Starting in 2001, much of the world media used the image of Osama bin Laden as a shorthand for terrorism. Bin Laden himself considered media manipulation on a par with military, political, and ideological tools, and intentionally used interviews, taped speeches, and distributed statements to further al-Qaida's ends.

In Covering Bin Laden, editors Susan Jeffords and Fahed Yahya Al-Sumait collect perspectives from global scholars exploring a startling premise: that media depictions of Bin Laden not only diverge but often contradict each other, depending on the media provider and format, the place in which the depiction is presented, and the viewer's political and cultural background. The contributors analyze the representations of the many Bin Ladens, ranging from Al Jazeera broadcasts to video games. They examine the media's dominant role in shaping our understanding of terrorists and why/how they should be feared, and they engage with the ways the mosaic of Bin Laden images and narratives have influenced policies and actions around the world.

Contributors include Fahed Al-Sumait, Saranaz Barforoush, Aditi Bhatia, Purnima Bose, Ryan Croken, Simon Ferrari, Andrew Hill, Richard Jackson, Susan Jeffords, Joanna Margueritte-Giecewicz, Noha Mellor, Susan Moeller, Brigitte Nacos, Courtney C. Radsch, and Alexander Spencer.| Cover Title Contents Introduction: After bin Laden Susan Jeffords and Fahed Al-Sumait Part I. Defining Political Actors 1. Bin Laden's Ghost and the Epistemological Crises of Counterterrorism Richard Jackson 2. The Discursive Portrayals of Osama bin Laden Aditi Bhatia 3. The bin Laden Tapes Andrew Hill Part II. Comparing Global News Media 4. Words and War: Al Jazeera and Al Qaeda Courtney C. Radsch 5. Metaphorizing Terrorism: Al Qaeda in German and British Tabloids Alexander Spencer 6. The Myth of the Terrorist as a Lover: Competing Regional Media Frames Noha Mellor 7. Images of Our Dead Enemies: Visual Representations of bin Laden, Hussein, and el-Qaddafi Susan M Part III. Engaging Popular Cultures 8. Without Osama: Tere bin Laden and the Critique of the War on Terror Purnima Bose 9. Obama bin Laden [sic]: How to Win the War on Terror #likeaboss Ryan Croken 10. Congratulations! You Have Killed Osama bin Laden!! Simon Ferrari 11. Muslims in America and the Post-9/11 Terrorism Debates: Media and Public Opinion Brigitte L. Na Epilogue. After bin Laden: Zero Dark Thirty Susan Jeffords and Fahed Al-Sumait Contributors Index |"The volume's contributors have produced a splendid resource that will improve our understanding of the power of diverse forms of media in manipulating bin Laden's public image for audiences worldwide. . . . Their work will greatly benefit scholars researching this ruthless but fascinating figure and his ongoing historical impact." —H-Net Reviews
"Illustrates the details of the construction of the bridge between various communication fields [and] underscores the relationship among political players, the news media, and popular cultures. These connections are often talked about, but seldom with the sophistication found in this volume. . . . A thoughtful and valuable book."—Philip Seib, author of Real-Time Diplomacy: Politics and Power in the Social Media Era
"An extremely timely and important collection on a theme that has huge contemporary significance, both politically and from a communication/popular culture perspective."—Daya K. Thussu, author of News as Entertainment: The Rise of Global Infotainment
|Susan Jeffords is a professor of women's studies and English at the University of Washington and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of...