Abstract
The press coverage in anticipation of and during Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in Britain in June 2002 illustrates Dayan and Katz’s theory that the media frequently adopt a ‘priestly’ role when it comes to media events. In the months leading up to the Jubilee, the press speculated about whether the celebrations would fail. When it became clear that the Jubilee had been an overwhelming success, the press heralded the occasion as evidence of Britain’s continued strength and national unity. The coverage of the Jubilee as a whole illustrates the role of the press in promoting and celebrating nationalism through this civic ritual.
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