Key research themes
1. How do contemporary media environments shape the dynamics of war reporting and policymaking in conflict zones?
This research theme examines the evolving media ecology characterized by fragmented, multilevel, and hybrid news environments and how these influence the reporting of conflicts and corresponding policy decisions. Moving beyond the classical 'CNN effect,' it explores the multiplicity of media actors (local, national, international, traditional, and digital) and their interactions, focusing on how media narratives shape, escalate, or mitigate conflicts and impact humanitarian interventions.
2. In what ways can peace journalism models improve the framing and ethical reporting of conflicts amid entrenched war narratives?
This theme investigates peace journalism as an alternative to traditional war reporting characterized by conflict escalation, propaganda, and elite orientation. It explores theoretical foundations and operationalization of peace journalism, assessing how it affects media content and audience perceptions. The research includes practical applications in conflict zones, methodological advances integrating discourse analysis, and audience reception studies to evaluate peace journalism’s impact on shaping more constructive and empathetic narratives.
3. How do propaganda and media framing operate as strategic tools in shaping public opinion and policy during contemporary conflicts?
This research theme focuses on the role of media and propaganda in managing public perception and policy direction amid warfare, analyzing mechanisms of government-media collusion, ideological framing, and selective coverage. It examines case studies like the Russia-Ukraine invasion and U.S. involvement, studying how propaganda campaigns use legalistic ideology, disinformation control, and selective victimization to justify interventions and sustain political alliances. The theme includes critiques of militarized entertainment and digital-age mediatisation of conflict narratives.