The Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump and the 2024 Euro Final in Polish National Newspapers
The Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump and the 2024 Euro Final in Polish National Newspapers

Summary/Abstract: RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: A comparative analysis of how Polish nationwide dailies reported two global events in July 2024: the Euro 2024 final and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Framed by Dayan and Katz’s “media events” and McCombs and Shaw’s agenda-setting theory. Hypothesis: sudden events polarize the news agenda more than planned ones. Methods: quantitative content analysis and qualitative textual analysis of six dailies (Fakt, Super Express, Rzeczpospolita, Gazeta Wyborcza, Gazeta Polska Codziennie, Nasz Dziennik) from 15–19 July 2024. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: (1) Reconstruct the media chronology to show timing effects on editorial priorities. (2) Analyze narratives and interpretive frames around the attack. (3) Conduct an analogous analysis for Euro 2024. (4) Assess visuals and their meaning-reinforcing functions. RESEARCH RESULTS: (1) The attack dominated front pages; the Euro final surfaced more strongly the next day. (2) Tabloids emphasized drama and emotion; opinion papers stressed political consequences and contexts. (3) The attacker’s figure structured many accounts; iconic images amplified significance. (4) Sports coverage favored multi-actor, episodic storytelling; opinion titles added geopolitical threads. (5) The richest visual layer came from tabloids and Gazeta Polska Codziennie. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The two episodes competed for attention, but exposure reflected editorial calendars. Print culmination fell on Tuesday; Monday covers more often featured the attack. Gazeta Wyborcza highlighted the final on Tuesday and Thursday; in Gazeta Polska Codziennie the attack persisted longer, also due to Donald Trump’s naming of J.D. Vance as running mate. The attack acted as a narrative catalyst with “black swan” potential, shaping campaign iconography without singularly determining outcomes; concurrent Democratic Party dynamics and broader cultural-political trends mattered. The Euro final remained a cyclical sports event. The analysis confirms selective exposure and interpretation in newsroom practice.

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