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Abstract

Using a semi-automated analysis of 8174 pictures posted in 5448 Vkontakte and X posts written by nine Russian war reporters covering the military operations in Syria from October 2015 to March 2020, this article examines the role played by visuals dedicated to heritage and culture in social media narratives focused on war. In a context of compromised media outlets’ autonomy in Russia, it constitutes an important case study of soft-power towards Russian-speaking audiences and public consciousness manipulation by highlighting narrative strategies to justify the military intervention in Syria (September 2015). The presence of unexpected visuals of cultural sites, sometimes damaged by the war, constitutes an entry point to communication strategies implemented by war reporters, blurring the lines between professional work and practices related to tourism.

Keywords

narrative new journalism Russia social media Syria war correspondents

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Tourists at war: The visual representations of Syrian cultural and heritage sites as instrumentalized by Russian war reporters on social media,2015–2020

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