Press Freedom, State Interests, and a Murder Case: Editorial Coverage of Jamal Khashoggi in the Washington Post

Abstract

The October 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a highly publicized event worldwide, shedding light on critical issues such as journalists’ safety, US-Saudi relations, press freedom, and democratic values. This study is a critical discourse analysis of editorials published in the Washington Post after Khashoggi's disappearance. Key themes emerging from the analysis include the dilemma between press freedom and the strategic interest in preserving good U.S. – Saudi relations, detecting the political motive behind Khashoggi's murder, and the role of media as fourth estate.