Conference paper

Mapping the War Reporting

Zala Volčić

Abstract

Media coverage of the recent war in Iraq has become a subject of quite a bit of
public discussion globally. Comparing this war with the Gulf War of 1990-91,
there are differences in the ways in which reporting was done. Propaganda in
the classical sense can be defined as “a deliberate and systematic attempt to
shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve the
response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist” (Jowett and
O’Donnell, 1986: 16). Propaganda must be viewed within the context of the
society which determines its character or direction, primarily in relation to the
language and ideology which forms the core of everyday society. The joke that
the war in Iraq would become the ultimate reality show has in some way come
true. Its life-and-death scenes are re-created whenever possible in the same
style as in the reality show “Survivor.” The essay deals with the notion of
“embedded” journalism and critically examines the current coverage of the
Iraqi war.

Keywords

war reporting; war propaganda; war in Iraq

Hrčak ID:

23002

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23002

Publication date:

28.11.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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