Law and Disorder: Assessing Conflicting News Coverage of Police Use of Force

The 2020 publicized deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have increased social attention to incidents of police use of force in the USA. The spotlight of these events has created a divisive outlook on police tactics. Further, the current political climate has accentuated opposing viewpoints that highlight either the need for police reform or a steadfast stance on law and order. It is widely disputed whether heightened media reporting can influence individuals. This study uses historical posts from the official X, formerly known as Twitter, handles of CNN and Fox News beginning March 25, 2020, and ending November 3, 2020. A content analysis of this sample was conducted to develop thematic messages from each news provider. Results indicate that both news sources use political ideologies to characterize the same reported events. CNN focused specifically on victimology while Fox News emphasized the lawlessness of citizen demonstrations. CNN coverage centers on public demonstrations and the need for criminal justice reform. Alternatively, FOX News coverage characterizes riots and the call for steadfast law enforcement efforts to maintain public safety. The described characteristics share perspectives from the “warrior” and “guardian” roles of police officers.