SOCIAL ISSUES OF PAKISTAN: NARRATIVE OF THE U.S. MAINSTREAM PRESS DURING BIDEN’S FIRST YEAR OF VICE PRESIDENCY

Abstract

American policy towards Muslims seems to change with Joe Biden’s lift of the Muslim ban imposed by President Trump. This study aims to see how the U.S. media was creating a narrative, perception, and public opinion about the social issues of Pakistan during the first year of the Vice Presidency of Joe Biden— January 2009 to January 2010. The study also wants to find out the connection between the U.S. foreign policy and press coverage of Pakistan during the War on Terror. Employing thematic analysis and agenda setting theory, the study analyses the front-page stories of mainstream American printed press from January 2009 to January 2010. The study finds that the U.S. leading press was working as a fourth branch of the government to support American foreign policy objectives by spreading false narratives and perceptions about Pakistan to force Pakistan to cooperate with the U.S. War on Terror in Afghanistan This study adds to the Agenda-setting theory, conflict communication, and propaganda studies.