Technological developments over recent years have ensured that the mainstream mass media will play a growing role in social and political processes, and in shaping perceptions and policies relating to domestic as well as international conflicts. Keeping in perspective the potential capability of the news media in situations of conflict and conflict resolution, this article maps the underlying trends in the role of the mainstream international news media in contemporary conflicts, and the issues and challenges that characterise media coverage of such issues. Identifying some of these trends to be—the reflection of the dominant discourse, framing of news along official lines, dehumanising language of war, media management by governments, selective reporting, demonisation of enemies, and so on—the article throws light on the concept of ‘peace journalism’ as an alternative to conventional news coverage of conflict.
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