Abstract
The Wieambilla ambush in December, 2022, can be reviewed in three stages: the attack itself; the initial search for motive, with strong references to sovereign citizen ideology; and the classification of the event as domestic terrorism driven by pre-Millennialism Christianity. A discourse and sentiment analysis of 698
headlines retrieved from the Factiva Database reveal that the trajectory of media reporting did not necessarily reflect the official record of events. A narrative that focused on pro-social characteristics of the perpetrators, a tale of good people driven to their end, dominated. The articles construct a profile which is more relatable to the average reader, and whilst the audience may not necessarily empathise with the brutality of their actions, reporting undertook a sustained effort to normalise the pathway to extreme actions. It will be argued that the success of this narrative is reflected in a 36-hour limited news cycle, when
the event was officially classified as religiously motivated domestic terrorism; and the continued identification of anti-government actors, under the umbrella of sovereign citizens, as prevailing motivation. It will also consider the impacts of mis-information on future policy directions and political reactions.
headlines retrieved from the Factiva Database reveal that the trajectory of media reporting did not necessarily reflect the official record of events. A narrative that focused on pro-social characteristics of the perpetrators, a tale of good people driven to their end, dominated. The articles construct a profile which is more relatable to the average reader, and whilst the audience may not necessarily empathise with the brutality of their actions, reporting undertook a sustained effort to normalise the pathway to extreme actions. It will be argued that the success of this narrative is reflected in a 36-hour limited news cycle, when
the event was officially classified as religiously motivated domestic terrorism; and the continued identification of anti-government actors, under the umbrella of sovereign citizens, as prevailing motivation. It will also consider the impacts of mis-information on future policy directions and political reactions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 4 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2024 |
| Event | Exploring Intersections of Media, Law, Communication and Crime - Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia Duration: 25 Sept 2024 → 25 Sept 2024 https://groups.google.com/a/anzca.org/g/anzca-listserv/c/38xnGDtXNGc (Event info) https://criminologie.org.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Conf-4_Intersections-of-Media-Law-Communication-and-Crime_Sept.-2024-CfP.pdf (Call for papers) |
Conference
| Conference | Exploring Intersections of Media, Law, Communication and Crime |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Murdoch |
| Period | 25/09/24 → 25/09/24 |
| Other | Program and abstracts attached to PID 529559768 The aim of the symposium is to bring together media/communications and law/criminology scholars to share their research. Abstracts are due on June 21st, 2024 (if you need more time, please get in contact). We will have a hybrid option for those who cannot attend in person. |
| Internet address |