Afghanistan through Norwegian Lenses : Domestication in Media Coverage from the Ground

Abstract

This thesis presents a discourse analysis of domestication in Norwegian newspaper reporting from Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007. It highlights the way in which critical professionalism is maintained in a situation where Norway is involved in armed conflict.

Afghanistan as seen through Norwegian lenses in the coverage from the ground seems to be strongly domesticated. Even though the material consists of reporting from Afghanistan, Norwegians, and particularly Norwegian military personnel, are the most frequently quoted sources. The most heroic stories are about Norwegian medics healing Afghan civilians and the most salient criticism against Norway is about the lack of Norwegian surgeons since this exposes Norwegian soldiers to danger. Problems relating to the international military presence and stories of victims of violence are among the least domesticated topics, due to the fact that they are hardly linked to Norway and mostly presented in texts where Norway is not mentioned.

On the other hand, counter-discourses with Afghans who are allowed to speak, even including criticism against the Norwegian presence in Afghanistan, are also clearly present in the material. The reporting from independent visits to Afghanistan and particularly when it comes to the genre reportage tends to be more diverse when it comes to topics, coverage of difficult issues, different voices heard and the degree of domestication. The stories from visits to Afghanistan where the journalists travel with Norwegian politicians or particularly when they only visit the military have a more Norwegian angle. The same applies for the news genre.

Norwegian angle seems to have a lead on critical professionalism in the coverage from reporters travelling to or situated in Afghanistan. The Norwegian military personnel are primarily presented as helpful, and only to a lesser degree as warriors. Most of the coverage, even the criticism towards Norway, remains within the frame that Norwegian soldiers are contributing with something good in Afghanistan.