Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds : The Media and the Gustafsen Lake Standoff

What does the media coverage of a crisis situation reveal about the nature of dominant-minority relations locally, regionally, and nationally? Sandra Lambertus asks this question of the media coverage of the largest RCMP operation in Canadian history - the 1995 Gustafsen Lake Native Indian standoff. Drawing from extensive newspaper, television, and radio news products, legal and law enforcement documents, ethnographic interviews with 26 journalists, as well as RCMP, and Native leaders, Lambertus examines the construction and national dissemination of vilifying stereotyped portrayals of Native people. The ethnographic component pushes the standard of media analysis, bringing to light previously unconsidered aspects of media representations of minorities: media and law enforcement processes, frameworks of the news makers, face presentation strategies, information control, and exchange relations in news-gathering. The investigation shows how the values and perspectives of local communities, media, and law enforcement became overshadowed by 'outsiders' during the course of the event and the serious effects of the media coverage on specific audiences and ultimately, Canadian society. The study culminates with an assessment of the structural elements that contributed to the damaging media portrayals: media bias, competition, cooperation, empowerment, and cultural misperceptions. "Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds" opens new avenues for studies of minorities in the news and for the study of news media in general.

What does the media coverage of a crisis situation reveal about the nature of dominant-minority relations locally, regionally, and nationally? Sandra Lambertus asks this question of the media coverage of the largest RCMP operation in Canadian history – the 1995 Gustafsen Lake Native Indian standoff.

Drawing from extensive newspaper, television, and radio news products, legal and law enforcement documents, ethnographic interviews with 26 journalists, as well as RCMP, and Native leaders, Lambertus examines the construction and national dissemination of vilifying stereotyped portrayals of Native people. The ethnographic component pushes the standard of media analysis, bringing to light previously unconsidered aspects of media representations of minorities: media and law enforcement processes, frameworks of the news makers, face presentation strategies, information control, and exchange relations in news-gathering. The investigation shows how the values and perspectives of local communities, media, and law enforcement became overshadowed by 'outsiders' during the course of the event and the serious effects of the media coverage on specific audiences and ultimately, Canadian society. The study culminates with an assessment of the structural elements that contributed to the damaging media portrayals: media bias, competition, cooperation, empowerment, and cultural misperceptions. Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds opens new avenues for studies of minorities in the news and for the study of news media in general.

In Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds, Sandra Lambertus Asks This Question Of The Media Coverage Of The Largest Rcmp Operation In Canadian History - The 1995 Gustafsen Lake Standoff. Drawing From Extensive Newspaper, Television, And Radio News Coverage, Legal And Law Enforcement Documents, And Ethnographic Interviews With Journalists, Rcmp Officers, And Native Leaders, Lambertus Examines The Construction And Dissemination Of Vilifying Stereotyped Portrayals Of Native People. Employing A Variety Of Methodologies Including Discourse Analysis, The Investigation Shows How The Values And Perspectives Of Local Communities, Media, And Law Enforcement Became Overshadowed By Those Of 'outsiders' During The Course Of The Event. The Study Culminates With An Assessment Of The Structural Elements That Contributed To The Damaging Media Portrayals. Provocative And Convincingly Argued, Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds Opens New Avenues For The Study Of The Representation Of Minorities In The News And For The Study Of News Media In General.--jacket. Introduction -- 1. Serious Red Alert -- 2. Media Circus -- 3. Show Of Force -- 4. Out Of Control -- 5. Surrender -- 6. Terms Of Engagement -- 7. Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds Sandra Lambertus. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-261) And Indexes. "In Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds, Sandra Lambertus asks this question of the media coverage of the largest RCMP operation in Canadian history - the 1995 Gustafsen Lake standoff." "Drawing from extensive newspaper, television, and radio news coverage, legal and law enforcement documents, and ethnographic interviews with journalists, RCMP officers, and Native leaders, Lambertus examines the construction and dissemination of vilifying stereotyped portrayals of Native people. Employing a variety of methodologies including discourse analysis, the investigation shows how the values and perspectives of local communities, media, and law enforcement became overshadowed by those of 'outsiders' during the course of the event. The study culminates with an assessment of the structural elements that contributed to the damaging media portrayals. Provocative and convincingly argued, Wartime Images, Peacetime Wounds opens new avenues for the study of the representation of minorities in the news and for the study of news media in general."--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents 5 List of Tables 9 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 15 Prologue 17 Map of Gustafsen Lake, British Columbia, and Surrounding Area 21 INTRODUCTION 23 1. SERIOUS RED ALERT 45 2. MEDIA CIRCUS 69 3. SHOW OF FORCE 95 4. OUT OF CONTROL 126 5. SURRENDER 151 6. TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT 171 7. WARTIME IMAGES, PEACETIME WOUNDS 202 Appendices 225 Notes 241 Bibliography 273 Author Index 285 Topic Index 287