Media framing in times of conflict : the case of the Syrian civil war : a comparative analysis between Russia and the United States

Abstract

The Media has the complex role of transmitting information to individuals. It acts as a broker of information and as a non-state actor that ensures that policies and government action is made known to the population at large. Despite their vital role in society and politics, journalists are not immune to bias when writing, including culturally and politically. The aim of this dissertation is to identify the most common ways in which the airstrikes of the 14th of April 2018 were framed. The work also delves into an analysis of the prevalent themes and narratives that have presented themselves in the process of reporting. This research additionally seeks to answer whether the conflict is being portrayed through a structural neorealist lens. A qualitative study was conducted and news articles were selected from a Russian news source, The Kommersant, and an American News Source, The New York Times. To conduct the study, Linström’s and Marais’ 7 step framing analysis model was used in order to analyse and provide a clear methodology for the study. The frame of conflict was identified and the narratives that were used in the reporting were also analysed against the historical background of the conflict and the political ambitions of both states, allowing for a holistic analytical approach drawing from International Relations, Politics, History and Communications.