Most of the world's mass media have largely ignored the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the fact that it is by far the deadliest conflict in the world today. Other much smaller conflicts are instead chosen to be the subject of intense focus and attention, ostensibly on grounds of relevance to national interest and humanitarian concern. But neither of these rationales holds up to scrutiny. The Australian newspaper is no exception in this sense. This article quantitatively and qualitatively examines coverage of conflict in the DRC in The Australian, comparing it with that of other conflicts and crises, primarily Israel—Palestine, Darfur and Zimbabwe. It concludes that some subjective and narrow perceptions of national interest as well as business interests (producing news that `sells' and following international news flows) serve to explain the DRC's marginalization in The Australian .
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2.
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3.
The Australian (1999) `Calls Reveal Massacre Order', 29 January (source: Reuters).
4.
The Australian (2000) `Congo Slayings Recall Rwanda', 31 January (source: Reuters).
5.
The Australian (2003) `Pygmies Plead for Lives', 23 May (source: Associated Press [AP]).
6.
The Australian (2004a) `Humanitarian Disaster Looms in West Sudan', 19 July.
7.
The Australian (2004b) `"10,000 Die Each Month" in Sudan', 15 September (source Reuters, AFP).
8.
The Australian (2004c) `Darfur Heading for Chaos, Says UN', 9 December. (source: AFP, AP).
9.
The Australian (2006a) `Time to Intervene - a UN Peacekeeping Force Is the Only Solution for Darfur', 3 May.
10.
The Australian (2006b) `Sudan on Brink of Renewed Civil War', 5 September.
11.
The Australian (2007a) `Mugabe Makes Life a Misery in Zimbabwe', 8 January.
12.
The Australian (2007b) `Battle to Save Baby Gorilla Found with Shot Mother', 12 June.
13.
The Australian (2007c) `Zimbabwe's Women "Brutalised" as Country Collapses', 27 July.
14.
The Australian (2008a) `Agency Puts Death Toll from Congo Conflict at 45,000 a Month', 24 January.
15.
The Australian (2008b) `Mugabe Must End the Zimbabwe Nightmare', 2 April.
16.
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17.
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18.
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19.
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20.
Clayton, J. (2004) `Refugees Escape ... to Hell on Earth', The Australian, 22 July (source: The Times).
21.
Dynes, M. (2001) `300 Killed in Congo Hunt for Sorcerers', The Australian, 5 July (source: The Times).
22.
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23.
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24.
Fletcher, M. (2008) `Girl an Apt Symbol for a Nation Suffering under Mugabe's Rule', The Australian, 20 March.
25.
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26.
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27.
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28.
Johnson, R.W. (2007) `Millions Missing, but UN Ignores Zimbabwe's Quiet Genocide', The Australian, 8 January.
29.
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30.
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31.
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32.
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33.
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34.
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35.
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36.
Miniter, R. (2004) `Darfur's Demons Spoiling for a Fight - Crisis in Sudan', The Australian, 27 July (source: Sunday Times).
37.
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38.
Raath, J. (2007) `Zimbabwe Mums Beaten by Police', The Australian, 28 July.
39.
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40.
Sheridan, G. (1999a) `All Power to NATO, Naturally', The Australian, 26 March.
41.
Sheridan, G.( 1999b) `Our Duty to Take Share of Exodus', The Australian, 6 April.
42.
Sheridan, G. (1999c) `4000 "Mates" Deserve a Fair Go', The Australian, 8 April.
43.
Sheridan, G. (2002) `Howard's Big Opportunity to Hold the Floor', The Weekend Australian, 2 March.
44.
Sheridan, G. (2006a) `Vietnam Needed Us', The Weekend Australian, 25 November.
45.
Sheridan, G. (2006b) `Ousting Saddam Was Right', The Australian, 21 December.
46.
Sheridan, G. (2007) `Rare Support for Democracy in a Sea of Misunderstanding' , The Australian, 3 May.
47.
Sheridan, G. (2008) `Deep Inside the Plucky Country', The Weekend Australian, 19 January.
48.
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49.
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50.
Stewart, C. (2004a) `Macabre Dance with the Devil to Stop Slaughter in Sudan', The Australian, 21 September (source: MATP).
51.
Stewart, C. (2004b) `All the President's Thugs', The Australian, 25 September (source: MATP).
52.
Strickland, K. (2005) `Massacre Inquiry Backed', The Australian, 12 September (source: MATP).
53.
Swain, J. (2004) `Sudan's Children Sinking in a Sea of Misery', The Australian, 29 November (source: The Sunday Times ).
54.
The Sydney Morning Herald (2006) `Look What Happened While We Weren't Watching', 4-5 November.
55.
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56.
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57.
Walsh, D. (2001) `Congo's Displaced Come Out of Hiding - "In This War Nothing Is Sacred and Nobody Is Neutral"', The Australian, 21 August.
58.
The Weekend Australian (2006) ` Congo Deadliest', 7 January.
