Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Retrospective theses 1999 Media representations of white supremacy groups : a content analysis of two Ontario newspapers, 1977 to 1992 Somerfield, Daniel Derrick http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/3122 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been raproducad from the microfilm mastar. UMI films tha taxt directly from tha original or copy sutwnitlad. Thus, soma thasis and dissartation copias ara in typawritarfaca, whila othars may t>a from any typa of computer printer. Tha quality of this reproduction la dependant upon tha quality of tha copy submlttad. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print blaadthrough. substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. National Library Bibliothèque nationale ■ ♦ I of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliograpttic Senrices sen/ices bibliographiques 395 WaWngton Street 395, rue Wellington OSmweON K1A0N4 OltawaON K1A0N4 Cenade Canada YourlUê Vomréttnnc» Our IH» N om rélérmKo The author has granted a non­ L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to BibUothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, 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. Neidier the droit d’auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from 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. 0-612-52077-3 CanadS Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This thesis investigates how the print media represents white supremacy groups. More specifically, articles concerned with white supremacy groups are examined from The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star from 1977 to 1992 using content analysis techniques. This thesis outlines theoretical perspectives on prejudice and social 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 rarely considered to be front page news. The large majority of articles from both newspapers focused on stories dealing with crime and conflict which only served to portray white supremacy groups in a negative fashion. Analysis ofthese findings are examined with techniques of interpreting the print media used by Hall ( 1978) and Knight (1998). White supremacy groups operate outside Canada’s state ideology of multiculturalism which is reflected in the print media and 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 farther. Increases in white supremacist activities as well as racism in general since the late 1970s have been attributed to the rise of the “new right” in much of the western world. In spite of the general shift to the right politically, public opinion about race does not seem to be related. Incidents of Canadian radical right-wing violence are comparedtothenumberofwhite supremacist affiliated articles overafourteenyearperiod. One similarity is that they are both few in number. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my thanks to several people who assisted me in the development and writing of this thesis. Firstly, to Dr. Thomas Dunk, my adviser", who encouraged me sevei"al years ago in a graduate course in Race and Ethnic Relations to continue working on the issue of white supremacy groups. I truly appreciate the support, guidance, and advice that he has given me over the years since then. Secondly, to my Committee members, Dr. David Nock and Dr. Chris Southcott, who have also provided me with assistance over the years from the development and review of the thesis proposal, to its presentation to the Sociology Department, and finally this thesis. (would also like to thank my partner, Patty MacDonald, and my family for the constant encouragement and support they provided me throughout this thesis. 1 could not have done it without them. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number Abstract i Acknowledgments ii Table of Contents iii List of Tables vi List of Charts vii List of Appendices viii Introduction I Methodology 3 Plan of the Work 7 Chapter One: White Supremacy, Prejudice, and Media Representation 8 Introduction 8 Historical Roots of White Supremacy 9 Socio-economic Indicators and Prejudice in the United States 18 Socio-economic Indicators and Prejudice in Canada 23 The Radical Right: Socio-economic Indicators and Group Membership 24 White Supremacy Groups and Media Representation 31 Conclusion 35 Chapter Two: Analysis of Newspaper Articles 37 Introduction 37 Headline Analysis 39 til Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Page Number Location in Newspaper 40 Geographic Origin of Articles 41 Event Categories 43 The Globe and Mail 44 Criminal & Inter-Conflict 45 Profile 51 Political 53 Religious 53 Intra-Conflict 54 The Toronto Star 54 Criminal & Inter-Conflict 55 Profile 61 Political 62 Religious 62 Intra-Conflict 63 Information Sources 63 Government & Justice Officials 67 White Supremacy Groups 69 Anti-Racist Organizations 72 Politicians 73 Other Persons 75 Independent Experts 75 Victims 77 Social Status 78 Conclusion 81 Chapter Three: Discussion of Findings 84 Introduction 84 Multiculturalism in Canada 85 Media Representation of White Supremacy Groups 87 White Supremacist Activities and the New Right 100 Print Media Coverage of White Supremacy Groups 101 & Radical Right-Wing Violence Public Opinion About Race 106 Conclusion 108 Conclusion III IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Page Number Appendix 1 115 Appendix 2 119 References 122 ; I Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table Page Number 1. Comparison of Headlines By Conflict/Negative Terms 40 & Direct Reference to White Supremacists in The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 2. Comparison of Headlines By Conflict/Negative Terms 40 & Direct Reference to White Supremacists in The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 3. Distribution of Event Categories For White Supremacist Articles in 44 The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 4. Distribution of Event Categories for White Supremacist Articles in 54 The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 5. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in 65 The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 6. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in 66 The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 VI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF CHARTS Chart Page Number 1. Geographic Origin of The Globe & Mail Articles, 1977 - 1992 41 2. Geographic Origin of The Toronto Star Articles, 1977 - 1992 42 3. Distribution of Event Categories for The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 45 4. Distribution of Event Categories for The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 55 5. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in 66 The Globe and Mail, 1977 - 1992 6. Information Sources from White Supremacist Articles in 67 The Toronto Star, 1977 - 1992 7. White Supremacist Information Sources in 70 The Globe and Mail,