ABSTRACT
The concept of message framing has existed for quite some time. It means that the media choose to focus attention on certain events and then place them within a field of meaning. The Watergate incident that led to the downfall of former President Richard M. Nixon was initially framed by the news media as a partisan issue within an election campaign. Eventually the
issue took on broader significance and was framed as widespread corruption within the Nixon White House. Language selected by message producers may also contribute to the framing process. The media initially referred to the Watergate caper. This terminology eventually gave way to phrases such as the Watergate scandal (Severin & Tankard, 1992).
