A1 Journal article (refereed)
‘Our words are stronger’ : re-enforcing boundaries through ritual work in a terrorist news event (2020)


Sumiala, J., & Räisä, T. (2020). ‘Our words are stronger’ : re-enforcing boundaries through ritual work in a terrorist news event. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 23(3), 422-438. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877919895992


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsSumiala, Johanna; Räisä, Tiina

Journal or seriesInternational Journal of Cultural Studies

ISSN1367-8779

eISSN1460-356X

Publication year2020

Volume23

Issue number3

Pages range422-438

PublisherSage Publications Ltd.

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/1367877919895992

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74569


Abstract

This article investigates the ritual work in terrorist news events, using the Berlin truck attack as a case in point. The article connects with the larger cluster of anthropologically inspired communication research on media events as public rituals in news media and applies digital media ethnography as its method. Fieldwork is conducted in 15 online news sites. The article identifies three key phases through which the ritual work was carried out: the rupture in the news event (ritualised as the strike), the liminal phase (ritualised as the manhunt) and the reconstitution of order following the attack (ritualised as the mourning). The article concludes with an interpretation of the broader social implications of the ritual work and related naturalisation of ‘friends’ and ‘foes’ and suggests that this type of ritual work contributes to a collective mythologisation of terrorism in news media and society at large.


Keywordsmass mediamedia anthropologymedianewsterror attacksterrorism

Free keywordsBerlin truck attack; digital media ethnography; media anthropology; media event; online news; othering; ritual work; terror


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2020

JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-14-02 at 17:36