Conflict/War

Abstract

The role of the media in conflicts and wars is a central topic in political communication. There are few types of events that are as newsworthy as wars because they provide an extensive amount of drama and political significance. Many would claim that the media have become the central arena for modern wars. The relative level of independence that domestic media can attain during wars, the factors that can alter that level of independence, and the interactions between leaders, the media, and public opinion are of paramount importance in this field. The media generally play a problematic role in attempts to prevent wars. In the digital age online and mobile communication technologies reshape the media's role in conflicts considerably.