977 TO 1992 by Daniel Derrick Somerfield @ Department of Sociology Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts October, 1999 National Library Bibliothdy nationale 1+1 ofCamda du Cana a Acquisitions and Acquisitions et BiMiisphic Sewices services bibliographiques The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Lrl>rary of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reprduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis .nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT This thesis investigates how the pnnt mediarepresents white supremacy groups. More speci fically, articles concemed with white supremacy groups are examined fmm The Globe and -Mail andThe Toronto Star from 1977 to 1992 using content analysis techniques. This thesis outlines theoretical perspectives on prejudice andsocial class as well as on whitesupremacists. Findings show that articles about white supremacy groups did not occur in any great number during the review period and that they were mely considered to be front page news. The large majority of articles from both newspapers focused on stoties dealing with crime and con flict which only served to portray white supremacy gmups in a negative fashion. Analysis ofthese findings are examined with techniques ~fint~ngthe print media used by Hall ( 1978) and Knight ( 1998). White supremacy groups operate ouiside Canada's state ideology of multiculturalim which is reflected in the pnnt mediaand thus they are limited in their effect on society. These groups are also treated as secondary sources by the print media which serves to diminish their influence through the press even futher. Inmases in white supremacist activities as well as racism in gened since the late 1970s have been attributed to the rise of the 'hewnght" in much ofthe western world. In spite ofthegend shift tothe nght politiuily, public opinion about race does not seern to be related Incidents ofCanadian ndicd right-wing violence are comparedto thenumber ofwhite supremacist aniliated articles over afouneen year period. One similarity is that they are both few in number. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS L would like to express my thanks to several people who assistedme in thedevelopment and w tingo f this thesis. Firstly, to Dr. Thomas Dunk, my adviser, who encoungedmeseveid yem ago in agraduate course in Race and Ethnic Relations to continue working on the issue of white supremacy groups. 1 tdyappreciate thesupport. guidance, and advice that he has given me over the yevs since then. Secondly, to my Cornmittee mernbers. Dr. DavidNock and Dr. Chris Southcott. who have also provided me with assistanceover the yem fiom the development and review ofthe thesis proposai, to its presentation to the Sociology Depatment, and finally this thesis. I wouldalso like to thank my partner, Patty MacDonald, andmy family for the constant encouragement andsupport they provided me throughout this thesis. 1 could not have done it without them. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number I .. Acknowledgments 11 ... Table ofContents 111 List ofTables vi List of Charts vi i List of Appendices viii Introduction 1 Methodology 3 Plan of the Work 7 Chapter One: White Supremacy, Prejudice, and Media Representation 8 Introduction 8 Histoncd Roots of White Suprernacy 9 Socio-economic lndicators and Prejudice in the United States 18 Socio-economic lndicators and Prejudice in Canada 23 The Radical Right: Socio-economic Indicaiors and Group Membership 24 White Supremacy Groups and Media Representation 3 1 Conclusion 35 Chapter Two: Analysls ofNewspaper Artlcks 37 Introduction 37 Headline Analysis 39 iii Page Number Location in Newspaper Geographic Ongin of Articles Event Categones The Globe and Mail Criminal & Inter-Conflict Profile Political Religious Intra-Conflict The Toronto Star Criminal & Inter-Conflict Profile Political Religious Inn-Conflict Information Sources Govemment & Justice Officiais White Supremacy Groups Anti-Racist Orgruiizations Politicims Other Persons Independent Expens Victims Social Status Conclusion Chapter Three: Discussion of Findings Introduction Multiculturalism in Canada Medi a Representation of White Supremacy Groups White Supremacist Activities and the New Right Pint Media Covemge of White Supremacy Groups & Radical Right-Wing Violence Public Opinion About Race Conclusion Conclusion Page Number Appendix 1 AppendIx 2 References LIST OF TABLES Table Page Number 1. Cornparison of Headlines By ConflictMegative Tems 40 & Direct Reference to White Suprernacists in The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 2. Cornpaison of Headlines By ConflictMegative Ternis & Direct Reference to White Supremacists in The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 3. Distribution of Event Categories For White Suprernacist Articles in 44 The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 4. Distribution of Event Cûtegories for White Supremacist Articles in 54 The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 5. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 6. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 Chnrt Pape Number 1. Geographic Ongin of The Globe & Mail Articles, 1977 - 1991 3 1 2. Geognphic Origin of The Toronto Star Articles, 1977 - 1992 32 3. Distribution of Event Categories for The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 35 4. Distribution of Event Categories for The Toronto Star. 1977 - 1992 55 S. Infornation Sources from White Supremacist Anicles in The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 6. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 7. White Supremacist infornation Sources in The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 8. White S upremacist information Sources in The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1 992 9. White Supremacist Atticles & Incidents of Radical Right- Wing 102 Violence, 1977 - 1990 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page Number 1. The Globe and Mail Articles 115 2. The Toronto Star Articles 119 viii INTRODUCTION The impression one gains hmnewspaper reports and From statements of our political leaders is thattheright wing consists ofthugs and nut-cases, poorly educated and mentally disturbed people who hardly need to be taken seriously (Barrett, 1987: vii). White suprernacy groups have been in existence in the United States since the mid 1860s when the American Civil Warended(Young, 1990: 15). They have been inCanadasince theedy 1920s. Outside of the southem United States in the postwar era. these groups have usunlly operated in the shadows, on the Fringe of society, and are generally considered to be composed ofnght-wing extremists. As aresult. they have amacteda considerable mount of media attention over the yem. James Aho ( 1990: 27) refers to a similarpublic perception as Stanley Barrett by noting that white suprernacists in the United States areseen as being hateteful, sometimes miminal. Young, poorly educated (hence fanatic), rnarginally employed and transient men. This research is interested in exarnining the question ofhow theprint media in Canada represents white suprernacy groups. Since white suprernacy groups are extremist organimtions who promote intolerance of racial and ethnic pluralism and, therefore, operate counter to the dominant official state policy of multiculturalism, they pose a dilemma for the media which ostensibly are interested in fieedom ofexpression and balanced, objective reporting. is it possible to report on white supmnacy without inadvertently supprting orpromotingtheir cause? Another 2 question concem the amount ofcoveragethwhite suprem;icy groups receive by the pnnt media. 1s this coverage due to the result ofbias either for or against them by the pnnt media or is it due to smictural pressures (tirne limits, availablespace, advertking,intended audience)'? Finally, since it haci been suggested that white supremacy groups tend to be depicted as a lower class movement. what does the pnnt media say about the social origins of white supremacists'! In this thesis, a content analysis of two Ontario newspapers is employed to try to shed some light on these questions. The existence of white supremacy groups is a well-known fact